Hamilton-based Four Zero Futsal recently announced a partnership with Reading Royals Futsal Club in the United Kingdom, which comes with a range of benefits for both organisations. This includes access to new talent for Reading, along with international playing and coaching opportunities for New Zealanders via Four Zero Futsal.
 
These opportunities have already kicked in, with Sam Masterson being appointed Head Coach and Kyle Wisnewski, Jordi Ditfort and Logan Wisnewski being signed to play for Reading Royals in the 2022/2023 FA National league season. 
 
Well known New Zealand international and WaiBOP futsal legend, Brayden Lissington, has joined the journey as a director of Four Zero UK. Lissington, also with the Royals, has been based in the UK for several years. His ambition is to apply the Four Zero ethos to futsal in the UK to accelerate the growth of the sport. "Reading Royals is a great club with big ambition. There is so much potential for growth here, and Four Zero is excited to be joining the club on this journey," explained Lissington.
 
"I'm also just so pumped to be on board and to be seeing my mates here in the UK soon!"
 
Richard Oxley, Royals Secretary and Men’s Team Manager, explained the benefit of this exciting new partnership from his club's perspective.
 
“The immediate benefit of this partnership is a massive injection of international futsal experience into our Men’s squad. We are really excited to welcome Jordi Ditfort, Logan Wisnewski and Kyle Wisnewski to the club, all current members of the New Zealand Men’s Futsal squad,” says Oxley.
 
Ditfort and the Wisnewski brothers join the Royals having successfully plied their trade with the Waikato Rapids. Collectively the trio bring 195 club appearances and 95 goals between them. The young trio also bring the experience of 19 international appearances and 6 international goals.
 
Oxley continues: “We are also excited to welcome Sam Masterson to the club as our new Men’s Head Coach. Sam is a specialist futsal coach from New Zealand and will allow Brayden [Royals player-coach since 2020] to focus on playing.”
 
Masterson also joins the Royals from the Waikato Rapids. Under his watch, the Rapids finished first and second in the New Zealand Men’s Futsal Superleague. Following this success, Masterson was named 2020 New Zealand Futsal Coach of the Year.
 
As well as access to international futsal talent, the partnership with Four Zero Futsal will also bring a specialist futsal service provider to Reading and the surrounding area. Kyle Wisnewski, founded Four Zero Futsal to support the development of futsal. The ethos of Four Zero Futsal is to work with schools and clubs to deliver quality futsal programmes and create futsal pathways.