Only in their first year as a true collective, the DAFL Bears Football Club are already having success on and off the pitch.

– VIDEO: Neymar talks Man City, a possible treble & El Clasico 
– Al Jazira coach Eric Gerets not giving up on AGL title
– Gallery: Football’s ugliest incidents

The non-profit expat organisation was nothing more than a single vets team for years before merging with a second squad last summer to become more of a club.
The Bears play in the Dubai Amateur Football League in Division 4 and the Over 35 Vets League. The vets team are having their strongest showing yet, currently topping the table in their division.

Through their first 12 games, the squad are 10-1-1 with 32 points, already bettering their mark from last year’s third-place finish

“Our objective at the start of the season was to compete for the league and also just beat what we did last year, which we’ve already done,” said Daniel Rodgers, club co-chairman and vets team manager.

The vets team was originally started in 2011 by Dean O’Grady, who now runs the Dubai Amateur Football League. Rodgers, who had previously helped set up the Dubai Allstars and was there for 10 years before stepping away, decided to come back to the game to lead the Bears.

With the help of Gary Porter, club co-chairman and the Division 4 manager, the Bears expanded to a second team and the club now boast 50 members.

“It gives everyone a bit of an identity,” said Rodgers.

“So really, this year is our first year as a club I would say, rather than a team. That’s what we wanted to do, form a club which gives you more strength than one team.”

The Division 4 team has league matches on Sundays, with the vets team playing on Wednesdays. While they haven’t matched the vets’ dazzling run, the Division 4 squad are near the middle of the table with 16 points in their first season.

The squads’ training schedules are the opposite of their match days, with the vets practicing on Sundays at Safa Community School and Division 4 holding training on Wednesdays at Dubai Sports City.

On the social side, the club have done get-togethers for bubble football, comedy nights, brunches and picnics for family-oriented fun.

Even though the season is in progress, the Bears still welcome any newcomers to join and take part, whether it’s in training sessions or social events.

For more information on the Bears, visit their website at www.daflbearsfc.com. You can even RSVP for training, check training venues and chat through the Team App.