09
April
2018
|
11:19
Europe/London

John Hartson and Robbie Savage take first steps into Sunday league football

Summary
Former Welsh football internationals, John Hartson and Robbie Savage, took their first steps into football management with a visit to Cardiff University Sports Fields in Llanrumney, Cardiff (Sunday, 08 April) to help launch the BT Sport Pub Cup.

Former Welsh football internationals, John Hartson and Robbie Savage, took their first steps into football management  with a visit to Cardiff University Sports Fields in Llanrumney, Cardiff (Sunday, 08 April) to help launch the BT Sport Pub Cup.

Both BT Sport pundits were there to help provide some Premier League level advice to Cardiff Sunday League regulars – Aberystwyth Exiles and Cathays Conservatives. The Aberstywyth Exiles, representing the Four Elms pub in Roath, have successfully been drawn to compete in this year’s BT Sport Pub Cup.

The BT Sport Pub Cup is a free to enter football tournament that celebrates pubs and their football teams which are at the heart of communities across the UK.

Starting off as a 7-a-side, the regional tournaments will take place at six football stadiums across the UK, including Everton’s Goodison Park and Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough. Teams who take part will also be provided with full kit supplied by Pro-direct. The tournament and Semi-Finals will then turn into an 11-a-side tournament to take place at St George’s Park before the final at the home of Leicester City on Saturday, 2 June. The two finalist teams will also be managed and coached by Robbie Savage and John Hartson.

The team crowned champions will win a free BT Sport subscription for a year and £5,000 worth of equipment for their pub.

John Hartson said “This is an incredible experience for players who put their boots on every Sunday for their local pub team to play on some of the very best pitches in the country.”

“The whole experience will be great and something to remember. From going to the stadium, using the same changing rooms to playing on the same pitches that the very top professionals play on week in week out. And both Robbie and I will be there to give some tips on the way.”

Bruce Cuthbert, director commercial customers, BT Sport, said: “We were overwhelmed by the success of the BT Sport Pub Cup last year and I’m delighted that it is returning bigger and better in 2018.”

“Pubs are at the heart of their community and we want to help them thrive by giving their football teams the chance of a Premier League experience and to give something back to their local. We will be promoting this tournament across the BT Sport channel and social media platforms together with a national marketing campaign encouraging as many teams as possible to get to their local, speak to their landlord and sign up.”