Farm Africa’s annual charity five-a-side football tournament took place on Sunday 14 July at Birmingham’s Star City.
The tournament, generously sponsored by TRUEfoods, saw some of the UK’s best-loved restaurants compete in the tournament alongside prominent businesses from the food and hospitality industries, all to support farmers living in eastern Africa
Lime Recruitment and A.M. Bailey: Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers sailed through the group stages to the final.
The grudge match was on, as we saw a repeat final from 2018 between A.M. Bailey and Lime Recruitment. It was a tense match with Lime Recruitment fighting hard to retain their title but at the final whistle A.M. Bailey proved too strong a side beating Lime Recruitment in the final by six goals to one.
Competitor teams in the 2019 tournament included Adam’s Restaurant; A.M. Bailey: Fruit and vegetable wholesalers; Launceston Place; Lime Recruit and Rafters Restaurant.
Despite the early Birmingham drizzle, the sun soon came out and the heat was on for our teams and spectators who turned up to enjoy our infamous raffle and BBQ, which was kindly provided by Moss Valley Fine Meats and Little Black Wood Mosley and cooked by Dan Bailey catering. The event raised over £3,100 for Farm Africa’s work in eastern Africa.
It was the seventh year of the tournament, which is organised by the award-winning chef Paul Foster. Paul, owner and Head Chef of Salt Dining in Stratford-upon-Avon, has to date raised over £20,000 at the event since the football tournament began in 2013.
“Chefs’ football demonstrates the food industry’s commitment to tackling poverty in rural Africa. A massive thanks to all of the teams who took part this year, TRUEfoods, our brilliant sponsors and especially to Paul Foster, who works so hard each year to make it all happen,” commented Marian Torres, Farm Africa’s Event Manager.
