A football tournament exclusively for travel companies will give players the chance to compete at the training ground of England’s national teams.
The Travel United Cup will take place on Friday, July 7, at St George’s Park, near Needwood, Staffordshire, in support of charities Just a Drop and the Street Soccer Foundation.
A total of 16 teams will feature in the tournament, with each side having 7-10 players.
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Just a Drop founder Fiona Jeffery OBE (pictured) said: “The travel industry has a reputation of competing to be the very best. This is a chance to compete for and take home a different accolade – an industry cup that proves once and for all which travel company is the best… at football. All whilst transforming lives both in the UK and across the world.”
St George’s Park is home to all 23 England national teams.
Entrants in the Travel United Cup will compete on the David Beckham Community Pitch and have a chance to visit the Club England Pavilion, which is usually closed to the public.
Players will also be able to take part in a ‘skills zone’ to practise their penalties and learn new tricks.
The travel industry has helped Just a Drop support 1.9 million people across 32 countries through community-owned safe water and sanitation projects.
Street Soccer Foundation uses football as a way of helping to educate and inspire children, as well as vulnerable and homeless young people.
Former Feefo chief executive Andy Mabbutt came up with the idea for the tournament.
He said: “I love my football and more importantly I simply adore the travel industry and the people in it, and to bring both together to create an event that will make a difference to less fortunate young people is a no-brainer and incredibly exciting.”
Companies or individuals wanting to enter need to sign up through Just a Drop’s website at a cost of £2,000 per team. Sponsorship opportunities are also available from £1,000 to £6,000, with the latter price being for the headline sponsor.
Pictured: Just a Drop founder Fiona Jeffery OBE