Ella Brennan, an 18-year-old sports scholar at the University of Derby, has been named in the inaugural England Futsal Lionesses squad. The team will compete in Moldova next month in a UEFA qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup.
Brennan, who is in her first year studying for a BA in Sport and Education, is part of a 14-player squad that will face Finland, Slovenia, and Moldova. A lifelong football fan and Derby County season ticket holder, Brennan is excited to represent England in this historic moment for women’s futsal.
“This is such an amazing opportunity, and I have received fantastic support from the University of Derby,” Brennan said. “The England Futsal Lionesses squad is brand-new, and we are relatively unknown compared to countries like Spain and Brazil, who have had female futsal teams for years. We can use this to our advantage, analysing footage of our competitors to prepare. Finland will be the ones to watch—they’re the favourites to qualify.”
Futsal, a fast-paced indoor version of football, was developed in Uruguay in the 1930s. It involves five players per side, including a goalkeeper, and is played in two 20-minute halves. While the sport is popular in Europe, this is the first time England has entered a female team into a UEFA-recognised tournament.
Though Brennan is new to futsal, having started just two years ago, she brings a wealth of football experience. She began playing at age seven with Allenton United and was later selected for Derby Regional Talent Centre. She currently plays semi-professionally for Stoke City and joined Derby Futsal Club two years ago. The club, which plays its home games at the University of Derby, has been instrumental in Brennan’s futsal journey.
“Futsal complements the way I play football, and I would encourage more females to take up the sport,” she said. “Both football and futsal for women have grown massively in recent years, and Derby Futsal Club has been hugely supportive of my career. They played a key role in helping me secure my sports scholarship at the University of Derby.”
The University of Derby’s Sports Scholarship programme supports student athletes competing at high levels in their respective fields, offering them dual career opportunities through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) Dual Career Accreditation. Brennan credits the university’s facilities and supportive environment as major reasons for choosing to study there.
“I’ve been using the first-class facilities for years and always felt comfortable at Derby,” Brennan said. “I want to pass my love of sport on to the next generation, and studying at Derby allows me to do that while also continuing to play at a high level.”
Jordan Butler, Performance Sports Manager at the University of Derby, expressed pride in Brennan’s achievements. “The Sports Scholarship programme is designed to help talented athletes like Ella realise their sporting potential while supporting their academic goals,” Butler said. “We’re incredibly proud of Ella and look forward to following her journey with the England Futsal Lionesses.”
Read more about sport scholarships at the University of Derby.
