From soft sand challenges to global tournaments, England international James Temple shares what makes beach football a thrilling and growing sport
James Temple, 40, from West Sussex, is one of England’s leading beach footballers. James has just returned from the Beach Football World Cup – which Brazil won on the beaches of the Seychelles – and taken part in two beach soccer festivals this Summer. (Wightwave Beachfest on the Isle of Wight and Beach Fest Bournemouth).
Raised on the Isle of Wight – home to the UK’s original beach football league – James switched from semi-pro grass football to beach football at 19. Since then, he has earned nearly 150 international caps, becoming a cornerstone of the England squad.
Playing on Sand
“Balance is a huge challenge because you’re playing on soft sand, so stability is tricky,” James explains. “Movement requires explosive power – pushing off and accelerating in sand feels like running through porridge!”
Beach football is a fast-paced, five-a-side game with rolling substitutions, played in three 12-minute periods. “It’s almost like basketball with its tactical fluidity,” he says. “The ball spends more time in the air, which makes for lots of acrobatic volleys and overhead kicks. It’s a real spectacle for fans.”
Though physically intense, James points out the sport is easier on the body than grass football: “The sand is much more forgiving on the joints, and there are fewer injuries. Plus, the game is played with respect – there’s none of the aggression you sometimes see in grass football.”
Having competed worldwide – from South Africa to Tahiti – James now aims to help England climb into Europe’s elite Division A, where powerhouses like Italy and Spain play. Despite beach football’s modest UK profile, he’s passionate about raising its visibility: “It’s an incredible sport, and we’re fired up to make a mark on the global stage ahead of the World Cup.”
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