On a sunny (and slightly sweaty) Thursday, the fearless squad from Thomas & Thomas laced up their boots, rolled up their sleeves, and took to the pitch for the GPF Lewis Charity 5-a-Side Football Tournament, joining forces with our good friends from 3 Sphere for a day of glory, graft, and groin strains.

The cause?

The incredible Demelza Hospice Care for Children, a charity that provides life-changing support for children with serious or terminal conditions and their families across South East London, Kent and East Sussex. Every pass, tackle, and wild speculative shot into the car park was in support of their vital work – and we were proud to be part of it.

Grouped alongside a mixture of seasoned ringers and “leisure centre Ronaldos,” the Thomas & Thomas x 3 Sphere FC outfit showed grit, teamwork, and—when necessary—some old-fashioned hoof-it-clear defending. Through the group stages we battled hard, narrowly avoiding a few cardiac incidents, and made it to the knockouts with our heads held high (and our hamstrings held even higher).

Against all odds—and at least one team who looked suspiciously like they had a full-time coach—we bulldozed our way to the final. Though the dream of lifting the trophy slipped just out of reach, finishing runners-up was a fantastic result, especially considering several of our squad hadn’t kicked a ball since the last school disco.

Big thanks to GPF Lewis for putting on such a cracking event and hats off to Demelza for everything they do. If you don’t know about their work already, check them out – they make an incredible difference to families at unimaginably tough times, and we’re honoured to have played a small part in supporting them.

Now please excuse us while we tend to our aches, pains, blisters, and egos—all picked up in the name of charity and (almost) silverware.