Salisbury: The National League South club about to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kuwait

Sep 25, 2026 · 6 min read

It is just over a year since Ali Alhamad completed his takeover of Salisbury FC.

And, for much of the time that has passed since then, the businessman has been dreaming about bringing the non-League club to his home country of Kuwait.

A unique dream, granted - but one that is about to be realised.

Between Sunday September 27 and Thursday October 1, the Whites will swap Wiltshire and the autumnal evening chill for the Middle East and temperatures in the high 30s.

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And while they are there, Brian Dutton's side will face Al Qadsia, the 17-time winners of the Kuwaiti Premier League, in their 22,000-seater Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.

On their books is Bader Al-Mutawa, the joint-third most capped international player of all time, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

"Something different is our middle name," jokes Alhamad, whose excitement is clear as he speaks to Sky Sports.

"I'm buzzing and I've been having sleepless nights just thinking about it!

"Breaking the ice was the open trials we conducted in the summer, where we had 450 players who were interested. The manager and coaching staff were here to choose the top three prospects over four days. The prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to Salisbury to practise with the first team for 10 days.

"That was a huge success and I realised there's a huge appetite in Kuwait for English football. Being in non-league is irrelevant because the quality is high and people want a story they can relate to.

"I felt the friendly would just elevate Salisbury's name in Kuwait and help all the parties. The team will get to play in a different setting, a different country, against a different team, experience a different culture, different food and be our guest so they can see what it is to go to the Middle East instead of just seeing it on the news."

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When Alhamad pitched the idea, he was unsure of the reception it would receive. But he wasn't unsure for long. "Within half an hour, I got 18 passport copies - every single player was on board!"

The only player missing will be Jaiden Bartholo, who has been called up for international duty by Gibraltar.

There are just a matter of days until the adventure begins now - and, judging by what Alhamad says, it really will be just that.

"They will be shocked that they will be stars. They will be known by everyone," he insists.

"The highlights are everywhere and our Arabic socials are really popular. As soon as they exit the airport, I'm sure there will be a bunch of people there in Salisbury gear and cheering them on.

"We have the best restaurants in Kuwait who just want them in the door and to be their guests. Lunches and dinners will be totally free.

"In the mornings, the players will be going to schools and universities, speaking to the students about being professionals and the importance of taking the trade seriously. In the UK and Kuwait, we all share the same dream of being a professional footballer.

"After lunch on the first day, we have a private VIP tour to the Scientific Centre. After that, we're going to the local souq and they will wear the traditional gown with head dress and go to a dinner at Al-Mubarakiya, the central market of Kuwait.

"The next day, they'll have some relaxation, some lunch and then the opening of our Salisbury academy.

"There will be some training on Tuesday, then we have our friendly match at 6.30pm, have dinner, rest up for the flight on Thursday morning, so they can recover on Friday before the match against Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday."

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Alhamad lights up when he discusses the academy further.

"It's the brand we're building here that helps the club become sustainable," he adds.

"If I want us to do what every other team does in the UK, go for sponsorships, increase the prices on the gate, try to get more people through the door, it's going to be a losing battle because it will never be sustainable.

"But if we go through different avenues, building the name globally and having the subscriptions from youth players abroad and growing the players into players who can possibly play for the club in the future, this will be closer to being a sustainable model."

For now, he just wants to provide his players and staff with memories to last a lifetime.

"We have a responsibility as club owners to have our players experience different things. It's not simply a one-year contract, go and play, then find somewhere else. We want this experience to stick with them.

"We want them to grow with it and learn how important and how big the world is. How these small lessons they will get over the next few days will shape them as men. It's a huge experience and I'm really excited to have them."