South London Fives celebrates 40-year anniversary with special event tomorrow

The South London Fives celebrated 40 years of running on May 6.

The first game was played at Ferndale Sports Centre, Brixton, on Friday 6 May 1983 with Wimbledon Swans playing out a 1-1 with Arundel, ex-Crystal Palace midfielder Alan Pardew cancelling out Kevin Povey opener.

From 1983 until 2016, 80 teams (8 x10 team divisions ) played out many games between Monday and Friday nights between 7pm and 10pm.

The introduction of Powerleague and Goals for small-sided football leagues witnessed league entries into the South London Fives being reduced and as from 2018 the invitation-only competition now has one division of eight teams.

Other venues used during the 40 years were Columbo Street Sports Centre, Southwark Fire Station, & Ken Barrington Sports Centre (The Oval) and an annual one day competition was played at Fulham FC in the early 1990s.

To celebrate 40 years, three make-up teams will play 3 x 20-minute games on Friday May 19 at the Wandle Recreation Centre, Mapleton Crescent

Wandsworth, London SW18 4DN (kick off 7pm).

X Factor finalist Sophie Plumb will be performing some cover versions in the Garratt Tavern at 9pm.

Mark Caswell director of MCC Promotions Ltd and league secretary for those 40 years  said “ I have enjoyed working in sports ( full time ) administration for 40 years and I have many stories from the estimated 70,000 games that have been played.

“One of many memorable occasions is that Premier League Wimbledon – including Alan Cork, Dennis Wise and Terry Phelan – brought a five a side team to play at the Wandle Recreation Centre, to raise money for the newly-founded Wandle Wanderers youth team on December 20, six days before an away game at Ipswich. That would not happen today!”