DO you have what it takes to be a pub football champ?
The hunt is on for five-a-side teams to take part in a massive competition with the ultimate goal being tickets to see England play in Euro 2012.
But, bad luck ladies, the competition is for men only.
Heron and Brearley is hoping to enter up to 64 teams in the Carlsberg Pub Cup tournament.
The local brewery is planning to stage an island-wide knockout challenge and then take the winning team to compete in the regional finals of the British Isles-wide tournament.
The competition kicks off on Monday on the all-weather pitch at King William’s College, Castletown, where the matches will be played every Monday from 6pm to 9pm, before the final on Saturday, March 31.
The island winners will receive free travel and accommodation for the regional finals before the grand final is staged in Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on May 19.
The overall winning team will receive flights and accommodation courtesy of Carlsberg, full match day hospitality, post-match entertainment, the full VIP England experience and get to play a match against a team of European football legends – Fabien Barthez, Henrik Larsson, Emmanuel Petit, Edgar Davids and Gianfranco Zola – and be managed by Gareth Southgate.
Heron and Brearley is fielding a team and is hoping to recruit 320 players (64 teams) who will be allocated to play for one of the company’s 43 managed houses across the island.
The competition is free to enter and players and their friends, families and supporters can also enjoy a complimentary post-match drink and hot dog at the Union in Castletown. In addition Heron and Brearley has pledged to donate a percentage of any post-match takings generated at The Union to go towards new sports equipment for a school (or schools) to be identified at a later date.
The brewery’s marketing and events manager Cosmo Currey said: ‘The tournament’s all about having fun and brightening up those post-Christmas and New Year days. It’s also just the start of a programme of community and sporting events we’ll be putting together throughout 2012.’
The competition is open to male players aged 18 years and over. Supply a name and contact details for each player in the team, to any Heron and Brearley managed house. Alternatively send Heron and Brearley’s events and marketing team an email. Contact Mr Currey on 472806 or 384654 or email {mailto:cosmo.currey@heronandbrearley.com|cosmo.currey(at)heronandbrearley.com} or try Helen Simpson on 463291, email {mailto:helen.simpson@heronandbrearley.com|helen.simpson(at)heronandbrearley.com}.