Portsmouth pub team crowned national champions in five-a-side football fundraiser for CLIC Sargent

Staff from a pub in Portsmouth showed off their footballing skills to be crowned the best J D Wetherspoon five-a-side team in the UK and Ireland. The team took the crown in an annual tournament that’s raised hundreds of thousands for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.

Portsmouth pub team crowned national champions in five-a-side football fundraiser for CLIC Sargent
The team from the Sir John Baker pub in Portsmouth, was made up of team captain Tom Jeffrey, Matt Geary, Conor Fitzjohn, Lewis Beale, Dan Axten, Liam Babbage and Jack Jones-Parker, who made their way to the final in Wembley, London, beating 496 other J D Wetherspoon pubs.

The ‘Kick for CLIC Sargent’ tournament, now in its 17th year, has raised more than £390,000 for the charity since its beginning. The overall partnership between J D Wetherspoons and CLIC Sargent has raised more than £16 million since its formation in 2002.

The winners were decided at a special knockout final event, which saw the 13 winners of regional competitions, held in September, face-off at Goals in Wembley on Sunday 14 October.

The Sir John Baker team emerged as the overall champions beating Mount Stuart from Cardiff 6-2 in a final full of excitement with Lewis Beale bagging himself a hat-trick for the winning side. The winners were presented with the trophy by Caroline Walters Head of Training & Personnel at J D Wetherspoon.

Team member Conor, said: “We all really enjoyed the day! It was great to meet teams from across the UK and everyone was in high spirits despite the bad weather. We were thrilled to win as we are a solid team and really good friends- we would definitely want to compete again next year.

“It also felt really good to know that we were taking part for such a good cause and that all the money raised goes to CLIC Sargent, helping families and young people with cancer. “

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Director of Income and Engagement at CLIC Sargent, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many J D Wetherspoon pubs take part in another successful ‘Kick for CLIC Sargent’ tournament. Everyone at CLIC Sargent can’t thank J D Wetherspoon and their staff enough for the continued support, raising a fantastic sum of money which will help CLIC Sargent in our fight for young lives against cancer. The money raised means we can support more young cancer patients and their families from the point of diagnosis.”

Editor’s notes

For more information about CLIC Sargent, an interview or images, please contact Jack Wilson on 0208 752 2833 or jack.wilson@younglivesvscancer.org.uk. Out of hours contact 08448 481189.