Starkey Laboratories were on premier form last night as they stormed home worthy winners of the inaugural Marketing Stockport Business 5 a-side cup with a glorious win over finalists Direct Marketing & Data Specialists, LBM.
19 Stockport based teams and members of Marketing Stockport kicked off on the revolutionary 3G pitches at LifeLEISURE’s Stockport Sports Village, with guest team – Mid-City Lions from Atlanta – stepping up to the centre circle at the last minute.
Starkey’s winning team took home the Marketing Stockport 5 a-side Business Cup
Not even the evening’s torrential downpour could dampen the spirits of the 100 plus players who all played with enthusiasm and determination representing diverse businesses across the area.
One team manager commented:
“This is fantastic! It’s great to see so many Stockport based businesses coming together – from all areas of their business.”
Group A included LBM1, Gorvins, TCM Advisors, Allens Accountants and SAS Daniels with LBM 1 and Allens reaching the quarter finals;
Cathy Bates from Essential Personnel with her team Brollies at the ready!
Group B saw Hallidays and LBM2 reaching the second stage after a close fought contest with strong performances from Clarke Nicklin, Essential Personnnel and Dyer Environmental.
Group C saw eventual winners Starkey and SEO Next take quarter final places from the young, enthusiastic DJS boys, team Fairhurst and Bredbury based Stanley Security.
Group D, a strongly fought group where Bennett Verby and the Mid-City Lions from Atlanta proved too much for the boys from RBS, Stockport Borough Council and Excel publishing – raising a few early but thankfully unfounded scares for next year’s return comp!
The semi-finals saw Starkey put out the boys in purple from Bennett Verby and LBM1 beat Allens into joint 3rd.
Leemic’s Nick Pendlebury presents trophies to Tom Greally and Warren Gaskin
Leemic, joint sponsors of the competition, presented trophies to the evening’s Top Scorer – Tom Greally from LBM and ‘Player of the Competition’ awarded to Starkey’s Warren Gaskin.
Richard Higginson from Marketing Stockport was delighted with the whole evening:
“This has been a fantastic evening despite the weather! The facilities at Stockport Sports Village are second to none, from the 3G pitches right through to the hospitality provided by Tribourne Catering Services. We have to thank Rob Clare for organising the 1st Marketing Stockport 5 a-side tournament, to Leemic for their support and to all the teams for taking part”.
Next year Starkey will be defending their new title on what we hope may be a more seasonally summer evening.