YORK City Futsal will kick off their second Super League season this month with head coach Junior Roberti hoping to make a bigger impression in the English game’s top tier.

The Heslington-based club finished just one place above the relegation zone during a competitive introduction to life at the top table but Brazilian Roberti, who played professional futsal in his home country, Spain and Italy and has overseen the growth of the game in York during the last seven years, believes a raft of exciting overseas signings can help the team set their sights higher during 2018/19.

Following a friendly on Sunday, September 16, which will be free for spectators in the University of York’s Sports Hall, Roberti’s men will kick off their campaign at Team United Birmingham a fortnight later, before entertaining Oxford FC Lions in their first league home game on October 7.

Reflecting on the lessons learned from last term and his hopes for better times ahead, Roberti said: “Last season was our first in the Super League and it was really hard.

“We finished tenth of 12 teams and really struggled, so we realised we needed to improve everything, including recruitment and we’ve brought in more, experienced players from Spain, Brazil and Bulgaria. We’ve signed Bulgaria’s international goalkeeper Vesko Konov and I think we’ve brought some good signings in who, with good local support, can help us improve our league position.

“Realistically, after last season, we’re looking at safety and not being relegated and we’ve got to be consistent. We made a good start last season and, after a third of the games had been played, we were in the top four, but we had some injuries and suspensions in the final third of the season and we need to cope with that better, because I want to fight for the top six.

“You get more money the higher you finish, so every point means more income to run the club.”

Among the other worldwide recruits, Spanish trio Manuel “Mankoke” Martinez, Victor Ramos and Moasin Carreto will be joined in North Yorkshire this season by Chilean Roly Donoso, Italy’s Riccardo Lecca and Ze Eduardo, of Brazil.

The new faces will team up with existing England internationals Robbie Bettson and Michael Bulmer, who will be hoping to help their country qualify for the 2020 World Cup.

Four graduates, from a burgeoning academy that now includes more than 100 members, have also been promoted to the first-team squad.

It appears to be a reliable conveyor belt of talent too, with all eight games across two age groups recently ending in victory for the City youngsters during a tournament in Spain.

Season-tickets are now on sale which, at £20 for 11 matches, represent a significant saving on the matchday price of £3.

Under-16 season-tickets are also available for £10, with the matchday price £2, whilst under-five fans are admitted free of charge.

Payment can be made online by visiting https://officialsoccerschools.co.uk/yorkcity/york-city-fc-futsal-season-ticket-offer.html

A total of 62 season-tickets were snapped up last term and Roberti is hoping to hit three figures this season, as the advance revenue is crucial in the covering of costs including transport, facility hiring and kit, as well as player maintenance and expenses.

The average attendance in 2017/18 was 140, with the biggest crowd of 220 recorded for the relegation battle against Tranmere Rovers when a 5-0 triumph preserved Super League status.

Home matches are played on Sundays at 4.15pm with protection from the elements guaranteed, regardless of the time of year.

On the appeal of futsal spectating, Roberti added: “It’s dynamic and there are normally lots of goals. You can also watch games in a warm, comfortable place and teams are either attacking or defending all the time.

“It’s a bit like basketball in that respect and there’s no time-wasting tactics because the clock is always stopped. We also play in the highest division in the country, so you can watch the best futsal players around, with European Champions League football the prize for the top teams.”

York City Futsal’s fixtures for 2018/19 are: Sept 30 – Team United Birmingham (A); Oct 7 – Oxford FC Lions (H); Oct 14 – Southend (A); Oct 21 – Reading (H); Nov 11 – Sussex (H); Nov 18 – Newcastle (A); Nov 25 – London Helvecia (H); Dec 2 – Cambridge United (H); Dec 9 – FC Salisbury United (A); Jan 20 – Team United Birmingham (H); Jan 27 – Cambridge United (A); Feb 10 – Oxford City (A); Feb 17 – Southend (H); Feb 24 – Reading (A); Mar 10 – Manchester (H); Mar 17 – Sussex (A); Mar 24 - Newcastle (H); Mar 31 – London Helvecia (A).

To receive details of sponsorship opportunities, please email juniorroberti@hotmail.com