Gladiators, a six-a-side team based in Bournemouth, is dedicated to achieving greatness on and off the field. The team was established in 2022 and has won multiple titles, and continues to grow as a community-driven and performance-oriented football club.
With no previous league experience, the Gladiators decided to enter their first mini tournament in Bournemouth to test themselves. The results surprised everyone.
“We just said, let’s register everyone and see how it goes”, explained club founder and manager Dragos. “We finished second, and from that moment I knew we could build something serious.”
The early success sparked rapid growth. Dragos decided to invest in kits, pushed the team into stronger competitions and recruited new players. The Gladiators went on to win league titles in Daventry and Northampton, and then dominated in Dorset with four league titles, with three of them being consecutive.
Their success earned them a place in London’s league, where they finished among the top four out of sixty-four teams, which enabled the team to qualify for the European competition in Sofia, Bulgaria. However, it proved far from easy.
“It was a very difficult experience,” Dragos admitted. “Our flight was cancelled, and we lost our first match, but we still arrived and played. We did not give up.”
Recently, the Gladiators competed in an international mini tournament, finishing unbeaten in open play. Narrow draws and penalties saw them finish third in their group.
“The level was at least four times higher than here,” said Dragos. ” The football was clean, fast and played with respect. You can feel that people truly love the game.”
Beyond results, the heart of Gladiators lies in their togetherness. Dragos describes the team as family, which is supported by players past and present, many of whom still remain involved behind the scenes when not playing.
“These boys are like my sons,” he said. “Even if someone is not playing, they are still part of us. That’s why we are strong. We are not individuals, we are a family.”
Looking ahead, the Gladiators hope to establish a local mini-football league and create a pathway for future European competitions.
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