From Bristol Rovers to Portsmouth - the Futsal Scholarship has made a great start to the new season.

Now The Football League Trust are preparing to roll out the project nationwide after a successful pilot scheme with nine clubs in the South West of England.

Futsal is a two-year education programme, aimed at 16 to 19 year olds, with the added bonus of playing Futsal, FIFA's approved version of indoor five-a-side football, in an organised league.

The first Football League Trust Futsal Festival was staged in Birmingham last year, seeing 400 players and 40 teams competing, and Trust spokesman John Relish said: "The Football League Trust Futsal Scholarship has proved a resounding success.

"The mix of a sound education programme and Futsal has been a winning combination.

"Students are attached to a professional club, so they will receive top class coaching.

John added: "The Football League Trust is delighted to support the Football Scholarship and we are looking forward to extending the programme to all regions of the Football League in the near future."

For more details on the Football League Trust Futsal programme, contact John Relish on 0844 826 3108