It was not to be for Opergy Group at the inaugural Norwich Business Fives Football Tournament, with our team pipped by eventual champions in the Europa League section, Naked Wines.
The event saw 20 companies descend on Goals Norwich, where 61 games were played, 308 goals scored and crucially, £2,409 raised for a host of local and national charities, including Samaritans, Stemettes, Nelson’s Journey and Mind.
On the pitch, Opergy Group, represented by Aaron Attree, Andy Holyland, Mark Buckton, Sam Reade, Zach Dronfield and a loan signing from Furthermore Marketing in the shape of Edward Proctor, kicked off their tournament with a 5-1 win over Farnell Clarke.
The momentum was maintained through the rest of the group, with victories over Oranmore Precast (6-3), FRP Advisory (3-0) and Naked Wines (7-5), setting up a Champions League quarter-final against Birketts.
It was not to be, however, with Birketts stopping the Opergy charge, running out 3-2 victors. This meant the team dropped into the Europa League section, dusted themselves down and got back on track, winning 3-1 against ACCIO, leading to a rematch against Naked Wines in the semi-final.
Tired legs told, however, with Naked Wines exacting revenge in a 7-1 triumph, before going on to win the whole thing. They will join Champions League finalists, Outlook Publishing and Crisp Malting Group, at the National Finals in Manchester in October, while attentions now turn to next year’s tournament for Opergy Group.
Can the team go one step further next year? Can they hang on to 15-goal hero Aaron Attree, amid reported interest from the Saudi Pro League? Will Edward Proctor return after an expert assist from in goal? Only in 2024 will these questions be answered…
A full write-up of the event can be found here.
