Team Sunderland Futsal Open National Futsal Series Campaign with Impressive 16-3 Victory

Team Sunderland kicked off their 2026/27 National Futsal Series campaign in emphatic fashion with a 16-3 victory over Bolton B at Gateshead Leisure Centre.

The fixture marked the club’s first competitive match at its new home venue, with more than 60 spectators in attendance creating a fantastic atmosphere for the opening game of the season.

Preparation throughout the week had been excellent, with the squad showing great commitment and focus leading into the first fixture of the campaign. That professionalism carried into the warm-up and set the tone for what would become a dominant team performance.

Despite controlling much of the early play, Team Sunderland found themselves frustrated in the opening stages. Bolton’s goalkeeper produced a number of excellent saves to keep the scores level, while Sunderland struck the woodwork on four separate occasions before eventually breaking the deadlock around seven minutes into the match.

Once the opening goal arrived, Sunderland began to find their rhythm. Their movement, intensity and attacking combinations caused problems throughout the first half, helping establish a 7-3 lead heading into the break.

The second half showcased the squad’s depth, fitness and attacking quality. Sunderland continued to push forward while maintaining high standards defensively, scoring nine unanswered goals after half-time to secure an emphatic 16-3 victory and a perfect start to the National Futsal Series season.

Michael Cooper captained the side for the first time and marked the occasion by getting on the scoresheet in what proved to be a memorable opening day for both the player and the team.

Alex Siberry led the scoring with five goals, producing an outstanding performance throughout the match and playing a vital role in Sunderland’s attacking play. Joseph Cox added four goals, delivering another influential display while contributing across multiple positions on the court.

One of the standout moments of the afternoon came from Louis Favraud. Having only recently turned 16, he marked his National Futsal Series debut with a hat-trick, a remarkable achievement in an adult national competition and a performance that highlighted both his confidence and quality.

Further goals came from Ryan Porter, Joe Gunn, Cameron Galloway and Michael Cooper, meaning seven different players found the net across the afternoon and underlining the attacking quality throughout the squad.

The goalkeeping group also made a significant contribution to the victory. Dom Hood started the match and provided a solid platform from the back, while Patrick Crombie produced a remarkable triple save during the second half. Phil Emmerson then capped off proceedings by saving a 10-metre penalty in the closing stages after both teams had reached the accumulated foul limit.

While the scoreline will naturally attract attention, the performance was about far more than goals. The attitude, commitment and work ethic displayed by every player throughout the match was outstanding. Defensively, the squad worked tirelessly both on and off the ball, providing the platform for the team’s attacking players to flourish.

Head Coach Tony Loftus said:

“I’m absolutely buzzing with the scoreline and the performance. It was a fantastic start to the campaign and I couldn’t have asked for more from the players in terms of attitude, commitment and work ethic.

It’s great to see Louis score a hat-trick on his National Futsal Series debut, which is something you don’t see very often, particularly in an adult league at just 16 years of age. Alex was outstanding throughout and showed exactly why he’s such an important player for us, while Coxie put in a brilliant shift across multiple roles and still came away with four goals.

The goalscorers will get the headlines, but every player contributed to the performance. Defensively we were excellent for large periods of the match and, if anything, we probably felt we could have scored even more. Overall, it’s a brilliant way to start the season and gives us a strong platform to build on moving forward.”

The result provides Team Sunderland with the perfect start to the new National Futsal Series campaign and reflects the continued growth, ambition and quality within the programme as they look forward to the challenges ahead.