VEKA triumphs in corporate cup

Friends of Burnley FC in the Community came together last week for a festive kick about on the new outdoor pitches at The Leisure Box.

O2, Boohoo, Rapid IT/LCWS, BNI Chattox, Burnley FC in the Community staff and, eventual champions, VEKA all fielded teams for a friendly five-a-side tournament.

In Pool One, the Burnley FC in the Community staff team were the early pace setters, as they ran up 5-0 and 4-1 victories against Chattox and Rapid IT respectively. The experience of the Chattox team was enough to see them home against the young guns of Rapid IT, securing them qualification into the semi-finals.

It was a tense opening affair in Pool Two as VEKA and boohoo battled to an opening game draw. O2 were unlucky to be beaten 3-2 by both VEKA and boohoo meaning that, with identical records, penalties would be needed to decide who topped the group.

It was VEKA who won that battle, taking them through to face second place Chattox in the semi-final; a game which proved a step too far for the BNI networking group, as VEKA showed class and composure to win through to the final.

In the ‘wooden spoon’ decider, Rapid IT and O2 played out an entertaining game, with O2 taking the spoils.

The Burnley FC in the Community staff team – heavy favourites at the end of the group stage – couldn’t find a way past boohoo, who attacked with speed and kept them pinned back.

With the game finishing a stalemate, penalties were again needed to decide the finalists and it was boohoo who edged it, setting up a repeat of the Pool One opener.

Just like Game One, the teams could not be separated in normal time and for the second time of the evening, penalties were needed.

It was VEKA who held their nerve, with wild celebrations when the winning penalty was struck, showing how tight the victory was.

Ryan Bradley, business development executive at Burnley FC in the Community said: “It was fantastic to get our partner businesses together ahead of Christmas.

“We had some great feedback from businesses on the quality of the offer at The Leisure Box and for many, it was the first time visiting the facility.

“The tournament was played in a great spirit and congratulations go to VEKA on their win”.

To find out more about the Friends of Burnley FC in the Community programme, click here.