Chefs tackle poverty in Farm Africa football tournament

Farm Africa’s charity five-a-side football tournament saw some of the biggest names from the restaurant industry descend upon Birmingham’s Star City to support farmers living in eastern Africa.

Some of the UK’s best-known restaurants competed in the tournament alongside prominent businesses from the food and hospitality industries.

Lime Recruitment and A.M. Bailey: Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers sailed through the group stages to the final.

The hard-fought final was a tense affair. A.M. Bailey had previously beaten Lime Recruitment in the group stage. Comeback king Lime Recruitment had unfinished business with the wholesalers and ended up beating them in the final by four goals to three.

Competitor teams included: Adam’s Restaurant; Belmont Hotel; Casamia; A.M. Bailey: Fruit and vegetable wholesalers; Corpus Christi College; Belmont Hotel; Adam Reid at The French; Koj Cheltenham; and TRUEfoods (who sponsored the tournament).

Despite the Birmingham drizzle, the teams and spectators turned out in droves, and the event raised nearly £4,000 for Farm Africa’s work in eastern Africa.

“Alongside our new movement Chefs for Change, the tournament demonstrates the food industry’s commitment to tackling poverty in rural Africa,” commented Danny Everett, Farm Africa’s Event Manager. “Huge thanks to all of the teams who took part and particularly to Paul Foster, who works so hard each year to organise the event, and to TRUEfoods, our brilliant sponsors.”

The tournament was put together, for the sixth year running, by the award-winning chef Paul Foster. Paul, owner and Head Chef of Salt Dining in Stratford-upon-Avon, has raised thousands of pounds for Farm Africa over the last decade.

When it comes to great British sports, barbecuing in the rain is right up there with football. Taking little to no notice of the weather, Paul Foster fired up the BBQ and treated the players to a succulent half-time meal of grilled goat, kindly donated by goat meat supplier and Farm Africa supporter Cabrito.

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