Filthy tackles and dirty dribbling are positively encouraged in a newly emerging sport that is taking the footie world by storm.

In fact a triumphant Poole team scored last year as men’s world champions in the spectacularly wet sport of Swamp Soccer.

And this weekend the aptly named FC Full Gunge team will be defending their title at the 2009 Swamp Soccer New World Championships in Scotland.

“We did it in the first place because it looked like a lot of fun,” said captain David Butt, 30. “It was totally different and a good chance to get a lot of us away for the weekend and have a bit of a laugh.”

Three years ago the team made up of friends and seven colleagues from Bournemouth based company Sure Investment, made the quarter-final.

Last year they scored around 10 goals, conceding one, in winning the six games necessary to lift the title, clinching it in a watery penalty shootout.

Originating from the bogs of Finland, the tactics of swamp soccer are simple and played on a soggy, grassless pitch, slightly larger than a five-a-side team, for 24 minutes.

Each team consists of six players and any number of substitutes, there is no offside and as the ball does not travel well on the soft surface the best way to make it move is by kicking or heading it.

“Refereeing is lax,” admitted David. “There is a bit of nobbling and encouraging people to get stuck in. There is a bit of pushing and grabbing.”

The uneven pitch means you can be playing in little more than a puddle or sinking knee deep in inches of gluey gunge.

“It’s incredibly tough,” said David. “There are a lot of substitutions and a lot of rotation. When you stop you get sucked in.”

Boots have to be taped on with miles of black tape. “Or they come off in the mud and you never see them again.” Shoes cannot be changed but waterproof socks come courtesy of sponsors SealSkinz Sport.

The fourth global tournament has attracted around 44 teams and the 10-strong local team aged 23-30, plus a mixed-team, are hoping to emerge from the swamp triumphant again.