Crown Delivers First Annual 5-a-side Football Tournament for Dementia UK

Community / Crown Delivers First Annual 5-a-side Football Tournament for Dementia UK

On July 8th, Crown Highways hosted charity 5-a-side charity football tournament in support of Dementia UK.

Held at Chasetown FC, the tournament brought together teams from various organisations across the highways sector, demonstrating both competitive spirit and charitable focus.
The idea for the tournament originated from a suggestion by a couple of Crown Highways employees, and the choice of charity to support was also made by the company’s staff, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the organisation.

On the day, participating teams from Crown Highways – who provided 3 teams, R&C Williams (2 teams), Tarmac, Techcare, HTM (two teams), CLM, Hilton Main & a social team led by Crown Highways & Chasetown FC Chairman Steve Jones.

About Dementia UK

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family, working towards a day where no one has to face dementia alone.

Their specialist nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing advice and support, to anyone affected by dementia, whenever it is needed.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE ADMIRAL NURSE DEMENTIA HELPLINE, CLICK HERE

Dementia is a complex condition, unique to every individual and their family. Admiral Nurses understand this: they provide tailored, practical support to thousands of families every year, offering them reassurance, understanding and a listening ear that helps them feel more in control.

• £4 could pay for the telephone costs of one family calling the Helpline for free to get the support they need.
• £10 could help 10 families find out more about dementia and how to get a diagnosis for a loved one through funding our information and advice leaflets.
• £25 could pay for a carer to receive an hour of one-to-one support from a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse on our free Helpline.
• £50 could pay for two carers to receive an hour of one-to-one support from a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse on our free national Helpline.
• £87 could pay for a monthly two-hour clinical supervision session for up to eight Admiral Nurses
• £135 could pay for an Admiral Nurse to answer calls for an evening on our Helpline, when other sources of support have closed for the night.

How it unfolded

The day was not without its dramatic moments, with last-minute goals, injuries and wild competitiveness all at the fore.

R & C Williams sadly experienced the first injury, with a player dislocating a finger just three minutes into the game. Fortunately, the player received immediate attention and was able to rejoin the match – but it was a sign of things to come as to how much vigor was being showcased throughout each match.

After a day of battling, it out on the field, a team from HTM took the glory after defeating one of Crown Highways’ own teams – scoring a last-minute goal to secure a 2-1 victory. Congratulations to team HTM on their victory!

The victory did come at an unfortunate cost to Ben Kirby from HTM. Ben suffered a serious injury, breaking his foot and damaging his ankle. Despite this, Ben appeared in the winning photo – showcasing his resilient spirit. We all wish Ben a swift recovery!

Fundraising Success

The tournament was not just about football, but centred around making a positive impact.

Over £2,000 has been raised for charity so far, with £362.09 coming from the raffle alone and donations still coming in.

After the raffle and presentation, Crown Highways MD Mike Dale gauged interest for next year. The enthusiastic response from everyone assured Mike this could be an annual event for years to come.

Mike Dale, said:

“It’s been a brilliant day, it’s been played in wonderful spirit with charity at the heart of everything. We’re extremely grateful to all who have supported and donated and we’re thankful to all organisations and their teams for spending their day here supporting a cause that means so much to us and our workforce. I am already looking forward to planning 2025 event!”