LONDON City Futsal Club are eager to make Southend their permanent home next season.

The club, who regularly play their home fixtures at the Copperbox in the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, have hosted their last two home encounters at Garon Park.

And Pete Goodwin, a London City director, wants to see the club make a permanent move to Southend.

Goodwin said: “We want to bring the club back home.

“Junior Bocas, who I formed in 2009, is the Southend academy but we have to play in London because we couldn’t get permission to play at Garon Park.

“Newham Council welcomed us so we play at the Copperbox, but we had big crowds for the two matches we played at Garon Park and it would be great to move there permanently from next season.

“We might even change our name to Southend Bocas and it would make sense to move because a lot of us involved in the club are from the area.”

And Goodwin is pleased to see the popularity of the indoor, five-a-side sport growing rapidly.

“It’s officially the fastest growing sport in the UK at the moment,” confirmed Goodwin.

“The FA have bought into it quite heavily and futsal is now being played in a lot of the youth leagues, which particularly makes sense in the winter months.

“There has been a massive increase in futsal players and we are oversubscribed at all levels at the moment.”

An impressive crowd of 321 attended the FA Cup holders’ 5-4 win over London United at Garon Park.

But London City fell to a 6-2 defeat against FC Salisbury United despite two goals from Shaun Flicker as the FA National Superleague touched down at Garon Park.

However, Goodwin believes the club has a bright future.

Goodwin added: “Junior Bocas have toured Portugal, playing teams like Sporting and Benfica, and it’s a great experience.

“London City are ranked the 16th best team in Europe and are the only club from this country to reach the main round of the Champions League.”