Local futsal player to take part in UEFA Futsal Champions League

A Tameside futsal player will soon take on some of Europe’s elite. 

Kai Lawless (left), a former St Thomas More student, will be jetting off to Athens next week to take part in the UEFA Futsal Champions League. 

Along with lifelong friend Oscar Lucas (right), from Mossley, Kai qualified for the prestigious competition back in June as their club, Bolton Futsal Club, were crowned National Champions.  

Bolton secured the title after defeating Manchester Futsal Club in the FA National Futsal Series Tier 1 Grand Final. 

Unfortunately, due to an injury sustained ahead of the event, Oscar will be unable to take part. 

Kai and Oscar’s side will enter at the Preliminary Round stage, facing off against four opponents in a round robin format, with the winner of the group advancing to the Main Round. 

They will take on hosts AEK Athens, Hungarian side Futsal Club Veszprem, and Sjarmtrollan of Norway between August 26 and 29. 

Ahead of the event, Kai told the Reporter: “I’ve been doing this for over 12 years now, so to finally reach the top of English futsal and have the chance to play against the best teams in Europe is pretty special.” 

Unlike in football, English futsal clubs are seen as European minnows when compared to clubs from other nations, with Bolton Futsal Club currently ranked 84th in Europe. 

Speaking to the Reporter back in June, Kai’s friend and teammate Oscar revealed: “To compare it to football, we’d be ranked similar to say a Latvian side. 

“It’s an amateur sport over here, whereas in other countries it’s professional. 

“Countries like Kazakhstan, who have sides that are not ranked very highly in football, have the third best futsal team in Europe.” 

Despite this, Kai says the club are looking forward to the challenge. 

“There’s ambition among the group to go there and pick up some results. 

“We’ve seen English teams play in Europe and get turned over, but I think some of the previous sides have been quite arrogant. 

“As a club, we’re not afraid to change how we play, because you can get found out in European competitions. 

“The aim is to be successful in the Champions League, but if nothing else, it’s a brilliant pre-season ahead of the new league campaign, which starts in September. 

“Some teams see it as a bit of an inconvenience, but we’re going to embrace it.  

“There’s no better way to prepare for a season than to play three top European teams, we might not get that opportunity again.” 

Though this is undoubtedly one of Kai’s biggest achievements, it won’t be the first time he has appeared in a European competition. 

Alongside Oscar, Kai featured for Scotland’s national futsal team during last year’s Futsal Euro 2026 qualifiers in Switzerland, with the latter finding the net against Malta in the opening game. 

The duo switched their allegiances ahead of the event in an effort to play at the highest level. 

“We were supposed to represent England in the Under 19’s Euros, but then Covid hit,” Oscar told the Reporter. 

“After Covid, the English FA decided to cut all funding for futsal, to focus on football. 

“It was frustrating, especially considering they continued to fund esports. 

“It’s a real shame; you’re seeing things like ballers league get so many views because people are investing in it, and I think if futsal had the same investment, everyone would love it.” 

“Seeing other countries thrive in futsal, it’s really frustrating,” Kai continued. 

“It’s not just the lack of funding either, it’s the lack of promotion. 

“There are so many football players out there who would be top futsal players, but they don’t even know it exists.” 

In their younger days, the pair spent time at various football academies, then going on to play for several local non-league clubs including Glossop North End, before giving this up to fully focus on futsal. 

“The love for football is still there, but to have the opportunity to play abroad, and play at the highest level of a sport, is something you don’t get with football,” Kai told the Reporter. 

“I think there is an arrogance towards futsal, people just think it’s indoor football but it’s much more than that. 

“Personally, I found playing football easier once I started futsal. 

“Because you play futsal on such a small pitch, you have no time and no space, so you’ve got to be excellent technically, whereas with football you can get away with it a bit more if you’re physical.”  

“You don’t get the same privileges playing football,” Oscar continued. 

“It was either turn up on a Saturday and play on a rubbish pitch for 50 quid, or represent my country and play in the Champions League, so I just wanted to focus all my time on futsal.” 

As well as playing, Kai and Oscar also coach for local futsal club, Sala, running sessions at Fairfield High School and Ashton Sixth Form College for children aged 6-16. 

Both grew up playing futsal with Sala from age 9, and enjoy giving something back by helping develop the next generation of futsal players. 

“We want to be role models for the ones coming through,” Oscar told the Reporter. 

“The kids have seen us play in the Euros and watched us on TV, and it’s great because they can now see that might be an option for them as well.” 

Kai continued: “A lot of parents push their kids to succeed in football, but now they’ll know there’s another pathway there if football doesn’t work out for them.”