Oldham, Futsal’s Wembley of the North

Swindon Futsal indoor arena: Oldham’s will be similar

OLDHAM is to become a regional centre of excellence for the game that helped football superstars such as Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar to hone their skills.

Work has started on a £50,000 Futsal arena of three pitches, spectator areas and changing rooms at Oldham College, a joint project between Oldham College and the @Futsal Group.

Futsal was developed in South America in the 1930s, a high-speed, five-a-side indoor football now also played all over Europe. Brazil is said to have more people playing futsal (a contraction of a Portugese phrase meaning “hall football”) than football itself.

Set to open in November, the new arena will grow the sport for the North West and play host to televised Futsal leagues.

A sports hall at the Rochdale Road campus is being converted into the centre, which will include a FIFA regulation-size pitch. Futsal is the only indoor football recognised by the sport’s world body.

Fustal is the world’s fastest-growing indoor sport: Oldham College principal Alun Francis said: “The centre will bring an excellent new facility to the college and community. Our partnership with @Futsal Group is unique and our combined skills promise to make the centre a great success.”

The partnership with Oldham College includes 150 fully-funded scholarships for 16 to 18-year-olds to provide the foundation for a university course or a career in sport. They will gain national qualifications, learn to coach and referee the game, play in national leagues and do work experience.

Frank Rodriguez, chief executive of @Futsal Group, said: “We chose Oldham for our regional North-West hub because it’s a bustling and active area that we felt would embrace the game.”