FC CHAPLIN'S / YORKSHIRE PRIDE 2011/12            

FC Chaplin’s ( Bonus Weeks ) Football Team – The Beginning

In 2007, after 3 years of trying, Bonus Weeks became the first English Football Team to be accepted into the Benidorm Spanish League. They joined 20 Spanish Teams, a Dutch Team, a Romanian Team and an Argentinian Team to make up the full League of 24.

Bonus Weeks had a large, talented squad and they were managed by players Lawrence Mentesh and Dave Mold, with Rich Billam as Team Captain. They were sponsored by Dave's Company Bonus Weeks Breaks of Alfaz Del Pi and they wore the Barcelona Team Kit as Dave was a big Barcelona fan! Bonus Weeks are affiliated to the Dutch Team FC Oranje of Albir, and Lawrence, Dave, Rich and the rest of the Team were extremely grateful for all their help and support in getting Bonus Weeks accepted into the League.

The Team was the culmination of nearly 4 years of development, it all started when Lawrence Mentesh came over from England, and, not knowing anyone at the time, he just kicked a ball about by himself on an empty pitch in Alfaz. Eventually he had a friend join him and then 2 became 3, then 4,5,6 and so on until after a few months they managed to play their first 5-a-side game.

This gave birth to a regular Wednesday afternoon game in La Nucia and before long upwards of 20 people were turning up to play, some from over 30 miles away. The Wednesday game then spawned a similar game on a Sunday afternoon for those who couldn't make it in the week and for those who fancied 2 games in a week! Since their inception, nearly 300 different people have played in these games and the list continues to grow.

The appearance of the lads from the Bonus Weeks Breaks Company provided a real boost, with many good players coming to attention, and their participation helped to keep the friendly games going, particularly on the Sundays. The Sunday games are now discontinued due to the League commitments but the Wednesday games are still going strong, with some of the Team Squad still playing in them.

In December 2008 extenuating circumstances led to Bonus Weeks no longer being attached to the Team so the players that were left continued in the League under the new name of FC Chaplin’s.

The majority of the original Team are still involved including players/managers Lawrence Mentesh and Carlos Parkin and FC Chaplin’s are keen to push forward in a positive direction to prove that an all English Team can play good football and survive in a Spanish League.

The road ahead may be a bumpy one but FC Chaplin’s have a real team spirit and desire that will undoubtedly see them achieve their ambitions.

What is life without just a little bit of a challenge……

For a full article about the beginnings of the FC Chaplin's team that appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Round Town Times please click here.

The Pitch in Alfaz Del Pi where it all started

The Pitch in La Nucia, home of the Wednesday games