Last but not least, we come to Group C where the group began with Palma Bay CF making their debut against Melee FC – it would be a daunting start to eurofootballfives.com life for the Spanish team.

Melee FC (Eng) played in the 2013 Barcelona Fives and finished joint top with ADP Netherlands (2nd on goal difference). Their haul of 9 points (from a possible 12) saw them qualify for the Cup where they defeated Club Tropicana Drinks FC in the QF and Sporting Gingham in the SF. The Cup Final was a very close affair but unfortunately for Melee FC they finished runners-up, 1-0, to Los Swallacticos of Northern Ireland.

They followed up Barcelona with an appearance at the 2014 Amsterdam Fives. They won 7-0 and 3-0 before a couple of defeats threatened their Cup qualification. A 6-1 win in the final group game ensured they would qualify for the elite competition. A 2-2 draw against East Compton Eagles in the QF saw them go through via penalties before a fine 4-1 SF win over Return of the Dancing Horses III meant a second successive Cup Final. They were to be Runners-Up again after Athletico Do Hollande claimed their third eurofootballfives.com title.

Would it be third time lucky at the 2015 Lisbon Tournament? They started off very well as they won Group C to qualify for the Cup competition again. They drew with 2014 Mallorca Tournament winners, Cheesecake FC, 2-2 in the Quarter-Finals and went through on penalties. They then lost narrowly in the Semi-Finals, 1-0, to Fidelidade (Por).

We wondered if 2016 could be their year at the Riga Tournament. They finished joint top of Group B with FK Prienai Lithuania on 11 points (3 wins, 2 draws). They finished 2 nd on goal difference which meant a tougher Cup Quarter-Final against 2013 Mallorca Fives winners – L'Albiceleste of France (won in Mallorca as Grant Thornton). An entertaining 3-3 draw lead to penalties but Melee missed out on spot kicks as L'Albiceleste went on to win the tournament. They will be a team to watch in Mallorca!

This was certainly going to be a touch opening test for Palma Bay CF but one that didn't seem to faze them at all – they held their own in the first half, 0-0. After the break Melee FC found the winner and it was Jack Dell who claimed it. A narrow win but a win all the same, 1-0.

Match 2 in Group C saw Spain's Mariano FC take on England's The Funky Shepherds. Mariano FC were the champions here 12 months ago (as Peluqueria Mariano) so it looked to be a difficult start for The Funky Shepherds who'd had a tough draw in the Algarve last year.

The tournament was rocked by the news just 24 hours before kick-off that Mariano FC had to withdraw due to work commitments from their players. We were able to draft in another Spanish team at the 11 th hour and it meant a welcome return for Mallorca Look. Mallorca Look were actually drawn in the same group as Mariano FC last year – Mariano FC won the group, Mallorca Look finished second. It was therefore still going to be a tricky tie for The Funky Shepherds.

In the first half it was Mallorca Look who forged ahead. Carlos Prieto Real and Antonio Torres both scored to make it 2-0 to the Spanish. After the break, Sam Lingham-Wood pulled a goal back for The Funky Shepherds. Mallorca Look had enough in the tank to hold onto the 2-1 lead and secure the victory.

Game 3 of Group C saw Shergold's Hairline Harriers taking on The Last of the Great Whangdoodles (from here on in known as the Whangdoodles). Both teams were representing England and both were on debut. With no previous history in our tournaments we looked forward to this game with relish to see how the teams would perform on the European stage.

Shergold's Hairline Harriers were the third team of the Saltford FC triumvirate to get underway. The other 2 Saltford FC teams had mixed emotions from their opening games. Finn's Chins suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Lithuania's Lilchicago whilst McArthur's Big Macs had picked up a 1-0 win over compatriots Green Man FC.

Shergold's Hairline Harriers took the lead in this one through Sam Jones. His goal was enough to see his team lead 1-0 at half-time. It was also enough to see his team lead 1-0 at full-time. It was a pretty even contest but the Harriers took the three points. Plenty of time left for the Whangdoodles to pick up points in this group.