On the evening of Monday 6th May, Watford FC’s Community Sports and Education Trust hosted the first-ever Hornets Cup at Vicarage Road Stadium, with Albion Ballers taking home the trophy.
Alongside eventual winners, Albion Ballers, the tournament’s line-up was completed by Team Alex, Inter FC, Woodside FC, Cortland Cassiobury, England 66, Bowyers 5s, Not so Cleverley, Deeney in a bottle, Watford Hong Kong Warriors. As well as two teams from the Trust-run Man On! project.
Man On! is a sports-based mental wellbeing programme designed to support men aged 18 years old and over, with their mental health through physical activity and facilitated conversations with staff and peers.
The Hornets’ Cup was a six-a-side adult’s tournament with ten-minute matches across four pitches on the hallowed turf of Vicarage Road. The group stages included two tables of six teams. In group one, Albion Ballers finished first and then took on Bowyer’s 5s in the first semi-final, in group two England 66 finished top of the table so played the second-placed team in group one Team Alex. Following some highly contested football in the semi-final, the two finalists, Albion Ballers and Team Alex walked out of the tunnel to compete for the Hornets Cup trophy, as the sound of the Champions League anthem filled the stadium. With the floodlights now on, the evening’s tournament came to a close with a competitive final that ended with Albion Ballers claiming the prize.
One of the players on the night was Omar, he said:
“Thanks for having us at the Hornets’ Cup 2024. It was a great event and a very good day out.”
In addition to giving local people the chance to play at the Hornets’ stadium on the award-winning pitch, all money raised from entry fees, and the event tuck shop supports the Trust’s ongoing charitable work within the community. To find out more about their work, visit www.watfordfccsetrust.com
