Effingham is the latest place in the UK to get its first ever Leisure Leagues competition, with the welcome news that a brand new 5 a side league is kicking off this Sunday.

King George V Playing Fields is the perfect setting or the games in the idyllic village in the Surrey commuter belt and says Leisure Leagues Sam Jones’ it is places like this that were the exact locations that the firm – with over a million regular players worldwide – had in mind when they announced their major expansion plan when the country came out of lockdown in the summer. “Absolutely,” he confirmed. “We run leagues that are more than just football, rather they are community hubs, and it is fabulous that Effingham will be the latest to benefit.”

When the league kicks off this weekend, it will see hundreds of local people given the opportunity for a vital fitness fix, and with 5 a side – together with all team sport – proven to help people’s physical and mental health, it is much needed.

“One of the things that we found people most missed in lockdown,” Sam commented, “was the camaraderie, the feeling of being part of something, and we are delighted to give them that.”

The league is Covid-safe, meaning it can continue, even with the stricter measures that are in place, with Sam adding: “We have done a huge amount of work to ensure the leagues are safe, not just for the players, but for the whole of the Effingham. We take our responsibilities in this respect incredibly seriously.”

Teams will be playing for a shot at the Leisure Leagues Prize Draw, with the top prizes ranging from iPads to a holiday.

A full list of Leisure Leagues’ Covid Regulations can be found here:

And to join the league in Effingham, click here: