Non-League and Academy football writer

Benito Apollonio is the club chairman of The Gun Pub FC, of the Camden Sunday Football League. The Camden Sunday Football League side had an outstanding season in 2025/26, along with their midweek team, Spicegun FC. I recently interviewed Benito, to find out more about the club.

Could you talk me through a bit about the history of The Gun Pub FC, as well as Spicegun FC?

Benito: The Gun FC was born out of The Gun pub in Homerton, Hackney in 2014 by a group of mates who wanted to keep the great British – but fading tradition of a pub and it’s community having a Sunday league football team. In the early days it was more so social, playing in the now defunct Musical Association League – a lot of the players worked and still do, in and around the music / creative industries. 

A move to the Hackney & Leyton League in 2016 under the guise of club legend Alan Bond raised the standards somewhat and despite picking up silverware in the Musical Association League, this is where The Gun started to become a name synonymous with Hackney Marshes football and the community continued to grow, eventually resulting in the addition of a second team led by Josh Ablett. 

After a drop in operational standards of the Hackney & Leyton League, a move to the Camden League was made in 2022 and the clubs success continued, still on the Marshes. It also saw a merger shortly after, lead by now Manager Joe Busst; between Spiceboro from the Islington Midweek league, making it 3 teams in total. Two Sunday, one Midweek. 

Across the 3 teams there’s been a National Cup win, 2 County Cup wins, 10 League Titles and 14 League Cups. 

Could you talk to me about a very successful 2025/26 season for the club?

Benito: 2025/26 was just ridiculous to be honest, it’s hard to describe it as anything else. The Gun FC I did a quadruple, The Gun FC II did a double and Spicegun did a treble. I’m not sure many clubs will have picked up 9 trophies in one season before and I’m not sure we’ll ever do that again. 

I could write a story about each trophy really, there were plenty of dramatic come backs and the like. But – the Sunday I’s league title stands out in terms of an achievement. We had an awful start to the season, we lost 3 out of the first 6 and everyone including ourselves had written us off very early doors. Because of how well other teams were doing, to stand any chance of making it 3 Camden Prem’s in a row we’d have to win something like 12 games on the bounce – and we did, eventually winning it by two points on the final day. 

What has been your standout moment of being involved with the club, so far?

Benito: Despite all of the success on the pitch, the thing that stands out for me is the community we have built and the positive effect it’s had on so many people’s lives. It makes us immensely proud, especially given we are a team made up of almost entirely players not from London, we’ve never had a local network to rely on or utilise. People come in from far and wide and immediately have 50 new best mates and that’s a bigger win for me than anything else.

Benito: The goal for this season as always is the same, as much silverware as possible and to continue making this the best ran amateur football club around.

What are some of your hopes for the club’s teams during the 2026/27 season, as well as for the future?

Benito: The goal for this season as always is the same, as much silverware as possible and to continue making this the best ran amateur football club around.