Tenby Take Fair Trade Cup

Press Release

 

Nine Pembrokeshire and two Carmarthenshire schools played in the Fair Trade Cup last Friday. 

 

The Fair Trade Cup, the second Fairtrade football tournament in Pembrokeshire, was organised by Fair Trade In Football Campaign Founder, and Fair Trade Wales School's Speaker, Sharron Hardwick; with Tavernspite teacher's Julie Houghton and Richard Henton, supported by Sustainable Schools Officer, Janie Pridham.

 

Participating teams represented twelve Fairtrade producer countries who qualified for last year's World Cup. Matches were played with Bala Team size 4 Fairtrade stitched footballs.

 

Stepping up their game, schools got into the spirit of supporting Fairtrade. Stepaside, Uruguay, and Johnstown, Costa Rica, brought teams of cheerleading fans; some in fancy dress, with flags and producer profile posters. 

 

St Oswald's, Cameroon, 2014 producer profile competition winners; and last year's Fair Trade World Cup winners, St Marks, Argentina, brought fact filled posters, raising the bar for this year's producer profile completion.

 

Neyland CP's team, Ecuador, were easily spotted with their distinctive headbands. While Johnston CP, Ivory Coast and Tenby Juniors, Ghana, had their own printed Fairtrade team T-shirts. 

 

Llys Hywel, Honduras, St. Aidan's, Colombia, and host school, Tavernspite, who entered two teams as Mexico and Brazil, were keen to play it Fairtrade.

 

The Fairtrade tournament was deemed a success by Johnstown teacher, Teresa Brunt saying: "What an amazing event! A wonderful celebration of Fairtrade and its importance in the realm of Football. Fabulous turnout and welcome from the host school. A special thank you to the girls from Tavernspite on the hot drinks which were gratefully appreciated. A spectacular vibe at the event. The children have been beaming to the staff at the school all afternoon!!!"

 

The drizzle couldn't dampen the atmosphere, as schools played some good football and competition was close.

 

Refereed by pupils of Dyffryn Taff, there were some difficult decisions with St Marks showing exemplary fair play.  Their decision for fairness, allowing the game to play on into injury time, cost them a place in the semi finals. 

 

"I'm so impressed with the fair attitude of the St Marks team. The young team behaved impeccably, especially as it obviously meant so much to them. They went on to support the other teams right through to the finals. This example of true fairness made them the deserved winners of the Fair Play Award, sponsored by New Life Christian." shared Sharron Hardwick.

 

Semi Finalists games were: Tenby - Ghana V Tavernspite 1 - Brazil and Stepaside - Uruguay V Neyland - Ecuador. 

 

Tenby and Neyland were the semi final winners, so Stepaside played Tavernspite 1 in a nail biting 3rd place play off; with Stepaside clinching it in extra time with a golden goal!

 

After a 5-0 victory in the final, Tenby took the Fair Trade Cup by storm, displaying some great skills, with Neyland taking 2nd place.

 

Awards, presented by Ceri Phillips, Swansea Community Trust, consisted of medals sponsored by New Life Christian Fellowship, for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams. Every participant had a certificate.

 

The Fair Trade Cup and Golden Boot Award, donated by Graham and Peter Thorley, Stoke City FC Stewarding Supervisors, were presented to Tenby Juniors.  

 

St Marks gained the Fair Play Award and a Fairtrade football signed by Wales' Joe Allen. 

 

Kath Parry Thomas,in a Fairtrade Banana Suit, presented entrants with Fairtrade Bananas kindly donated by the Kilgetty Co-operative food.

 

"I'd like to thank everyone for making the Fair Trade Cup a success. It was great to see local schools getting together through football. But, this is more than just a football tournament, it's about Fairness: Playing fair and using Fairtrade footballs. We're not only supporting our communities, but the Sialkot football stitchers; guaranteeing they have a fair deal, ensuring the extra community premiums to help develop their communities too." Concludes Sharron.

 

If you would like to play Fairtrade football why not make the switch? For information visit www.fairtradeinfootball.com buy Fairtrade sports balls from www.balasport.co.uk