The Summer season of Business Fives came to a climax on Thursday as 20 companies took part to win the prize of £3,120 for their chosen charity.
£19,600 has been raised for charities throughout Scotland over the course of the national business 5 aside tournament.
Supported by sponsors White Tree Chiropractic, health and wellbeing partners for the season and Dr Gary Blackwood advised the players of the benefits of using a dynamic warm up as part of the preparations against the traditional school of thought on static stretching. On the pitch the action was intense with the standard high in the business end of the tournament.
Companies from across 8 industry sectors of the Scottish economy have been raising money for their chosen charity in a model that has proven very successful in enabling Business Fives to make a much greater impact on charities throughout Scotland.
The tournament was supported by a host of ambassadors from the football world who finished off the season with a well-received Q & A session hosted by TV presenter, David Tanner with Scotland hall of famer Rhonda Jones, Hibs hero Pat Stanton, Aberdeen and St Mirren star Lee Mair, former Partick Thistle and Celtic goal scorer Jim Melrose.
Business Fives founder, John McClarey said “We’re blown away by the efforts of all the companies involved in our summer season and we’re absolutely delighted almost double our initial £10,000 charity target.
CSR is hugely important to us as our company has a commitment to donating 10% of all proceeds to charity. We’re delighted to see our charity donation going to such a wonderful cause in Glasgow Children’s Hospital and offer our congratulations to A.C. Whyte & Co.”
The tournament, now in its third season, has been supported by health and wellbeing sponsors White Tree Chiropractic and 98 teams have taken part with the top 20 qualifying for the National final taking place in Edinburgh with companies such as BT, Scottish Gas, Scottish Water, Standard Life, Anderson Strathern, Sir Robert McAlpine to name just a few involved.
On the pitch it was Glasgow Construction, Housing & Property champions, A.C. Whyte & Co. who have been playing for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital committing to a £1,000 donation to the Hospital who continued their 100% win record for the season. The company who narrowly missed out on a final place in the winter season went one better in the summer to take home the £3,120 prize for Glasgow Children’s Hospital.
It was the Edinburgh Construction, Housing & Property champions who ran them close in the final, recruitment firm Hudson who were playing for MacMillan but they were unable to find a way to stop tournament top scorer Mate Lacsi as the EWI installers ran out 3 nil winners. It was Hudson goalkeeper Greg McDermott who was chosen by the ambassadors as Man of the Match in the final, a testament to how much pressure Hudson withstood.
David Melhuish, director of the Scottish Property Federation who have supported the tournament, said: “We are delighted to support Business Fives again after such a success last year. Backing this unique event, whilst promoting healthy lifestyles, is something we are thrilled to be involved with. To hear that nearly £20,000 has been raised for good causes is fantastic news and we look forward to continuing to support this fun and competitive event.”
Chartered accountants, Geoghegans qualified by winning the financial services industry heat look to be in great form ahead of the final as they raised £201 for Medic1 Trust. They suffered their first defeat of the summer season in the semi-finals as Hudson won 4-1. In the other Semi-final Standard Life were unlucky to lose 2-1 after overcoming Sir Robert McAlpine on penalties in the Quarter final.
Professional Services champions Anderson Strathern beat Aviva in the champions league last 16 stages but couldn’t find a way passed Geoghegans in the quarter finals. Scottish Water and Turner & Townsend also walked away with a respectable quarter final showing.
You can find out more information and get involved in Business Fives via their website www.businessfives.co.uk
Business Fives summer season kicked off in Edinburgh where the Professional Services sector bid for the chance to qualify for our national final this September.
Supported by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and sponsors White Tree Chiropractic, the event was a goal fest with 209 goals scored across the 31 matches as teams. The companies that took part were all playing with one goal in mind, to win for their chosen charity with organisations such as Princes Trust, Macmillan, Cash for Kids to name just a few of the charities hoping to benefit.
A commendable fundraising effort from eventual champions league finalists, BT who raised £224 for their chosen charity, Macmillan. Pinsent Masons raised £125 for Starfish on their way to the Europa League final.
The event finished with a Q & A session with Business Fives ambassador Pat Stanton. A legend amongst Hibs fan having made almost 400 appearances for them in a glittering career that saw him play against greats of the game like Eusebio, Johan Cruyff and George Best who he singled out as the best of his generation, he shared stories of memorable moments throughout his career.
Tournament sponsor, Dr Gary Blackwood said “We here at WTC are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Business Fives, as we see sport and exercise as an integral part of healthy working offices. We all know that exercise is one of the best ways to prevent ill-health, lowering blood pressure, raising energy levels and improving productivity and focus.”
The tournament initially saw 3 groups playing to qualify for the Champions League, Europa League and Intertoto Cup group stages. BT looked in superb form as they topped their group scoring 9 goals in 3 matches, it was however second place in the same group, Anderson Strathern who set the early scoring standards with 17 group stage goals, notching up big wins against KPMG and Spence & Spence. In group B a thrilling encounter between Gilson Gray and Addleshaw Goddard who played out a 3 all draw was the pick of the ties.
City Cabs and Bruce Stevenson topped their respective groups to book their place alongside BT in the Champions’ League group stages where BT maintained their 100% record to book their semi-final place against Bruce Stevenson.
The Europa League saw no less than 3 law firms play for bragging rights but it was defending champions Anderson Strathern who rose to the top of the group scoring freely in the process. Addleshaw Goddard and Pinsent Masons did enough to book their place in the Europa League semi final.
They were joined by Intertoto group winners, Edinburgh Airport who were beginning to find form after some earlier defeats, along with KPMG who beat Gilson Gray 2-1 in a very close encounter.
In the Champions League semi-finals, 2 goals from City Cabs wasn’t enough to see them overcome Anderson Strathern who were beginning to find the net with increasing regularity. BT put 3 passed Bruce Stevenson to end the insurance brokers journey in the competition. The final was a similarly one-sided affair with tournament top scorer Gary Burton, singled out by Pat Stanton as the man of the match in the final helping Anderson Strathern to lift back to back Professional Services titles in Edinburgh.
Over in the Europa League, Pinsent Masons, who were second in the overall goal scoring charts for the day, overcame KPMG in a 7-4 thriller to book their place in the final against Edinburgh Airport after their victory against Addleshaw Goddard. The Europa league final proved a game to far for Pinsent Masons as Edinburgh Airport ran out 8-3 winners to book their place in their second national final in a row.
The action continues this month with 6 more industry sector qualifiers across Glasgow and Edinburgh as the tournament aims to reach £10,000 for charitable causes throughout Scotland. Follow all the action online on the Business Fives social media channels and website.
Play a memorable round of golf with colleagues and clients and help raise funds for Age Scotland’s vital work in tackling loneliness and isolation; and running Scotland’s Helpline for older people.
The Stableford event, with breakfast and a 3 course high tea, includes mini-competitions and the chance to bid for money-can’t-buy experiences. You’ll also have an opportunity to win a mini, generously donated by Eastern BMW, as a prize for a hole in one. Please support by booking a team of 4, priced £300. It’ll be a great day!
Email: fundraising@agescotland.org.uk
Visit: www.agescotland.org.uk
Monies raised will help support our Freephone Helpline, which provides expert advice as well as friendship, and last year handled calls from around 16,000 older people, their carers and families.
Details:
- Thursday 31 August
- Championship course at Dalmahoy Golf & Country Club, near Edinburgh
Age Scotland, part of the Age Network, is an independent charity dedicated to improving the later lives of everyone on the ageing journey, within a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in Scotland.
