5aside.org was founded by 29 year-old entrepreneur, Jamie Mascaro, who quit his highflying city career in law to pursue his venture. What originally started as an after work hobby, is now one of London’s leading sports agencies, providing social team sports for over 1000 football enthusiasts across London.
The company started in 2008 with just eight teams but now has over 150 football teams and 1000 players taking part each week. 5aside.org leagues run in a variety of locations to the suit the needs and demands of young professionals across London. Games take place in Balham, Battersea, Clapham, Clapham Junction, Stockwell, Tooting, Old Street, Fulham, Chelsea, White City, Marylebone, Paddington, Euston, Waterloo, Holloway and Mile End.
Games are played under floodlights on synthetic turf pitches which look and play like real grass. Offering a hassle free way to play sport and get active, 5aside.org is extremely popular with work mates and groups of friends who want an alternative to the gym or a TV dinner after a hard day in the office. Members get to use the latest equipment and also benefit from discounts at local businesses; many of the leagues are also sponsored by local pubs, with players flocking to the bar after the games for a well-earned drink!
The leagues are also popular with corporate clients such as the BBC, Ernst & Young, Ogilvy as well as a large number of banks and law firms in the City.
In the last year 5aside.org have also joined forces with Netbusters, providing women the opportunity to play netball after work in a sociable environment.
"We are trying to make playing sport fun and accessible and the leagues are genuinely open to anyone. Playing team sport is a great way to get fit and also the perfect excuse to catch up with friends each week. I believe we are offering a more fun and sociable way to spend an evening than slogging away on the treadmill or sitting in front of the TV." Jamie Mascaro, founder of 5aside.org
The Interesting Facts
• Playing a 5-a-side game of football is equivalent to going on a 6 mile run • Almost double the amount of people play 5-a-side compared to 11-a-side, which is the traditional format of the game. • 88% of the population aged 25-34 spend their free time watching TV as opposed to 63% aged between 25 and 34 years old who spend their time playing sport. (Office of National Statistics 2009) • The most common reason for not participating in sport is ‘lack of time’ (45% of population).
