THE BEST PUB TEAM IN THE WORLD

CAVAN CAMPBELL ON THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF GIBRALTAR SIDE BRUNO'S MAGPIES...

- CAVAN CAMPBELL

THE dream to top all dreams. How often have mates sat around in the pub dreaming of becoming professional footballers?

Many players have represented pubs in local football leagues, many players have used pub football to play for a local league team, and some have even gone as far as reaching the lower levels of the football pyramid.

What would happen if that local pub team performed to a level so high that they qualified for UEFA competition? This is the story of Bruno’s Magpies, the best pub team in the world.

The Magpies were formed in 2013 at Bruno’s Bar & Restaurant in Gibraltar. A team that, since the 2022-23 season, has participated in UEFA Conference League qualifying fixtures.

Going back to the start, a big part of the club is Louis Perry, then an 18-year-old Brit who had just moved to Gibraltar.

Perry wanted to begin his footballing career, but was turned down by local club Cannons. Not one to simply give up on his dreams, Perry decided that if he couldn't play for a local team, he would create one.

Perry sought investment for his dream and, thankfully, his grand-mother was that person. She owns Bruno's Bar and was instrumental in this project, providing the funds to set the wheels in motion.

In Perry’s quest, footballers were found on the street. He would simply ask people he saw and thought looked ‘fit’ if they played football and if they wanted to try out for his new team.

Training sessions were initially held on the beach. Success was judged based on attitude and how they performed in these beach sessions, which determined whether or not they would be signed.