The chance to play at the ground of a Premiership football team was once in a lifetime experience for hundreds of people working at O2 across the North West.
The O2 Premier Challenge saw people from the company’s offices at Bury and Runcorn compete in a football tournament at Bolton Football Club’s Reebok Stadium.
The event was organised by O2 manager Imran Younis and attracted 22 mixed teams made up of 220 players. Each match was 10 minutes long and played simultaneously with other games to ensure a winner was crowned by the end of the day. Each team was made up of seven men and three women players who were roared on by a 500 strong crowd of friends and family.
Imran said: “It’s a stadium where some of the world’s greatest players have played, Jay Jay Okocha, Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry to name a few. Not many people would have the chance to play at such an amazing ground. Everyone was desperate to show off their skills and fulfil childhood dreams of playing on a Premiership football pitch."
Platinum Avengers from O2’s Preston Brook offices took home the trophy having beaten Connected World 1 in the final. Each of the winning team members also took home a brand new Sony Xperia Play.
Saj Umarji, head of O2 at Bury, said the atmosphere was brilliant despite the poor weather.
"The day was a huge success and everyone showed true O2 spirit, even with the heavy rainfall. My team and I have already started planning for next year's tournament."
The idea for the tournament followed a similar one last year to mark the World Cup. Such was the success that O2 decided to make it an annual tournament.
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