MEMBERS of Cherries’ title-winning under-21 squad have been invited by the Football Association to showcase their talents at Futsal.

Stephen Purches’s team, who were crowned southern champions of the Final Third Development League, will pit themselves against England’s elite at St George’s Park tomorrow.

The exhibition match forms part of a four-day course attended by some of the country’s leading coaches with around 120 expected to watch and then give expert analysis on proceedings.

It is one of the modules in the FA’s advanced youth award which has been constructed to fulfil the A licence equivalent in the youth coaching domain and aims to create master coaches who are able to work at the highest level within three specific age phases.

Futsal is a fast-paced, small-sided football game that is widely played across the world and is officially recognised by both UEFA and FIFA.

Purches, who holds the advanced youth award in the professional development category, told the Daily Echo: “They wanted to see an under-21 side whose philosophy is based on passing and trying to play attractive football against an England team which is conditioned and maintained just to play Futsal.

“We were fortunate enough to be invited to St George’s Park and it will be good for the lads during the final part of the season to get their teeth stuck into something now our 11-a-side games have finished.

“The club as a whole is getting a lot more publicity now and there are a lot more opportunities to hopefully take advantage of as a result of that.

“Our lads have had a good season, whether on loan or in our games, and we have had around 40 matches this season. We have seen good progression from all of them.

“This will be another new experience for them and will benefit them because there will be a number of coaches looking on.

“We are taking a squad of 12 and every player will be involved. Futsal is more a basketball-type game and there is a big emphasis on tactics and formations. You can have rolling subs but can only put them on when the ball goes out of play and there are time-outs.

“You need to be ready with different tactics because a lot goes on during games. It is played a lot abroad, especially in Spain and Brazil, and is something the FA are trying to get a lot more into clubs over here. They are using this as an opportunity to see how it will work.”