A TEAM from the Isle of Wight are to represent England at the inaugural European Winners Cup beach football tournament in Italy.

Sandown Sociedad will be one of 20 European national champions descending on the town of San Benedetto del Tronto, in the Ascoli Piceno province, betweenMay 15-19.

Beach Promotions UK are funding Sandown’s trip to Italy whileStanno UK are supply brand new kit.

Sandown Sociedad won last year’s EnglishSuperCupafterbeatingThe Bees 3-2 in a classic final.

This win earned Sandown the right to represent England in Italy, where theyhave competedpreviously in 2011. Sociedad have also played in Portugal.

Sociedad coach Luke Kerr said: “Whenthe team wonthe Super Cup, the quality of beach soccer from the players was incredible and some of the goals were simply amazing.

“We are now hoping to take that good form into this major European competition.

“We’re thrilled to be representing England inItaly and look forward to playing beach soccer in Europe again where we know the matches will be hard fought against some of the world’s best players.”

Sociedad, who have several England national players in their squad, will compete in Group D alongside Grasshopper (Zurich) who have England national player Mitch Day in their ranks.

Griffin (Ukraine) and Viareggio BS (Italy) complete the four-team qualifying group.