Futsal Wanderers

Futsal Wanderers were formed in late 2003 in order to enter the Eurofives RBS Trophy, held in Amsterdam in February 2004. Since then they have kept together with the purpose of returning to Amsterdam each year and playing in other occasional tournaments.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2013

Amsterdam, 2nd February 2013.  More...

Failed to qualify for the final but won the third place play-off.  More...

Gogarburn Christmas Cup

Gogarburn, Edinburgh, 21st November 2012.  More...

Failed to retain our trophy. Won 5 out of 6 of our qualifiers, qualifying for the semi-finals in second place, but lost our semi-final to a team we had comfortably beaten in the group section.  More...

Gogarburn Christmas Cup

Gogarburn, Edinburgh, 16th November 2011.  More...

The Wanderers added the Christmas Cup to their silverware collection last night despite missing regulars Ally (new baby), Mike (honeymoon) and Allan (ankle), but bolstered by trialist Gerrard, adding some much needed grit and determination not to mention skill and technique. Having scraped qualification from the "group of death" thanks to being the highest scoring second-placed team, the Wanderers saved their best for last with a solid semi-final performance, winning 1-0, and then securing the trophy with an impressive, age-defying performance in the final to come back from 0-2 down to win a nailbiter 4-3. Amongst notable performances were Brian's clinical finishing, Gerrard's all-round contribution (at only 45, he's definitely one for the future!) and Dave between the sticks, and in particular, his keeping the clean sheet that was needed in the semi-final, with a number of outstanding stops.

This one felt special. It deserves some reflection...

With each passing year our opponents are looking younger and younger because with each passing year our opponents are getting younger, relative to us. But the Wanderers have matured into a greying, balding assortment of players who know their way around a football pitch and never accept they are beaten. At registration, before this tournament kicked-off, we stood shoulder to shoulder with the opposing 14 teams, only to be surrounded by "kids", in their twenties mostly, looking slim, fit, tall even (why is that?), and with the hunger and excitement of youth on their side. It's interesting to try to imagine what these opponents must have thought when they first set eyes on us, if we even registered at all on their young radars. Conspicuous, like mature students at freshers' week, it's probably safe to say they weren't terribly troubled by what they saw.

If we're completely honest with ourselves, I'm not sure how much we fancied our chances in this one, not that we'd ever allow that to show. This then, makes the victory so much sweeter. And here's an interesting fact: the oldest player in the team we beat in the final was 26; almost a generation younger than our average age of 47 on the night. We may no longer be in our prime, but on a good night, we can still play a bit.  More...

Eurofives Amsterdam 2011

Amsterdam 5th February 2011.  More...

Despite leading in every game we played we could only win one and draw one of the four group stage matches, losing the other two by a single goal, thus consigning ourselves to our poorest ever points haul at Eurofives. Very disappointing to have lead the eventual tournament winners by 3-1 and 4-3 but still go down to them 5-4 and consequently end any hope of collecting more Eurofives silverware. A win the the 3rd place playoff was of little consolation. More...

Gogarburn Christmas Cup

Gogarburn, Edinburgh 24th November 2010.  More...

Losing finalists, AGAIN! More...

Scotland IS Tournament

Corn Exchange, Edinburgh 21st May 2010.  More...

The Wanderers won their hard fought group stage, remaining unbeaten in the process. However we slumped badly to a 3-0 defeat in the semi and another trophy went a-begging. More...

Eurofives Amsterdam 2010

Amsterdam, 6th February 2010.  More...

No sixth Eurofives trophy for the Wanderers it's sad to report. In a tournament where the overall standard was higher than we'd seen before at Eurofives, a goalless draw in the opening game and a last minute winner against us by the eventual tournament winners put paid to our chances. Victories in our other two matches gave us 7 points, but it was not quite enough and we missed out on a spot in the final on goal difference. More...

Gogarburn Christmas Cup

Gogarburn, 9th December 2009.  More...

Another Christmas tournament and a second final in a week. Unfortunately no repeat of the previous week's result though as the Wanderers went down 5-2 in the final after five straight wins to get there.

Drummond House Christmas Cup

Drummond House, Edinburgh, 2nd December 2009.  More...

With Graeme unavailable due to injury, Nick took over as temporary captain and successfully led the Wanderers to their first tournament victory on British soil.

Bright Purple 7's

Stewarts Melville School, 28th September 2009.  More...

The Wanderers took part in a charity tournament run by Bright Purple Resourcing. The tournament, held at Stewarts Melville School, was to raise funds for a homeless people's charity. The Wanderers were unbeaten in their group stage winning five straight matches without the loss of a goal. However, in the semi-final we were well beaten 1-0 by JP Morgan who subsequently went on to win the final and collect the trophy.

Scotland IS 2009

Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 25th May 2009.  More...

Sadly, the Wanderers failed to qualify for the semi-final. In mitigation, goalkeeper Dave had to retire injured during the third match and so for our crucial final game we had no regular goalkeeper.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2009

Amsterdam, 8th February 2009.  More...

The Wanderers pulled off a sensational tournament win yesterday in Amsterdam to bring home the silverware once more. A record breaking 5th Eurofives trophy was secured with a 3 - 2 penalty shoot-out victory against the Greenock Mortgage Centre after the final had been drawn 1 - 1.

Having been well beaten earlier in the tournament by the Greenock youngsters, and therefore in the unusual role of Eurofives underdogs, a wonderful team performance was produced to see off the hot favourites from Greenock in the final.

Commemorative Video

Paul McInally Charity Tournament 2008

Castlemilk, Glasgow, 12th July 2008.  More...

Failed to qualify. The less said the better.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2008

Amsterdam, 9th Feb 2008.  More...

A fourth RBS Trophy was secured in Amsterdam this afternoon. After a poor start with the opening game drawn, the Wanderers moved through the gears in the next two matches, scoring 13 goals in total and conceding only one to win the tournament on goal difference.

Scotland IS 2007

Almondvale, Livingston. Friday 18th May, 2007.  More...

For the second year running, the Wanderers finished disappointed, as losing finalists, in the Scotland IS tournament at Livingston.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2007

Amsterdam. Saturday 10th February, 2007.  More...

Victorious again, in Amsterdam 2007. "Edinburgh?s Group Tech Wanderers notched an historic third trophy triumph after a dramatic see-saw battle with Glasgow Business Managers." William Walker, Eurofives.

Scotland IS 2006

Almondvale, Livingston, 12th May 2006.  More...

Posted by Brian: After a nervy first couple of games where we were playing ping pong with the woodwork we were settled in the 3rd game by a Binnie belter (came off his knee I think!). After that we played some good stuff. Our best game was probably the QF, although beating Dell in the Semi was apparently a surprise to some folk as they were seen as favourites, they didn't really trouble us though. The Final was for some reason cut down to only 8 mins, but they were the better side anyway so no real complaints. Good day though, and they said they'll be organising it again next year.

RBS Graduates' Tournament 2006

RBS Gogarburn, 23rd February 2006.  More...

The final was drawn 2-2 and a coin was tossed to decide whether extra time or penalties were to be played - the tournament was a bit chaotic and the "organisers" made the rules up as they went along. The toss came up penalties and the Wanderers lost 4-2 on penalties. Brian and Mike converted. Graeme and Dave missed. A sad ending to this tournament for the Wanderers.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2006

Amserdam, 4th February 2006.  More...

The Wanderers cruised to their second RBS Trophy tournament victory with three straight wins in Amsterdam this afternoon.

Graeme's Thunderbolt

Paul McInally Charity Tournament 2005

Castlemilk, Glasgow, 25th June 2005.  More...

Beaten in the semi-final by Castlemilk Bowling Club who went on the win the final and lift the trophy. So not for the first time, the Wanderers were beaten by the eventual tournament champions.

Friday Lads' Easter Tournament 2005

Portobello, Edinburgh, Good Friday 2005.  More...

Unfortunately for the Wanderers, the tournament rules meant that goals scored rather than goal difference was used to determine the final positions. This meant that the Wanderers finished third and missed out on qualifing for the final, which they would have done, had the tournament organiser used the more conventional method of computing league standings.

Eurofives Amsterdam 2005

Amsterdam, 4th February 2005.  More...

Runners-up. Not good.

Sighthill RBS Tournament 2004

Sighthill, Edinburgh, 4th July 2004.  More...

The sad postscript to this convincing league table win is that this tournament involved semi finals and finals to be played between the top four teams in the league. Having been top of the league, we were seeded against Fernerbampots, who were fourth, in the semi final. A semi-final which, sadly and inexplicably, we managed to lose 2-1. It was no consolation to us whatsoever that Fernerbampots went on the win the trophy and their captain was awarded "man of the tournament".

Eurofives Amsterdam 2004

Amsterdam, 7th February July 2004.  More...

A debut tournament victory, and the Wanderers story begins...