Saturday 21st July 2007 saw Tackle Africa’s sixth annual Football Marathon, aimed at raising invaluable funds for the charity. Held this year on Clapham Common, the event represents Tackle Africa’s single biggest annual fundraiser and a fantastic source of both funds and coaches for the following year’s projects. Having grown year on year, the aim was for the event to be bigger and better than ever and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Over 200 players took part, representing 24 teams, playing 72 hours of football, spread over nine pitches, scoring 1127 goals, during 288 games of football – all fitted into a 12 hour tournament!
It was an early start on a bright Saturday morning as Tackle Africa trustees and volunteers arrived from 7am to set up. Players began to filter on to the common almost immediately and as they arrived were quickly put to work erecting nine 5-a-side pitches and 11 marquees. This was to be no ordinary tournament! The football officially kicked off at 8.30am, and play ended just before 8.30pm, with the rain holding off for most of the day. Along with almost constant football, teams were required to provide a ref in their breaks, ensuring the spirit of fair play was (mostly!) maintained throughout the day.
Games started in the morning at a frenetic pace, with many teams appearing not to be pacing themselves for a long day of five-a-side football. Teams were engaged in two separate group stages, leading to a knock out stage where nobody appeared to get knocked out and onto a final. With that much football and that many goals, it was beyond human ability that it could be run by a mere man, and genius volunteer Tim Dawes created the mother of all spreadsheets to hold it all together perfectly.
Despite being played a full 12 hours after the first game, the final was as competitive and hard fought and full on as any game all day. Hot favourites Puretown had most of the possession for the match, but a resilient Surreal Madrid held them at bay for 30 punishing minutes. As reward for their sterling rear guard action, Surreal Madrid emerged victorious from the ensuing penalties, leaving winning captain Stephen Findlay to collect the trophy. A cruel way perhaps to lose the final for Puretown, who were also runners up in the 2006 Marathon, but drama for the spectators to the final minute.
Though the football had slowed considerably by the end of the day (and the third place play off in particular was played at a snails pace), there were no major injuries, thanks no doubt in a large part to having a physiotherapist on site. It is likely however, that there were a few sore legs the next day, as one player who had been wearing a pedometer registered that he had run nearly 30 kilometres over the course of the day!
Tom Colborne, Tackle Africa trustee, goalkeeper in 3rd placed team Hardly Athletic and organiser of the Football Marathon commented after the event:
“This has been the best Football Marathon yet, with the highest number of players involved. Everything ran incredibly smoothly, and despite the agony everyone seemed to really enjoy the day. Most importantly the event will boost Tackle Africa’s profile and raise vital funds so that we can help as many people as possible next year.”
Ben Maitland, Tackle Africa’s founder and Chair was keen to praise the players’ efforts afterwards saying:
“The effort those involved have put in today will help in a very real way to push Tackle Africa’s work forward in the coming year. Congratulations to all those involved.”
Funds raised by the event have now passed the £50,000 mark – enough to fund a whole year�s programme of Tackle Africa football and HIV/AIDS projects in Africa. Just as important as the money has been the interest from the players, with some of them now set to go on coaching trips in 2008 – helping Tackle Africa put the money into action. Planning is already well underway for next year and the event will be even bigger and better, with negotiations under way to host it at a football league ground!
