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United Kingdom Minifootball Association (UKMA) is the license holder for the governance of all forms of 5/6/7-a-side football in the United Kingdom, forming in 2012, when it became part of the European Minifootball Federation.
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The European Minifootball Association
The UKMA is part of the European Minifootball Association (EMF). The European Minifootball Federation is recognised by the European Union as the governing body for the sport in Europe
Minieuro
The UK Minifootball Association is also licensed to supply the national teams for the four home countries (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to the European Minifootball Championships which are held annually in a European country, and which were held in 2012 in Moldova’s capital city Chisinau, won by Romania who defeated Montenegro 2-1 in the final. The England team did not get past the group stages.
In 2013 The United Kingdom Minifootball Association took the England, Scotland and Wales teams to Crete to compete in the second event
England performed better this time, reaching the Quarter Final Stage, while Wales and Scotland were eliminated in the group stages.
Venue Accreditation
The UK Minifootball Association also accredits venues throughout the UK to be charter standard for league operators for the role of minifootball and also assists its member affiliates in promoting minifootball throughout the United Kingdom.
Venues across the UK have applied to be accredited, with the first announced as being the Wakefield Football Centre.
Membership
The UK Minifootball Associations annual report in 2012 listed its key objective as reaching its target of 1.3 million players within its membership by the end of 2015. On 20 February 2013 the UKMA announced it had recruited 5000 players so far in the year.
At the end of the year in 2013, membership stood at over 100,000.
Affiliates
As of 2 January 2014, the UKMA had over 20 affiliated organisations. With league providers in Scotland, Wales as well as dozens in England
Participation
The UK Minifootball Associations annual report in 2012 listed its key objective as reaching its target of 1.3 million players within its membership by the end of 2015.On 20 February 2013 it announced it had recruited 5000 new players in 2013 it has many new affiliates
Sponsorship
The UK Minifootball Association has key partners including leading sportswear manufacturer Umbro who supply the kit for the National teams and the UK’s leading manufacturer of astroturf pitches, Tiger Turf UK.
England Friendlies
On 5 February 2013, the England Team took on Bulgaria in its first ever friendly the England team won 6-1
International Call Ups
Players were selected in 2013 after a series of trials held first locally then nationally. The idea is to take the grass roots players and give them chance to represent their country. Some of these players became local celebrities, and their achievements were covered by local media. As these players are strictly amateur, they often have to get time off work to play, but many employers are proud that their staff are called up
International Developments 2013-14
After a review of the international teams following the miniEURO 2013 event, the UKMA announced on 29 October that the England coaching team was to be changed This was quickly followed by further announcements regarding the Wales and Scotland teams
It was announced in December 2013 that there would individual trials days held in the Spring of 2014 with the aim of selecting the squads for miniEURO 2014. The first of these was announced as being at Stevenage Borough's home stadium.
UK 6 a side Championships
On 18 Feb 2013 UKMA announced that they had purchased the National Tournament, the UK's biggest 6 a side football tournament. It planned to rebrand the tournament as the UK 6 a side Championships
The national football magazine When Saturday Comes printed an article in their November 2013 edition, in which they called for the tournament to be televised, it appeared on page 26 of the physical edition.