Henderson Campbell football challenge
17th November 2009
Professional rivalry spilled over from the workplace to the pitch when Teesside construction company Henderson Campbell launched a new competition for fellow industry players.
Their invitation to ‘kick a contractor’ or simply ‘have a ball’ in a 5-a-side tournament proved irresistible to architects, consultants and clients from all over the region.
Seven teams took up the challenge to compete, along with a team from the Guisborough-based organisers, for the Henderson Campbell Trophy plus a £500 donation to the winners’ chosen charity.
Henderson Campbell’s Development Director, Neil Armstrong, instigated the event as a way to meet clients on a less formal basis.
“We wanted to do something different to the usual business lunch or after work drinks and the 5-a-side was absolutely the right thing to do for the type of clients we have,” he explained.
“There was definitely a competitive atmosphere throughout the evening but everyone had a lot of fun and there was a real buzz when we all got together afterwards for a curry and a pint. The only disappointment was that Henderson Campbell’s team – captained by MD Antony Henderson – was knocked out in the semi final!”
Such was the success of the evening that it is to become a permanent, bi-annual fixture with winners, DKS Architects, eager to defend their title when the teams meet up again in the Spring.
“We didn’t expect to win,” said the team’s modest captain and Senior Architect’s Technician Matthew Nevitt, “but we are definitely up for another tournament - provided the date is far enough away to give us time to recover from the aches and pains received in the first one!”
DKS not only won a trophy but received a cheque for £500 from Henderson Campbell which the Stokesley practice was delighted to be able to donate to Zoe’s Place baby hospice in Middlesbrough - the most popular worthy cause in a staff vote.
Ends
Photo Captions:
1) Trophy presentation: Henderson Campbell’s Development Director, Neil Armstrong (centre right) presents the charity to cheque to Dave Knudsen, a Partner at DKS, and the firm’s winning 5-a-side team, Daniel Birdsall, Mark Arthur, Phil Readman, Team captain Matthew Nevitt with the Henderson Campbell trophy, and Andy Arthur.
2) Team on stairs: First-ever winners of the Henderson Campbell trophy – the team from DKS architects, from left.- Captain Matthew Nevitt, Phil Readman, Andy Arthur, Daniel Birdsall and Mark Arthur