A sun-soaked Croatian island adored by British celebrities has revealed how they pass the time between October and April when the tourists are absent - they play football.
Literally the whole island joins in playing games between teams from local communities, which boasts their island paradise is home to a rare football league where promotion is largely ignored - and nearly every local political leader has also played the game.
The players on the island of Hvar, in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, include all the current mayors and municipal heads from across the island who have previously or still are featured in the Forska liga, also known as the Hvar Championship.
League veterans treat the league as the football life achievement, undated photo. Note: Photo provided. (Forska Liga/Newsflash)
It is the only island-based football league in Croatia and has been played for around a century, according to those involved in its organisation.
Today, the competition brings together nine clubs playing on five pitches scattered across the island’s towns and villages.
The season runs from mid-October until late April, timed deliberately to begin after the grape harvest and end before the start of the busy summer tourist season.
Details about the political figures who played in the league were highlighted by Ivo Zaninovic Grande, coach of NK Levanda and one of the league’s promoters.
Picture shows Sucuraj mayor Ivan Slavic as a goalkeeper, undated photo. Note: Photo provided. (Forska Liga/Newsflash)
Antonio Skarpa, the former mayor of Stari Grad, and his successor Vinko Vranjican, both played for NK Jadran Stari Grad during their football careers.
The current mayor of the city of Hvar, Sime Ravlic, previously turned out for NK Levanda from the village of Velo Grablje.
Ivan Slavic, head of the Sucuraj municipality, is a former goalkeeper for NK Mladost and remains active in the club’s management, occasionally still returning to play between the posts.
Jelsa mayor Marija Marjan was also mentioned, with organisers noting that a women’s football league was held for several years in the Jelsa municipal sports hall.
Illustrative image shows the island of Hvar, Croatia. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash)
Hvar has a population of around 10,700 residents but has produced high-profile professional footballers, including Igor Tudor, formerly of Juventus, and Ivica Surjak, formerly of Udinese.
The island is also a well-known holiday destination for British footballers such as Jude Bellingham, Andy Cole and Emile Heskey, as well as celebrities including Prince Harry, Naomi Campbell and Bernie Ecclestone.
(Aloysius Fernandes /Newsflash)