Tag: Christmas

CHRISTMAS CUP 2020

The annual SK Ballers Charity Christmas Cup took place on Monday 21st December, with 11 teams taking part to raise money for MIND on a cold, damp winter evening. Here’s how it went…

GROUP A

At the halfway point of Group A, it was apparent that qualification for the semi finals was going to come down to 4 of the 6 teams, as Holland FC and Phantom Brailians failed to pick up a point from their first three games. The McMuffin Men and Sale Madrid had taken early control of the group, with McMuffin Men beating RNE Albion Blue 1-0 in the opening game, and Sale Madrid beating Stroke Titty 3-0 in their second game. RNE remained in contention with a 1-0 win that effectively ended Stroke’s hopes, before McMuffin Men ran out surprisingly comfortable 3-0 winners over Sale to take a firm grip on the group and confirm their qualification. The second qualification spot came down to RNE and Sale, and Sale clinched their spot in the semis with a 3-1 win. All McMuffin Men had to do to top the group was avoid defeat in their final game with Stroke, and they just about did it as they played out a 1-1 draw.

Qualifiers:

1st: The McMuffin Men

2nd: Sale Madrid

GROUP B

Group B never seemed as straightforward, despite Buttner Ballers getting off to a flyer with a 4-0 win over Workies Bogs in the opening game. RNE Albion Purples took control with a pair of 1-0 wins, against Blue Riz and Ballers, before Blue Riz pulled off a surprise, beating fellow Tuesday league side and current Champions Deportivo La Corona 1-0 to keep themselves in the running. Workies Bogs were out after they lost their third game, 2-0 to RNE, while Ballers got back in contention with a 2-0 win over Blue Riz, which dented their chances of progressing. Deportivo found some form to shock RNE with a 2-1 win to give themselves a chance of making the semis, but they ended as they were beaten 1-0 by Ballers in the final game which saw Ballers top the group on goal difference.

Qualifiers:

1st: Buttner Ballers

2nd RNE Albion Purples

SEMI-FINALS & FINAL

Having kept things tight throughout most of their group games, it was no surprise that RNE Albion Purples were involved in a tight semi final against Group A winners The McMuffin Men. Having gone through the group stages unbeaten, McMuffin Men stumbled in their first knockout game, as RNE ran out 1-0 winners. Sale Madrid and Buttner Ballers are fairly familiar with each other, having faced off in the Monday league on a couple of occasions. Both of those full length games have resulted in draws, so we expected this to be tight, but Buttner Ballers adapted to the shorter format of the game to pick up a 2-0 win.

So to the final and it was Ballers who started the better and went 1-0 up as they attempted to reverse the result from the group stages against Purples, but they couldn’t see it out as Albion hit back to level things up and take the final to penalites. In the shootout it was Albion who held their nerve as two misses from Buttner Ballers handed them a 2-1 victory and the Christmas Cup trophy.

WINNERS: RNE ALBION PURPLES

Obviously the tournament is secondary to the money raised for charity, and we’re pleased to announce that the tournament cleared £340.18 which will be donated to MIND at the end of what has been a very difficult year for many, many people.

Many thanks to all teams who took part, and congratulations to RNE Albion Purples on their win.

A very Merry Christmas to all of our current, former and (hopefully) future customers, and here’s to brigher days ahead in 2021!

NEW YEAR – NEW LEAGUES!

The start of a new decade sees the restart of a number of our current leagues with brand new seasons! As part of the standard news years resolutions to get fit, lose weight etc, make sure some weekly Ballers action is part of that!

NEW REDDISH SUNDAY LEAGUE

Our biggest league night is the first of the new year to start up as the Sunday evening league kicks off on 5th January. You can get straight back into it by registering a team for one of our 4 divisions, which ensures we can find a standard to suit all teams. Games kick off between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, but we do our best to accommodate any issues that teams might have with the earlier or later times.

NEW REDDISH TUESDAY LEAGUE

Our Tuesday league was a highly competitive division last season with all teams capable of taking points off each other and the title going down to the final night. The new league kicks off on 7th January, and we’re currently a couple of teams away from being able to split the league into two divisions. Games kick off at 8pm or 9pm.

NEW REDDISH WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

A day after the Tuesday league restarts, the Wednesday league follows suit. One division with all games kicking off at 9pm, this is the ideal league night for anyone who wants a fixed kick off time with shifts that suit a later game. One space available for the new season which kicks off on 8th January.

All Reddish leagues are 50 minute games priced at £5 per player, per game.

NEW WOODLEY WEDNESDAY LEAGUE

We then have a couple of weeks gap before the brand new Woodley Wednesday league kicks off on 22nd January. The current season is the first one that Ballers have run at Woodley, and after a great start a few teams struggled in the run up to Christmas. We expect a strong start to the new season as everyone gets back into it, so don’t waste any time in registering your team. The Woodley Wednesday league is 40 minute games at £5 per player, per game, with games kicking off between 7pm and 9.15pm

FOR DETAILS ON THE NEW LEAGUES, OR ANY SPACES AVAILABLE ON OUR OTHER NIGHTS, CALL 07809252658, OR EMAIL [email protected]

Christmas Cup 2!

We didn’t even get chance to advertise the first Christmas Cup tournament on here before it was full!

With the first tournament, in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust taking place on Monday 23rd December, we are toying with the idea of running a second Christmas Cup a week later, on Monday 30th December at 7pm.

All cleared proceeds will be donated to a nominated charity, with the chosen charity for the second event still to be clarified.

In order to make it a viable option, we need teams… You can dictate whether we do it or not by letting us know you want to take part.

If we get the interest we will make it official within the next week, so to force our hand, get in touch.