The first phase of the 2019 Alicante Veterans Tournament would be decided on a group basis. There was one group with 5 teams and one group with 6 teams.

Each team would play each other team in their group once and therefore 4/5 group games. After which, depending on position, they would progress to the Cup or Plate competition.

The teams finishing 1st and 2nd in each group would progress to the Cup competition. This was played as a knock-out phase with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final.

The teams finishing 3rd and 4th in each group would progress to the Plate competition. This was played as a knock-out phase with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final.

The teams finishing 5th and 6th in each group would be eliminated at this stage.

The next two teams up on Pitch D were Dream Team and The Warriors. It was another example of a team on debut (Dream Team) against a team who were experienced in these tournaments (The Warriors). Spain had beaten England in the first game and we were to get a repeat here in game 2.

A goal in each half for Dream Team (Adrian San Layetano in the first, Jose Martinez Martinez in the second) secured all three points for the local team, 2-0.

The final fixture in the opening round of Group A was a team on debut – Sandgate Salmons. They were up against the most experienced team in the draw – FC Mahou. FC Mahou were making an 11th appearance in our events.

On paper this was a frightening prospect for Sandgate Salmons as their opponents were well decorated in these tournaments. FC Mahou had won the 2011 Prague Masters, 2013 Algarve Open and 2017 Mallorca Veterans Tournament. They had also won the Plate at our 2014 Budapest Fives tournament.

Despite this impressive eurofootballfives.com CV for FC Mahou, Sandgate Salmons acquitted themselves well in the opening period. They held FC Mahou to 0-0 at half-time. In the second half the quality of FC Mahou shone through as Mike Brandon scored twice to win it for the team who were hunting down a fourth eurofootballfives.com title.