Business Fives Aberdeen Enjoys Thrilling Debut

Business Fives Aberdeen, the penultimate heat of the five-a-side tournament for football-loving firms saw 13 teams take part in the inaugural energy event in the Granite City

Firms from Aberdeen’s energy industry kicked off the very first Business Fives Aberdeen event in the Granite City – which saw 100 goals and a worthy first winner take their place in March’s grand final.

The Business Fives Aberdeen event was launched by industry partners, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick before he took control of AGCC’s team taking part, the Chamber Allstars.

It was watched by tournament ambassador and Scotland & Aberdeen goalkeeping legend Jim Leighton.

The line-up consisted of Blaze Manufacturing, Norco Group, Safehouse Habitats, AGCC, Interwell, RSM, Aberdeen Airport, TAQA, Anderson Anderson & Brown, Rubberatkins, Apache, Forum Energy and Brodies.

As well as a goal-fest, the teams secured just short of £2,000 for local causes – including Charlie House, Befriend a Child and Kidney Kids Scotland with Rubberatkins raising £739 for the cause – bringing the grand total raised this winter season to £8,627.

On the pitch it was TAQA, Apache, Anderson Anderson & Brown and Forum Energy who made it through the group stages into the Champions League semi-finals.

TAQA – unbeaten in the groups – were finally defeated in a penalty shoot-out by AAB. The other semi-final saw Forum Energy, thanks to tournament top goal scorer Lewis Dalgleish, overcome Apache 2-0.

The final saw AAB crowned the first ever Aberdeen heats champions as they enjoyed a 2-0 victory over Forum Energy, with Jim Leighton singling out Stuart Cooper as man of the match for a great performance.

Both teams secured their passage from Business Fives Aberdeen to the Business Fives final in Glasgow on 14 March.

Over in the Europa League  – which provides a third team which didn’t win their group with a route to the March final – the semi finals were contested by RSM and the Aberdeen Chamber Allstars with Rubberatkins and Blaze Manufacturing completing the line-up.  The Chamber Allstars were finding form and ran out 2 nil winners with Rubberatkins winning 3 nil against Blaze Manufacturing.

The final was as tight as the group stage fixture between the two sides that ended in a nil nil draw but on this occasion James Bream’s goal was enough to separate the sides as the Aberdeen Chamber picked up the Europa League title and booked their place in the national final on March 14^th.    They will go on to join teams from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen in the finals.