THE ISLE of Wight beach soccer team has been crowned champions of England after they dominated and won the Men’s National League Super Finals in London — the first time it had been staged in two years due to the pandemic.
The side, managed and skippered by England's Caymen Collins, defeated Eastleigh at Loxford Park last weekend.
The Islanders excelled thanks to goals scored by Scott Lawson and Reanu Grossett (two each), Tommy Jackson, Jaz Camara, Aaron Clarke and Nathan Demitrius Franklin.
It has capped off a superb year for the Islanders — winning their third trophy of the season, with Jackson winning the goalkeeper's Golden Glove award and Grossett, the Most Valuable Player award, sponsored by Elite Soccer UK.
The Island proved too strong — dominating the competition from start to finish and bolstered by a full squad, which included Clarke, Collins's England team-mate, who was recently shortlisted among the world best men’s players, and featuring teenagers from the IWBSA (Beach Soccer Association) youth development leagues, such as Callum Pye-Poulter, Charlie Millward, Tom Grandvoinet and Dexter Collins, who all won their first national league titles.
It was also a special moment for the Lawson, who made it four straight national titles, with team-mate, Camara, making it three in a row.
Well known retired FIFA referee, Torsten Gunther, who officiated at the World Cup in Russia, refereed the national final and presented the trophy to the winning team.
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