Member Article

Grant Thornton’s Leeds office hosts national football tournament

The Leeds office of business adviser Grant Thornton has hosted 400 colleagues for its annual, inter-office five-a-side football tournament.

It is only the second time in the 11 year history of the national competition that the city has played host, as the location is dictated by the home of the previous year’s winning team!

Seventy-two teams from across Grant Thornton’s 25 UK offices flocked to Goals Soccer Centre on Redcote Lane on Saturday 25 July – and there was even an international flavour with a team travelling from the firm’s Hamburg office! The tournament sees Grant Thornton teams compete against one another in a series of around nine games – initially in league tables before the top teams and runners-up went into a series of knock-outs at the tournament.

This year, five men’s and two women’s teams from across the Leeds and Sheffield offices took part, including four members of last year’s winning team comprising Johnny Lister, Mark Smith, Will McGahan and Tom Cadzow who triumphed over the Southampton office in the 2014 final. Success this year, however, came to the Glasgow team which beat Southampton by one penalty in a closely fought final.

Will McGahan, associate in Grant Thornton’s Leeds audit team, said “The tournament is now a mainstay in the Grant Thornton calendar and one which everyone looks forward to getting involved with. We were very proud to win last year and have been basking in the honour of bringing the tournament home to Yorkshire.

“While we were disappointed not to repeat our success this year, it was once again a fantastic day. It brings together colleagues, not only from our offices in the UK and further afield, but also from different disciplines and gives everyone a chance to catch up, as well as putting their skills on the pitch to the test.

“Thanks to everyone who helped to organise the tournament in Leeds – we’re already discussing team tactics for next year and hope that Yorkshire will once again host this great sporting event!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Kilmurray .