The 2016/17 campaign proved to be a special season for Northumbria University’s women’s futsal team, who were crowned BUCS cup champions at the Copper Box arena in London’s Olympic Park.
The treble winning ‘Invincibles’ are arguably Northumbria’s most successful team, losing only one match in the last three seasons.
But with several stars on the move, coach Michael Gunn is preparing for a transitional summer.
Megan Pyper is one of those set to exit - she captained the side in her final season after three years playing for the team and admitted the opportunity had been a special experience.
“I’ve been a part of the team for a while now but this season has been a bit different for me, because I was captain of the team,” said Pyper.
“But it’s been another really successful year – we’ve managed to go the whole season unbeaten for the third year in a row to carry on that tradition.
“We had a great group of girls this season; we had to rely on a number of freshers, but they gelled with the rest of the team really well and performed all year.
“The girls all pulled together and we formed another really strong team that can hopefully continue to do well in years to come.
“But a lot of it has to go down to Michael - without the training, commitment and the support that he has put into it, it wouldn’t have ended the way it has.
“We’re also really close to the boys’ team as well and that family environment where we were all together really helped.”
Making the final of the BUCS cup allowed the girls to finish their season off in style in a world class venue, an experience that Pyper and her teammates relished.
“It was a special occasion,” she added. “To compete in an Olympic venue was incredible and really put an edge on the match.
“We’d travelled down the day before so we were able to spend the night together preparing ourselves together as a team.
“The men’s second team were also playing that day and watching them in what was a really exciting game, really spurred us on to achieve what we wanted to achieve and in the end, we did that.
“I’m really proud to have captained such a nice set of girls but to lead them to three titles was a really great achievement.”
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