TEN years ago, on March 17, 2007, a small group of children gathered at Farnham Sports Centre to try a new sport, floorball.

Farnham Unihockey & Floorball Club was thus born and since then the club’s youngsters have trained with top Swedish clubs, watched the Floorball World Cup and won every British youth title going at least once.

And there were further celebrations on March 12 when the Under-13 Shooting Stars gathered enough points to win the TCL Youth League.

With the Farnham Fireballs having already wrapped up the U16 league before Christmas, this was the first time in the club’s history that both teams had won their leagues.

Their first goalminder, Rory Campbell-Brady, also picked up the prize for the league’s top goalie, based on statistics from the season.

The Shooting Stars achieved 13 wins, two draws and a single loss (when their first-choice goalie was skiing) during the season.

Club chairman Peter Goodman said: “Shooting Stars’ total of 88 goals shows how exciting the sport is to play and watch and why it is growing across the world. It’s great to see that this very week floorball is being played in the Special Olympics in Austria. Back home, we are proud of our young athletes and the passion and skill that they have shown this league season.

“Sadly, the Shooting Stars head coach, Mikko Hupli, is retiring and returning home to Finland in May. The players and staff will miss him and also his girls who play in the team.”

The Fireballs again performed strongly in their latest fixture, beating national champions Arrows 6-5 in a tight match and crushing the Hornets 14-2.

* Two British ice hockey clubs have formed floorball teams to improve stick skills. The link between the two sister sports is becoming stronger.