On Saturday 8th April 2006 took place, for the first time in Bolton, a competition which brought together young people from different walks of lives, religions, ethnics/origin backgrounds, and so forth, but all united by their passion for the beautiful game.

Bolton CommUNITY Cup is a one-day 5-a-side football tournament organised by the Horn of Africa Youth & Culture Organisation (HAYCO) in conjunction with the Bolton Council of Mosques (BCoM).

The first encounter for this year took place at Premier Fives, in Bolton, and saw 10 teams compete in 20 fast and furious 5-a-side group games followed by 2 semi-finals and a final. It’s paramount to mention, nevertheless, that all teams have shown fair-play and sportsmanship all through out the tournament, which was really one of the most sanguine outcomes that delighted the organisers and, without a doubt, bestows a huge prospect for future events.

Initially, one could not read too much into the above group draw as most teams have never played each other before. Nonetheless, once the first group games were played, you could see that a number of the remaining fixtures will be exciting encounters to say the least. Indeed the first 4 games all ended in high-scoring draws. Top of the pick was from Group 2’s encounters:

• Halliwell FC 4 – 4 Hayco FC
• Raiders FC 4 – 4 Genuine Articles

119 goals were scored in the high-tempo group games with Blackburn Road FC netting more than anyone else and Shuuq conceding the most.

However, the tournament wasn’t all about goals, goals and goals. The players have also demonstrated skills, resilience, and stamina in a fast pace tournament ran in “caged” 5-a-sides pitches where the ball never goes out of play.

However, the tournament wasn’t all about goals, goals and goals. The players have also demonstrated skills, resilience, and stamina in a fast pace tournament ran in “caged” 5-a-sides pitches where the ball never goes out of play.

In Group 1, Brokers In Arms were worthy winners and faced the Group 2 runner-up Halliwell FC in the second semi-final.

Versus

Whilst the first semi-final was contested by Group 1 runner up Blackburn Road FC and Genuine Articles who won their group on goal differences.

Versus

The first semi-final witnessed the clash of the top two scorers in the tournament so far. However, neither team could conjure up a winning goal as the game ended in a two-all draw. After a nail biting penalty shoot-out, Genuine Articles won and were through to the final. In the other semi-final, Halliwell FC lost 3 – 2 to Brokers In Arms, despite a very late charge to get an equaliser.

At long last, after 22 games, 128 goals, and 10 (teams) becoming 2, Bolton CommUNITY Cup’s first ever final was to be contested by Genuine Articles and Brokers In Arms, two teams who have distinctive playing styles and differ in their approach to games.

At this stage both teams were in for a chance to be crowned the first Bolton CommUNITY Cup winners and forever be engraved in the cup’s history.

Brokers In Arms were, eventually, deserved winners in a well fought final. Their solid defence and team work paid off in the end as they overcame a defiant Genuine Articles team.