Futaba Manufacturing added the 5-a-side title to the 7-a-side won earlier this year with a comprehensive display in the Friends Of Burnley FC in the Community competition.
Organised by the Clarets Official Charity, the tournament brings together partner businesses who support the work of the organisation throughout the year in a fun, friendly environment to meet other businesses and provide an opportunity for colleagues to get together outside of work hours.
Nelson & Colne College Sports Centre, operated by Burnley FC in the Community, played host to the 8 teams across 2 pitches in the indoor sports hall. The teams were split into 2 pools of 4, with everyone facing everyone else in their group, followed by a cross group play off to determine the final rankings.
Rapid IT, playing in their first tournament, managed to avoid the wooden spoon spot, which went to Business Over Breakfast. The BoB team featured HK Applegate Insurance, Buffalo Plumbing, Integrated Facilities and Lloyds Bank, as well as Chris Wood of Hometyre East Lancs (not New Zealand/Burnley).
The SHOUT Burnley team were beaten by a strong Friends team, which was a barbarian’s team drawn from all of the teams taking part. There was a wonder goal from SHOUT’s Richard Singleton, but the defensive efforts of M65 Recruitment’s Chris Rogers and Tricketts Insurance’s Scott Swainbank couldn’t keep the opposition at bay.
It was a tasty affair in the 3/4 play-off, as O2 and Warburtons battled it out for the bronze medal position. With tired legs leading to tired minds, and the waft of the post-match pie and peas wafting into the hall (courtesy of The Ark Catering), the game drew to a tense finally with O2 just edging the fixture.
The final saw two manufacturing giants take each other on, with Futaba going head to head with VEKA.
Futaba and VEKA suffered early season defeats to ‘Friends Of’ and Rosegrove FC Coaches respectively in 11 a side charity games in the summer, but both bounced back with strong performances in the 7 a side competition, with Futaba eventually running out winners.
The game was an end to end, even affair but the old heads of Mick Duxbury and his troops proved the difference (his words!).
Futaba were ecstatic with the win, so much so they managed to leave the trophy behind whilst celebrating exuberantly.
