BT Sport Pub Cup returns with Wembley final

02-Jun-2021 - Last updated on 02-Jun-2021 at 14:54 GMT

Pubs win prizes: The winners of this year’s Pub Cup will receive free BT Sport for their pub for a year and £1,000 to spend in the BT shop.

BT Sport is giving grassroots footballers across England a once in a lifetime opportunity to play on Wembley’s hallowed turf, as the BT Sport Pub Cup makes its return.

Men and women’s football teams will have the opportunity to enter in tandem with their local pub and be crowned the best pub team in the land in a national seven-a-side tournament.

The free-to-enter competition celebrates pub football teams within their community with events at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus on 18 July and former England national team training ground Bisham Abbey in Berkshire on 24 and 25 July.

The winners of the seven-a-side men’s and women’s tournaments will have the chance to walk out under the famous Wembley Arch and compete for the Pub Cup on 8 August.

The winners of this year’s Pub Cup will also receive free BT Sport for their pub for a year and £1,000 to spend in the BT shop.

‘Fantastic memories’

Pubs can either enter with their existing associated team or they can link up with a local grassroots team to play in the tournament by signing up before midnight on 18 June.

The 2019 men’s edition of the BT Sport Pub Cup saw CJ’s Bar and Restaurant in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, win a thrilling final against Scottish side the Inn Elderslie at a rain-soaked St James’ Park.

Shane Coates-Jarman, licensee of the 2019 men’s Pub Cup champions CJ’s commented: “We have fantastic memories and the lads loved it. They can’t wait to get together again to defend the title. They are so excited because it’s a dream to play somewhere like Wembley. We can’t wait”

The women’s Pub Cup was claimed by West Midland’s team, Shifnal Town, who won an equally gripping final.

‘Back with a bang’

Bruce Cuthbert, director commercial customers at BT Sport, said: “After a long time away from grassroots football and our local pubs we are delighted to be able to give grassroots pub teams a chance to get back on the pitch.

“This year, we are back with a bang, and hosting the final at Wembley will allow us to make many players’ dreams a reality, as they step out onto the hallowed turf and home of England.

“It is set to be a memorable competition for all 80 teams involved, reuniting the pubs and clubs community and giving grassroots teams the playing opportunities that they’ve missed during lockdown, at some of the best facilities in the world.”

Pubs can either enter with their existing associated team or they can link up with a local grassroots team to play in the tournament by signing up at www.bt.com/sport/pub-cup before midnight on 18 June.