THERE is a new name on the new Sunday League football circuit. Alba FC.

Heard of them? Probably not. But they are already making huge bounds less than two months into the new season in the Sceptre Sunday Football League Division Five.

Their current record stands at eight matches played, eight matches won. And a staggering 67 goals scored.

But where did this new team on the block come from? Made up from a number of semi-professional stars from Rayleigh, including three from Essex Senior League frontrunners Bowers & Pitsea, the idea all started on holiday.

Luke Wilson, who manages the team alongside Bowers team-mate and close friend Lewis Manor, travelled to Albufeira, in Portugal, in May to learn to play golf with 10 other friends, including Bowers team-mate Harley Kee.

But they came back with the idea of forming a Sunday league side, after one of their party admitted he was going to be joining a Sunday side on his return.

“We started this team to spite the one that said he was already forming a team,” laughed Wilson, 25. “We called ourselves Alba because of where we went away and as soon as we came home we contacted the league and said we wanted to join.

“We asked if we could join the Premier League as we have some players that play semi-professionally but they put us in the fifth division and we are running riot.

“Teams are already complaining about us and I hope, once we win this league, that we are put into the Premier League.”

The clearest indication that Alba should be playing in a higher league came last Sunday. Pitted against Thamesgate FC, the side topping the Premier Division – five leagues above Alba – Wilson expected a tough test but it proved far from it.

Alba won 4-1, with a Manor hat-trick and a Wilson strike enough for a win in the Colin Tyler Cup – just 24 hours after both had got on the score-sheet against Southend Manor in the Essex Senior League.

“It was a good result for us but shows we need to be playing at a higher level. We had had a few beers the previous night and were a bit nervous about it to be honest. We have big plans with this team. We want to win this cup, our league and the Premier League next year if we are put in that division. We want to get into the Southend Borough & District Sunday League and win that and the Chelmsford Sunday League. We are ambitious but we are realistic as well.

“We have a squad of 14 and 11 of them play at a good level – either Olympian of Essex Senior League.

“We can’t thanks Debbie Dearman (secretary) and Mark Grant (acting manager) enough for the help they have given us. Lewis and I lead the team but Mark gives us the hairdryer treatment if we need it.”

Despite their plans for Alba, Wilson says Bowers & Pitsea remains his priority. as they battle for promotion.

“Bowers is my main focus and if we have a big game then we will take that into consideration if we play for Alba. But I am excited about the year ahead.”