Investing in Futures: How Manchester Futsal Club & MMU Partnership is Creating Pathways for Young Players

Manchester Futsal Club made a bold commitment: to invest not only in developing players on the court but also in creating opportunities for their futures off it. Through a joint partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), that vision has become a reality.

Today, the pathway offers academy graduates the chance to combine higher education with playing futsal at the highest level in the National Futsal Series. For many of our young people, this opportunity simply wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership.

Raising Aspirations On and Off the Court

At Manchester Futsal Club we believe futsal is more than just a game. It’s a vehicle to raise aspirations, provide life-changing experiences, and open doors to new possibilities. The MMU partnership embodies this philosophy - giving players the chance to pursue degrees in Manchester while continuing to represent the club they’ve grown up in.

“The club as a whole has kept me engaged in continuing a pathway with MFC. I think the club is well run from the first team down to the youth sessions - everyone is a part of one family,” said Matty Barton, who came through the academy and now studies at MMU while playing for our first team.

Matty Barton: A Pathway in Action

For Matty, choosing a university was about finding balance. “I always wanted to stay close to home for university but didn’t want it to drastically affect my ability to continue playing futsal. Because of the pathway with MMU I was able to combine both my studies with also improving at futsal.”

“From my MMU futsal experience I’ve been able to adapt to playing with players who have maybe never even heard of futsal before and have just started playing it. At the same time, I’ve made good connections with these people who are on similar courses to me.”

“The most enjoyable part of playing for both MMU and MFC is the ability to play with players in both teams. It gives us the chance to take stuff on board from MFC and bring that knowledge to MMU to ultimately improve the team.”

Success Stories Along the Pathway

Matty is one of several players to benefit from the link. James Kay, a regular for the Manchester Futsal Club Development Team, has combined his studies with competing in the National Futsal Series. Ben Woodward and Olie Baker have also established themselves in the Development Team through the pathway, while Joe Cordwell and Tom Mitchell are the latest academy graduates to join the MMU programme.

Perhaps the most inspiring example is Jake Barnes, who began his journey in the MFC Youth Academy, progressed into the first team, and went on to represent the England Futsal National Team. His story shows just how powerful this joined-up approach can be.

Inspiring the Next Generation

As a role model for younger players, Matty is clear about the value of the partnership:

“Most certainly I would recommend young players to follow the same pathway, especially if they are planning on staying in Manchester for university. With Ryan as a coach, he brings a good level of knowledge of futsal, making the experience much more worth it as you still improve your game whilst studying there.”

A Commitment to Young People

Our investment in this joint pathway with MMU was about more than sport. It was about creating an environment where futsal players can thrive as students, athletes, and people. By raising aspirations and supporting futures both on and off the court, we are proud to be building opportunities that last far beyond the game.

With more academy players entering the programme each year, the Manchester Futsal Club and MMU partnership continues to grow - and so does the future of futsal in Manchester.

If you would like to know more about our programme visit: www.manchesterfutsalacademy.com