BT Sport gives pub teams the chance to play at famous football grounds with 'Pub Cup' tournament
BT Sport is attempting to strengthen its ties with football fans with a new football tournament that promises to give pub teams the chance to play in famous stadiums.
Harry Redknapp will present the winning team with the trophy
The BT Sport Cup is inviting anyone over the age of 18 to represent their pub in a grassroots tournament throughout May.
The competition will start off as a seven-a-side tournament with 16 qualifying teams randomly selected to take part. BT Sport will supply full kits for the teams who will face off at Championship side Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road stadium on 10 May and Everton’s Goodison Park on 15 May.
The final will take place at Arsenal’s 60,000 seater Emirates stadium on 23 May and will consist of an 11-a-side match over a full 90 minutes with BT Sport pundits David James and John Hartson each taking managerial responsibilities for one of the teams.
Other famous faces involved in the tournament include former England and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who will present the trophy to the winning side.
✅ Meet @Redknapp
✅ Play at the Emirates
✅ Free to enter
Sign up for the #BTSportPubCup... https://t.co/rQYA7NYeg0
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) April 11, 2017
“It’s great to give something back to our BT Sport customers with this free to enter football tournament,” said BT Sport’s director of commercial customers, Bruce Cuthbert.
He added: “Giving pub teams the chance to play at some fantastic football stadiums, be managed by former professional footballers and the chance to win silverware at the Emirates.”
Participating teams must gain the permission of the licensee of the pub in order to represent them and the winning team will be given a year’s free BT Sport subscription and a £5,000 cash prize to spend on their pub.