Sport London e Benfica

Sport London e Benfica was founded on the 15th of May 1981 when it was affiliated (No.22) to Sport Lisboa e Benfica, the most widely supported football club in the world, as acknowledged by the Guinness Book of Records in November 2006. The club has always had great ambitions but has never had a structure in place that would enable it to fulfil these ambitions. SLB is presently recruiting volunteers to join in the building of this sleeping giant of a club.

In the 2005/06 season Sport London e Benfica (SLB) changed their Senior Side from Sunday to Saturday League, joining the Cherry Red Books Middlesex County Football League, under the management of José Viana. As part of the National League System, SLB have taken a step in the right direction towards their ambition of reaching the dizzy and distant heights of professional football.

In their first year of National League System football, Sport London e Benfica became CHAMPIONS of Division 1. The team progressed into the Premier Division where they were to be crowned CHAMPIONS once again, for the second season running!

2007/2008 saw Sport London e Benfica playing semi-pro football, having now been promoted to The Moltens Spartans South Midland Football League, Division 1.

2008/2009 saw the senior team compete for the first time in the FA Vase beating higher level opposition North Greenford United FC and Eton Manor FC. Another great building block and achievement established in the history of the club, that will help its development for the future.

The importance of this achievement cannot be under-estimated as the success of the senior side gives something for the youth team players to aspire to.

In 2006, two youth teams were launched as part of the club's local community initiative. The teams were entered into the Camden & Regents Park Football League and in their first test season had decent successes. One such success was the winning of a QPR tournament held in Wormwood Scrubs!

2012/13 the club had 7 youth teams. Partnerships have been made with local organisations to help with the overall progress of the youth section. During the coming season, the club is aiming to build on these by adding more teams and we are ever on the look out for more volunteers.

2012, José Viana starts the Futsal era, entering coaches, ex-youth players and ex-semi-pro players in a makeshift squad, entering the Middlesex FA Futsal Fives. Unbeaten in its debut season, Sport London e Benfica Futsal ended up worthy winners! Still in its infancy, José set up more established opposition in the form of Liverpool Futsal and Birmingham in a round robin in Birmingham. Benfica won that too with a draw against Liverpool 8-8 and a win 4-3 against Birmingham.
Sport London e Benfica Futsal won its second Middlesex FA Futsal Fives Title at the end of 2012.

Such was the success of the team that it was invited by The FA to play the exhibition game before the England Futsal International v Turkey in the Olympic Handball Stadium, Sporthouse. This venue is now the team's home ground as they play in the The FA National Futsal League with great expectations for the future!

SLB's philosophy stays the same and the ambition gets even greater. How far can Sport London e Benfica go? With your support, only time will tell! Please take some to think how you can support our initiative. All support is welcome, no matter how big or small, whether it be coming to watch one of our games to taking an interest in one of our sponsorship packages