Dream Team Football Fun

On Wednesday 7th May Patina descended upon Lewes FC's Dripping Pan for the annual Dream Team football tournament.

This was the 11th tournament - it's been going since 2014! It's one of our most popular fundraisers for the Moving On Parade.

Teams arrived around 4pm where they registered and team managers were given a briefing with our match manager, Sauro Scarpelli who does an excellent job of organising the teams into groups and managing the Year 9 and 10 Priory students who come and referee and score keep for us.

This year we had 19 teams made up of 7 players for a 5 a side games. Teams were asked to come up with team names drawing inspiration from our theme of "A Night in the Museum" They didn't dissapoint, here are some of our favourites: 'Exit through the gift shop', 'Roosevelt Rooks', 'GOAT-Busters', 'Going down in history', 'Team Rex', 'The Angry Saxons' and 'The Exhibitionists'.

Teams were not school teams, they are friendship groups. Promoting friendships across the Lewes District. There has to be a ratio of 2:5 gender split either way in each squad, with one boy or one girl on the pitch at any one time. This has been our rule since the competition started 11 years ago and we are very proud to have been associated in progressing football for all and being part of Equality FC over the years.

The football kicked off at 4.30pm and it was amazing to see all four pitches playing at the same time.

During the tournament we ran our Patina Cantina which was run by our lovely year 6 parents and carers and this year were joined by two lovely team members from The Enjoolata Foundation. They sold many delicious home baked cakes, hot dogs, soft drinks and more.

We also ran a raffle, the prizes this year included two signed Lewes FC shirts, a football from Intersport and a voucher for a coaching session with the coach from Queen's Park Rangers!

It was a tense final between the T-Rex Tacklers and the GOAT-Busters with the GOAT-Busters winning the Patina Cup. Isn't their kit brilliant! Well done to the team and to all the teams who entered.

We were delighted that the Mayor of Lewes Councillor Imogen Makepeace came along to present the Patina Cup. It was her last day as Mayor and we would like to thank her for everything she has done as Mayor this year!

Our thanks also go to Shrey Nilvarna from Lewes FC for lending us the Dripping Pan for the event and helping to co-ordinate the event. Priory School Sports Leaders for kindly being our referees and score keepers. Sauro Scarpelli for organising the match play. To all our wonderful volunteers on the gate, cafe, setting up and clearing away - we absolutely couldn't run this event without their help!