Ten Pembrokeshire and two Carmarthenshire schools played in the Fair Trade Cup 2017, the fourth Fairtrade football tournament hosted by Tavernspite CP, last Friday.
Sponsored by Hub Cymru Africa, the Fairtrade tournament was organised by Fair Trade In Football campaign founder Sharron Hardwick, and Tavernspite teachers Julie Houghton and Richard Henton. Naomi Rees and Phillip Evans helped on the day. Fair Trade Wales’ Ffion Storer Jones travelled from Swansea, taking photographs and interviews.
Participating teams represented 12 Fairtrade producer countries; all games were played with Fairtrade stitched footballs.
Schools got into the Fairtrade spirit. Johnstown (Colombia) and Llys Hywel (Costa Rica) brought fans with flags and Fairtrade posters, their cheer leaders giving rousing support.
For the Fairtrade profile competition, St. Oswald’s (Uruguay) created excellent Fairtrade Uruguay posters, St Marks designed and laminated Cameroon Fairtrade posters and Pembroke Dock (Ivory Coast) created a fact-filled presentation board. They all played some great football too!
Tenby (Ecuador), Golden Grove (Mexico), St. Teilo’s (Ghana) and Hafan Y Mor (Honduras) had printed t-shirts. St. Marks designed their own shirts; Narberth’s shirts were designed by their Fairtrade committee.
Hosts Tavernspite provided a warm welcome and Fairtrade biscuits; their team’s football skills were highly noted.
The Fairtrade tournament was complimented by visiting teachers who praised the hosts, the fun atmosphere and organisation.
New Life Church and Kilgetty Co-op were thanked for providing refreshments.
Dyffryn Taf pupils visited and refereed some games. Ceri Phillips and Steven from Swansea Community Trust also attended and their help was invaluable, especially in the final stages when the games were too close to call!
Schools played some great football and the games were entertaining.
Semi-finalists were: Tavernspite (Brazil) v Johnstown (Colombia); Tenby (Ecuador) v Narberth (Argentina).
Tenby VC and Johnstown were semi-final winners.
Narberth pipped Tavernspite on penalties in an exciting third place play-off.
After a 4-2 victory in the final, Tenby took the Fair Trade Cup, with Johnstown as runners-up. Tenby are now Fairtrade tournament triple champions!
Medals were presented by Sharron Hardwick to first, second and third placed teams. Every participant had a certificate and a Fairtrade chocolate bar.
Johnstown’s goalkeeper, Adil, was awarded Player of the Tournament; a unanimous decision by organisers and Swansea Community Trust workers. His outstandingly fearless, stonewall stance made things difficult for all opponents!
Stepping in again with less than a week’s notice, Mary Immaculate won the Fair Play Award - they have been offered a guaranteed place in next year’s Fair Trade World Cup.
“Thanks to everyone involved for making the Fair Trade Cup such fun. I was really impressed with the football, it was exciting and so close! The exemplary behaviour of all participants is a credit to the schools involved. This is more than just a tournament, it’s about fairness, bringing schools together and supporting Sialkot football workers. We have the power to make a difference,” said Sharron.
Fairtrade guarantees a fair deal. Fairtrade football premiums have already provided a water filtration system, free eye care and bus transport, a fair price shop, school equipment and more.
To switch to Fairtrade football, buy Fairtrade sports balls from: www.balasport.co.uk
For information visit: www.fairtradeinfootball.com