FUTSAL FEMMES REACH 20-HOUR LANDMARK!



Team Tango

Team Lime

THIRTY-FIVE heroic females broke the women's world record for playing indoor football non-stop on Saturday.

The Birmingham Futsal Arena was the venue where a new record of playing Futsal for 20 consecutive hours was set.

Five months earlier, many of the same women were involved in the setting of a 10-hour record.

This was later beaten, so the Birmingham redoubtables came back and doubled their original marathon time!

Two teams - Team Lime, captained by award-winning cricketer Salma Bi (Jess), and Team Tango, led by former England under-17 goalkeeper Gemma Smith (Jules), took part in this historic event.

Back in March, Gemma's blue team had defeated Salma's reds 167-100, but in the return match, it was Lime who came out on top 163-114.

The marathon kicked off at 4am on Saturday and continued right through until midnight.

Following the opening ceremony, Salma awarded the 10-hour Record Trophy to Gemma, before the 20-hour bid began.

During the day drinks were available for all players and spectators at this ladies-only event.

It was still anyone's game when 10 hours passed. Every 20th goal was prized.

Team Lime's star player Emma Dagley stood out by far, while Team Tango's specialist goalkeeper Gemma Goode was on duty between the posts for a record 13 hours.

Hot food was provided not only at 2pm, but then with pizza at 8pm. Also thrown in was a ChocFountain, candy floss and popcorn.

The photographer captured some great action shots of players, spectators and balloons!

As the final four hours were entered, the audience became much larger in anticipation of the new record. 

Special referee Cherie Dabbs spent 20 hours on crutches and officiating.

Even when things got tough the girls carried on pushing. Vicky Roe 'RoadRunner' and Stacey Coleman were amazing for Team Tango.

Young star Aisha Bi and Great White Sharks buddy Buddy Nazma Shaheen were superb for Lime.

The 100th goalscorers were: Team Lime - Aisha Bi; Team Tango - Nicky Preston.

In the 14th hour Team Lime got ahead and finished up 163-114 winners.

Giving a national feel to the event were, from London Manisha Tailor and Lesley Thurston, and from North Wales Naela Ahmad.

This was Salma's MAD Productions company and Gemma's Sporting Pathways' third fund-raising event this year!

As promised, this latest showpiece was the biggest and best - raising a whopping figure of £1,580.

The girls will raise a bit more by next week to achieve a target of £2,000 to contribute to a Cerebral Palsy Disability Charity Sports Equipment & Sports Room named after Sporting Pathways.

Special thanks to Satty Panesar and family who provided excellent catering and display services, plus sponsors  FoneHouse http://www.fonehouse.co.uk/Home, Pro 5 http://www.pro5.tv/ and Coast Collective.