The regular five-a-side football match is an opportunity for many of us to try out that latest flick, pin point tackle or thunderbolt shot that we saw from Shane Long in the Aviva Stadium.
For some this December though the dream of playing on a bigger stage than the local Astropark may well become a reality.
Teams all over the country are competing this month in 14 one day qualifiers leading up to a finals day for 32 teams in Dublin on January 2nd.
This year’s renewal of the Football Fives World Championship has stepped up a gear with the coming on board of Mitsubishi as sponsors. The winning team will get to represent Ireland at the World Championships in Thailand in March.
F5WC is a global initiative, with 32 amateur 5-a-side teams from difference countries battling it out annually in a World 5-a-side Championship. This year the World finals take place in Thailand, in March 2016, following from Dubai in 2015, where the Irish team made it to the Quarter Finals.
“We’ve collaborated with the largest small sided football league organisers in the country, to find the best amateur 5-a-side team to represent us in Thailand,” said F5WC National Co-ordinator Aidan McDevitt speaking to Sport for Business.
“Leagues involved nationwide include Astropark, Inter7s, Astro.ie, and Astroleagues, covering Leinster, Munster and Connaught. “
“The Mitsubishi L200 F5WC, offers as fantastic opportunity for a team of Ragball Rovers to experience the life of a professional international football player, with the bonus of having an all-expenses paid trip to Asia.”
Mitsubishi Motors saw the sponsorship as an opportunity to target the young male audience in a way that appealed to their activity and aspirations.
“The nationwide qualifiers, it provides exposure for local dealerships, while also providing great brand exposure to the 18-35 Male market that frequent the small sided football venues all over the country, said Mitsubishi Ireland’s Timea Ujvari.
“So many adult males don’t have time to commit to football full time, but they love the game, support the game, and still play social games at their local football centres regularly.”
“While only one team will win the top prize in 2016, many more will day dream about the experience and that’s a fantastic sporting initiative to be a part of.”
The market for small sided football is around 50,000 making it one of the most popular sporting pastimes in the country.
Thanks to a media partnership with Setanta Sports the competition is being promoted during live football and highlight programmes. There is a strong focus on social media and Facebook as well with players tagging their team mates with whom they want to play.
