by Daniel Igra
Bankers and lawyers saw their stock fall further after being outclassed by a team of talented teenage footballers.
Staff from two international banks and a City law firm were outdone by the Shoreditch starlets in a five-a-side football tournament designed to bring big businesses and underprivileged youths together.
The competition had been under threat as turnout from City workers fell from last year and the winning team waited until the last minute to confirm their place.
The Blue Hut Rangers beat City workers 2-1
In the end five teams lined up on Monday evening, one each from Deutsche Bank, UBS and law firm Linklaters, and two from the Blue Hut youth group, the organisation behind the event.
Made up of teenagers from the Murray Grove estate, Blue Hut Rangers proved to be a cut above the rest.
Initially drawing blanks in goalless clashes with Linklaters and UBS, the Rangers took time to get into gear.
But team captain Aaron Hughes, also on League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge marshalled his players to overcome Linklaters 2-1. The rematch in the final was a show of cultured passing and individual flair.
Aaron, after lifting the cup, told the Hackney Post he thought the event was an “excellent” idea.
“It’s good that the businesses join in. I’ve done it a couple of times before and it’s always been fun,” he said.
Clare King, manager of Blue Hut youth group, said she was “over the moon” that Aaron’s team had won.
“They’ve played in every tournament since we started it up three years ago and this is the first time they’ve won. I’m so pleased,” she added.
But Amam Singh, of Deutsche, said turnout from the banks had fallen since he played his first tournament at Blue Hut three years ago.
“I’ve done this about ten times. We used to have two teams from UBS and Deutsche. Now we struggle to get one from each of them.
“People are less interested in playing. I don’t think it should just be football. We need other initiatives – there’s not enough interaction with the kids.
Mr Singh denied that it was to do with banks cutting down their outreach work.
“People don’t bother coming because they’re working too hard or because it’s raining.”
