More than 30 sides kicked off Northern Ireland Women’s futsal league

More than 30 sides will be competing in a handful of regional leagues staged across the country over the late autumn/winter period.

The Northern Ireland Futsal Federation women’s leagues, run by the Irish FA Foundation, kicked off on 19 November and will run through to February.

Teams representing clubs in the NIFL Danske Bank Women’s Premiership and NIWFA’s various tiers are involved.

The leagues are sponsored by Belfast-based Cathedral Eye Clinic, the official eye health and laser surgery partner of the Irish Football Association – and its official futsal partner.

The main competition is the Women’s Premiership and Championship Futsal League, which involves teams from the NIFL Women’s Premiership and the NIWFA Championship. In that league Cliftonville Ladies will be aiming to retain the title they won in 2020-21.

Irish FA Foundation Schools and Futsal Manager Gareth Allen said: “We are delighted to get the competition up and running this year. It is a fantastic opportunity for women and girls to get involved, learn and enjoy the game.

“I would like to thank Cathedral Eye Clinic for their continued support and wish all teams the best in their upcoming league campaigns.”

Yesterday, at Belfast’s Shankill Leisure Centre, in NIFL and Championship League where title holders Cliftonville come up against north Belfast rivals Crusaders Strikers. Followed by Comber Rec Ladies v St James’ Swifts Ladies,  and Linfield Ladies v Lisburn Ladies.

For the sport’s increased awareness across the U.K, especially in England, it would be great to see the FA Women’s Super League clubs entering teams into the Women’s Super Series, now when it is on BT Sport as well.

Image: Reigning Women’s Premiership and Championship Futsal League champions Cliftonville Ladies will be looking to retain the trophy over the coming months.