The Co-operative Group is on top of the grocery industry this week after a team from its head office emerged victorious in the first national five-a-side football competition in aid of the industry’s welfare charity, Caravan.

Sponsored by Primula, the national event came to a climax last weekend with the finals at JJB Soccerdome in Manchester.

The Co-op’s boys in yellow and blue were Chris Dunn, Karl Hassall, Steve Hassall, Daren Hindley, Steve Flaherty, Lee Wade and Kristian Mills. And they won a hard-fought final 3:0 against an under-strength team from Manor Bakeries.

Both teams had a gruelling day, battling through their group stages, then quarter finals and semi-finals, before meeting in the final.

The group stages were also very tight. Manor Bakeries, Waitrose and Greencore got through on goal difference and joined Buckingham Foods, Tate & Lyle, Iceland Leeds, Uniq 1 and the Co-op in the quarter finals. The semi-finals were between Iceland and Manor Bakeries, and the Co-op and Buckingham Foods.

There was also a plate competition, which was won by Scottish Courage.

Those playing in last weekend’s national final were the top teams to emerge from the regional heats that have been taking place around the country in the past couple of months.




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