Teesside University are in action on Sunday and their season's efforts all boil down to the playoffs to reach the finals, held in Sheffield next week.  9 of the 10 man squad are Boro players who sit at the top of the FA Futsal League and will be putting all efforts into winning the British University Championships.

Teesside started the season off well, defeating Northumbria in the opening heat.  Northumbria now sit unbeaten at the top of the other group after drop outs and rearrangements meant the format had to be changed.  This left Teesside in a group with MMU Cheshire, Leeds Met, Edge Hill and York seconds and they struggled on the small York pitches, losing to Leeds Met and Edge Hill, beating MMU Cheshire twice and have yet to play York seconds.

Results have left Teesside sitting in third place in the group, and will play 5th place in the other group in the first playoff game on Sunday, should they avoid defeat to York seconds at 10am.

The final group game and playoffs are to be held at Thornaby Pavilion, much to the delight of Kilbride who thinks that the bigger pitch will suit the home team.  "We can play our own game and with the bigger pitch our quality of futsal will show through.  The small pitches in York levelled the teams somewhat and it's anybody's game.  We're confident we'll get through on the day."

Four teams go through from the playoffs into the national finals held at Pond's Forge in Sheffield from Wednesday to Friday.  Last season Teesside won the Trophy - the cup for the 3rd and 4th placed teams - with a very thin squad, forced into using a fly goalkeeper throughout. 

Ambitions this season are higher with only Paul Smith the only Boro regular missing.  Manager Damon Shaw is pleased that the two squads are almost interchangeable.  "It has created a better team spirit and the BUCS Championship are on a par with the FA Futsal League in terms of priority this season.  They both offer a route into European competition and the level at the top is of national league standard with Bath, Loughborough and Hartpury all involved," he said. 

You can watch Teesside in action on Sunday at Thornaby Pavilion at 10am vs. York University 2nds and then 12.40pm and 14.15pm in the playoff semi final and final.  Entry is £1 on the door, which will help Teesside fund their trip to the national finals next week.