UK Top 50 law firm Birketts has raised £20,250 through its annual charity five-a-side football tournament.
Hosted at Portman Road, the home of Premier League team Ipswich Town Football Club, and taking place on 3 June, this year’s tournament brought together 12 teams to battle it out for the coveted winner’s trophy.
Joining Birketts on the pitch were teams from Associated British Ports, Barnes Construction, BUUK United, Denbury Groundbreakers, EACH, Killik, OCS, One Group Construction, Untypical Anglia/Hopkins Homes and Ipswich Town Foundation.
The funds raised at this year’s tournament will be equally split between East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and Ipswich Town Foundation.
EACH delivers all-encompassing, lifelong care to support both bereaved and non-bereaved families, while Ipswich Town Foundation is the charitable arm of Ipswich Town Football Club which provides activities to improve the health, skills, opportunities and lives of people across Suffolk.
One Group Construction took home the winner’s trophy, while the tournament’s top goal scorer, Jack Wass from Killik & Co, was crowned player of the tournament.
On the tournament’s success, Oliver Crichton, Partner in Birketts’ commercial real estate team, said: “We were delighted to host our annual charity football tournament at Ipswich Town and raise more than £20,000 for the Ipswich Town Foundation and EACH – both local charities doing incredible work in our community. It was a real treat to sample the Premier League facilities, including the immaculate Portman Road playing surface. The tournament was keenly contested with plenty of talent on show and played in a fantastic spirit. A big thank you to all at Ipswich Town and to our amazing clients who entered teams and made it such a memorable day.”
Anna Bruce, EACH’s Senior Corporate Fundraiser for Suffolk and East Essex, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Birketts for organising this fantastic tournament at Portman Road.
“Our sincere thanks also go to the individuals, teams and businesses that signed up and took part, helping make it another memorable and successful day.
“Bringing together so many people for an afternoon of friendly competition is a wonderful way to support our work and raise awareness.
“The generosity, enthusiasm and community spirit shown by everyone involved was inspiring, and every pound raised will help us continue delivering vital care and support to children, young people and families across East Anglia.”
Noah Britnell, Fundraising and Partnerships Officer at the Ipswich Town Foundation, added: “We were delighted to be selected as one of the chosen charities of this fantastic event, which raised vital funds to be reinvested into the local community. We would like to thank everyone at Birketts’ for their continued support of our work, as well as the participating businesses and organisations whose generosity and involvement made the event such a success. Together, they helped raise an incredible amount for both the Foundation and EACH.”
