IT STARTED 14 years ago as an excuse to get together, have a drink or 12, and play "the beautiful game".

The rules were simple: to qualify, you had to be of Calabrese heritage, be a single man and have a sense of humour.

But somewhere along the line, the friendly "kick and giggle" morphed into the Calabrese Challenge Cup, now a massive charity event played in the spirit of competition soccer.

And the cup comes to Griffith tomorrow, with the locals taking on a Sydney based side at Noe Santolin Oval.

Local co-organiser Frank Romeo said the intensity of