The eurofootballfives.com Veterans Tournament is very much a moveable feast. Following our debut in Lisbon in 2013 we have taken in the veritable delights of Mallorca in 2014 & 2017, the Algarve in 2015 & 2018, a return to Lisbon in 2016 and 2022 plus Alicante in 2019. The ninth edition of our summer veterans tournament was upon us and we couldn't wait to get started in Group B.

Previous winners:

2013: Sao Marcos (Por)

2014: Palmesanos (Spa)

2015: Mini FC (Por)

2016: Sago (Por)

2017: FC Mahou (Eng)

2018: Mini FC (Por)

2019: Esparta (Spa)

2022: FC Mahou (Eng)

First up in Group A was AFC Blue Boys (Pol) versus Ruta Uno FC (Wal). Both teams will have spotted that they were in a group with two-times champions FC Mahou so would no doubt want to get off to a fast start before they met the pre-tournament favourites.

AFC Blue Boys were competing in their 5 th tournament in 18 months with us but their first at Veterans level. Ruta Uno FC were on debut and we were keen to see their abilities on the pitch.

It looked like two well matched teams in the first half and it was AFC Blue Boys who nudged ahead thanks to a Artur Sukiennik goal. The second half began well for the Welsh team as they levelled things up. Elliott Batte had the honour of scoring his team's first goal in eurofootballfives.com competition.

Ultimately it was Artur Sukiennik who stole the show as he regained the lead for AFC Blue Boys before going on to complete his hat-trick. The Polish team were off to the perfect start, 3-1.

The final team in Group B to get their campaign underway was FC Mahou (Eng) versus AFC Blue Boys (Pol). Given their record in previous events you might say we were saving the best to last as the defending champions from Lisbon took to the field.

At the 2022 Veterans Tournament it was another Group victory with only a 0-0 draw against ACE & The Swagmen preventing a 100% record as 2-0, 1-0 and 5-0 victories meant they navigated the group phase without conceding. French side Les 5 Salopards awaited them in the Cup Semi-Finals and they emerged victorious 2-1. They looked to be cruising to the title against FC Dad as they lead 2-0 until a late comeback from their opponents saw the game finish 2-2 in normal time. FC Mahou eventually went on to win the Cup courtesy of a penalty shoot-out.

It looked to be normal service resumed for FC Mahou in the first half as Mike Brandon put the English team ahead. AFC Blue Boys then put in a sensational second half performance. They would no doubt have been buoyed by their opening game success (3-1 v Ruta Uno FC) and pulled this game level thanks to a goal from Daniel Kuty. It was to get even better for the Polish side as Artur Sukiennik, fresh from a hat-trick in Game 1, scored his fourth of the tournament to earn a sensational 2-1 win for AFC Blue Boys who were top of the league.

This was a sensational result – since transitioning to our Veterans tournaments (from Open Age) in 2017, FC Mahou had only lost 1 of 26 games which was the Cup Semi-Final in Alicante in 2019. This was the first ever game in the group phase that they'd lost and an end to their 100% win record in Veterans games in Mallorca.

Ruta Uno FC (Wal) were next in action on Pitch A as they entertained Peebles All Stars (Sco). The former were looking to avenge opening game defeat whilst Peebles All Stars were looking to kick on with a second successive victory here.

Peebles All Stars played here at the 2018 Mallorca Veterans Tournament when they started off slowly with 2 defeats (0-1, 1-3). They then embarked on a 4 game unbeaten run that saw them defeat the eventual champions Policia Local de Palma (2-1) and also pick-up three 0-0 draws. They finished third in their group to qualify for the Plate Semi-Finals but went out 5-0 to Bure Park Old Boys. Up until that point they'd proven very hard to beat.

Their experience here in 2023 was looking similar with a 1-0 win in their first game and they then reached half-time level at 0-0 in this one. As the game wore on though the match swung in favour of Ruta Uno FC. It was the Welsh side who opened the scoring courtesy of Dan Bethell. Morgan Roberts doubled the advantage before Jonathan Caulfield sealed the destination of the points at 3-0.

Ross Pickburn reduced the deficit to 3-1 but, alas for Peebles All Stars, it proved to be a mere consolation as Liam Flaherty restored the 3 goal lead. Final score was 4-1 and Ruta Uno FC had their first win on the board.

The game that took us to the halfway stage of Group A was to be The Maulers versus FC Mahou.

The Maulers can consider themselves prtty unlucky that in their two tournaments they have drawn FC Mahou both times. Not only that, this time they face FC Mahou in the form of a wounded beast having just lost in the group phase of our Veterans events for the first time – a run that extends back to 2017 at this level.

To be fair, The Maulers did a pretty decent job last time out restricting FC Mahou to a 2-0 win (Mike Brandon, Iain Raisbeck). Approximately 11 months on from that game and it was Iain Raisbeck on target again as he broke the deadlock for FC Mahou. Steve Sachro doubled the lead and it was 2-0 again although we were just at the half-time stage this year. In the second half Sachro bagged his second of the game and Matt Nicholls opened his personal account to round off a 4-0 victory.

FC Mahou were back to winning ways and one of a clutch of 3 teams on 3 points in mid-table. The Maulers were looking for their first points of the tournament.

Veterans

(For Open Age, click introduction and then select the relevant Open Age section)