New futsal league to return in Perth with teams sought for September start

A new futsal league is soon to return in Perth - with teams being invited to sign up immediately.

Chair of Scottish Futsal, Stephen Chatila, revealed the positive news to the PA and is excited to get the ball rolling again.

Matches will take place on Monday evenings at Perth High School from the middle of next month.

There previously was a successful and well-attended league in the Fair City but, post Covid, it failed to get going again.

“We started an Aberdeen league last season and we have Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow,” Mr Chatila explained.

“It was my priority this year to get the Perth league started again for the coming season.

“Thankfully we have managed to do that and now we will have five regional leagues, plus the Super League.”

Perth played a starring role in futsal’s introduction to Scotland.

The fast-paced, five-a-side game played with a reduced bounce ball was a constant at Bell’s Sports Centre.

“It all started in Perth back in 1997,” Mr Chatila said. “That was the start of futsal in Scotland.

“We had it approved by the SFA in 2001 and Bell’s Sports Centre was the home of futsal for a long, long time.

“It was sad to see the league stop in Perth previously, especially given the national champions, PYF Saltires, are from the city.

“This new league can be an outlet for youngsters as there seems to be a lot more kids wanting to play futsal now.

“Without a Perth league, they were getting to the top of their age at youth level and then that was it - unless they were willing to travel to other cities.

“There is now a pathway again for them to continue playing futsal.”

Perth has long been renowned for producing top-class futsal teams and Saltires, the Super League winners, will soon be representing Scotland in the