A TEAM of Colchester youngsters will be making history this weekend as the first-ever Essex side to feature at the FA National Youth Futsal finals in Birmingham.

The Colchester Futsal Club's under-tens have blazed a trail to become the first team from the county to win a regional qualifying final and they will be flying the flag for the East on the national stage in Birmingham tomorrow.

Manager Matt Binks said it was a unique achievement and that the youngsters, who, as well as their Futsal involvements, all play for teams in the Colchester and District Youth League.

The group booked their place in the national finals by winning the Essex finals at the Copperbox on the Olympic Park in Stratford against the best teams from across the county and some of the London boroughs.

That saw them progress to the Eastern Region finals when the Colchester youngsters faced the county winners from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Norfolk and were once again triumphant to make history and book their place at the national finals.

Futsal is an indoor version of football played with five players on each side and up to international level around the world.

Binks said any young players looking to get involved in the sport can contact him at the Colchester Futsal Club on 07557 144661, with sessions for under-sixes to under-13s taking place at Highwoods Sports Centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.