English Senior National Championship 2024 – Round-up

The sun, sand, and the spirited shouts of fans set the stage for the 24th edition of the FORZA sponsored Beach Soccer Super Cups, England’s prestigious national championship featuring the NEW Forza ICON FIFA approved ball.

This year’s tournament was a thrilling spectacle of athleticism and strategy, with a twist in the men’s category and a repeat triumph in the women’s.

Men’s Category: A New Champion Emerges The men’s competition saw Portsmouth dominate the group stages, Cam O’Rourke showing his skills and development since playing in the Spanish La Liga phases this summer, with Portsmouth remaining undefeated throughout this stage however coming up against tough opposition in their semi final edging our an experienced and resolute Ryde Sports by 4 goals to 3, yet, it was WKR Santos who rose like a tide, overcoming past defeats to surge into the finals. Their semi-final clash against the Isle of Wight was a display of sheer determination, ending in a 5-2 victory that avenged their previous year’s loss in the final to the IOW men’s side.

The final was a clash of coastal titans, Portsmouth and WKR Santos, locked in a 4-4 draw that led to the nail-biting suspense of penalties. In the end, WKR Santos edged out the victory, driven by the boundless energy of the Maloney brothers who were all in top form helping claim the title of 2024 English men’s super-cup champions and secure their spot in the Euro Winners Cup 2025, with Portsmouth as the valiant runners-up and the Isle of Wight taking home the bronze.  Special thanks to well renowned artists Jeff Dyson, once a player for WKR many years ago and back presenting the trophies he made from local sand over 20 years ago to add to the special WKR day.

Women’s Category: South Coast Beach Soccer Reigns Supreme In the women’s section, history repeated itself with South Coast Beach Soccer led by the trophy winning captain Becky Barron clinching back-to-back super cup crowns. Their final against the Isle of Wight was a showcase of skill and teamwork, leading to a well-deserved victory for Becky and team. Shanklin, consistent in their performance, secured third place once again.

The sands of time will remember the 24th Beach Soccer Super Cups as a tournament of exhilarating highs and the relentless pursuit of glory. Congratulations to all the teams for their incredible performances and to the medal winners for booking their places in the 2025 Euro Winners Cups and Challenge cups.