Fair Trade Football Campaign World Record Attempt And SCFC Kicks Draw

The Fair Trade In Football Campaign, founded by Stoke City Matchday Steward and fan, who lives in Wales (!) Sharron Hardwick, has joined Stoke City and Port Vale FC in the hope of breaking a Guinness World Record, and is involved in organising two Euro Style Fairtrade football tournaments.

Stoke City FC invited Ultimate Fan Of The Year winner and famous Stoke City supporter Sean Ruane, aka Hairy Potter, along to Haywood Academy on 26th April, in an attempt to beat the Guinness World Record of most selfies taken in three minutes.  The current record is held by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson which is set at one hundred and five.

Around one hundred and forty pupils logged in to take part, with two official witnesses and time keepers; Sharron organised and administrated the attempt. 

Port Vale’s Carl Dickinson kicked off the first selfie shot with Sean. A hundred and thirty eight shots were taken in total but Guinness World Records set stringent guidelines, making it tough to smash.

“I’ve been partnering with Stoke City Community Trust, Port Vale Foundation, Street Games, Engage Communities and City Learning Trust for a while now, and we wanted to do something a bit different. I met Hairy Potter earlier this year and thought if anyone could break The Rock’s Selfie World Record it was him! After a lot of organising we pulled off the attempt…all we can do now is hope that the record has been beaten, and wait for the official decision.”

Following the record attempt a Stoke City Kicks Euro Draw took place, with the help from Port Vale FC captain, Carl Dickinson and Stoke City FC players Marko Arnautovic and Marc Muniesa. Afterwards all the players took part in a Q&A with the students.

Fairtrade stitched footballs featured heavily in this event. The Fair Trade In Football Campaign, SCFC Community Trust, Engage Communities and Street Games Stoke have all had their own custom designed Fairtrade footballs made by Bala Sport. These will be used in the European City of Sport, SCFC Kicks Euro competition on June 4th in Stoke.  Organisers aim to support local communities by providing high quality tournaments, whilst supporting Sialkot Stitching communities by ensuring workers get a fair deal and all that Fairtrade guarantees; including Fairtrade premiums already  used to provide medical care, school equipment, work transport, a water purification system, a fair price shop and more.

A similar Fairtrade football tournament will take place in Pembrokeshire on 24th June at Tavernspite CP, where twelve Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire schools will play in the Fair Trade Euro 2016, with Fairtrade Profile Competition.  The draw is taking place at Tenby Juniors on 11th May. Information is available at www.fairtradeinfootball.com of how to organise your own Euro style Fairtrade tournament.

The Fair Trade In Football Campaign, thanks to a Hub Africa Cymru grant, has been promoting the use of Fairtrade footballs locally, partnering with Sport Pembrokeshire this Spring, and recently provided Fairtrade footballs for the Kilgetty Football Tournament organised by Lukas Gamble.

If you are interested in Fairtrade footballs please visit www.balasport.co.uk

For latest Fair Trade In Football Campaign activities join the Facebook group, follow @FairTradeFooty on twitter or visit www.fairtradeinfootball.com