Russell Roof Tiles’ top five-a-side squad recently battled it out with local businesses from the Burton area to raise money for charity.
Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent pitched roof tile manufacturer and the team took part in The Burton Albion Corporate Five-a-Side Tournament with 20 other businesses at Burton Albion’s home ground, the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-upon-Trent.
The league one team hosted the tournament to give local businesses the chance to play on their renowned pitch while raising funds for chosen organisations.
Russell Roof Tiles’ team consisted of players from various departments within the business including Ross Hayward, James Pendleton, Michael Palmer, Alan Young, Dan Hancox, Scott Summers and Liam Parsons. Managing director, Andrew Hayward participated as goalkeeper/team coach and was assisted in coaching by commercial services director, Paul McLoughlin.
It was leading manufacturer and Russell Roof Tiles’ neighbour JCB who took home the coveted trophy after beating Burton Chamber of Commerce 5-3 in the Final. The Russell Roof Tiles team battled hard in a tough group, scoring 12 goals and making what seemed like 50 brilliant saves from their superstar keeper. They came fourth in their group after managing to win their final game against Punch Taverns 7-2 in what proved to be a fierce series of matches.
The Russell Roof Tiles team even had their own specially designed kit produced by Burton Albion’s own kit supplier TAG SPORTS.
Area Sales Manager Ross Hayward decided to nominate Acorns Children’s Hospice as their chosen charity to raise money for in this tournament. Acorns provide care to life-limited and life-threatened children and their families. As a network of children’s hospices, the charity has three specialist hospices located across the West Midlands, where they care for 30 babies, children and their families.
The amount raised by the five-a-side team will be matched by Russell Roof Tiles as part of its Pitching for Pennies scheme. This means the official total to be donated to Acorns will be £1,000.
Liam Parsons, technical assistant at Russell Roof Tiles, was declared the team’s player of the tournament. He said: “It was a fantastic experience, especially to meet and compete with other local businesses at such a well-known stadium.”
With two sites on Nicholson Way and Wetmore Lane in Burton, as well as a site in Scotland Russell Roof Tiles is already linked with Burton Albion, having been the main sponsors of the away ‘East Stand’ at the Pirelli Stadium since 2016. The manufacturer also supports Burton Albion’s thriving U15 football team.
Andrew Hayward, managing director of Russell Roof Tiles, commented: “I’m very proud of the effort the team put in at the tournament. For a team whose average age is 39, playing against 20-year-olds, they did very well.
“Getting involved with events like the Burton Albion Corporate Five-a-Side is something we’re keen on encouraging our staff to do, as charity fundraising is integral to our company. With our new Pitching for Pennies scheme, we look forward to seeing what else staff will get up to in the name of good deeds.”
Announced in 2019, Pitching for Pennies initiative means Russell Roof Tiles will match-fund whatever is raised by an employee taking part in a charity event.
So far, as part of Pitching for Pennies – some members of staff and heading to the East Coast, to Skegness specifically to join the ‘Great British Clean Up’ in September. They’ll be clearing up plastic and waste that could harm local Marine Wildlife and hope to raise £1,000. Bruce Laidlaw, operations director and Nikki Rowbotham, HR manager at Russell Roof Tiles, have also got involved.
Bruce took on a 1.5km swimathon, while Nikki gave up sugar for a month. Combined they raised an impressive £500 for Cancer Research.
