Rejoicing in Ripon: Super 16 revealed for Ripon’s Pig Cup tournament

Today (Thursday March 19) the Rejoicing in Ripon blog can exclusively reveal the line-up of competitors who will be taking part in the Pig Cup Six-A-Side tournament. 🐷

The keenly-awaited footie fest ⚽ for teams with players aged 25 and above is being held between 10am and 2.30pm on Sunday July 12 at Ripon City AFC’s Mallorie Park Drive ground and will raise money for, and awareness of, the work of Andy’s Man Club and Ripon Men’s Shed – organisations focused on mental health and wellbeing 💙.
The tournament is the brainchild of Portly Pig regular Helen Cotterill-Smith and Stuart and Katie Ross, who own the popular Kirkgate hostelry 🍻 and are Ripon BID members.

Stuart told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog:
“We are delighted that the Pig Cup has captured the imagination of businesses and organisations across the Ripon district.
Our original closing date for entries was March 31, but we can confirm that the 16 teams who will be taking part have been signed up.”

Katie pointed out:
“In addition to the entry fee of £50 per team, Andy’s Man Club and Ripon Men’s Shed will benefit from a number of other fundraising activities, including an auction 🏆 of much sought-after football memorabilia and other prized items which Helen, who is a regional safeguarding manager for the English Football League, is gathering from her club contacts.”
Helen — a strong supporter of suicide prevention charities and former Sergeant with South Yorkshire Police 👮‍♀️ — has also secured, through her EFL contacts, the Carabao Cup, the League 2 play-off cup, and the Vertu EFL Trophy 🏆🏆🏆 – all of which will be on display, alongside the Pig Cup, at the Ripon City AFC ground on July 12.

🐷⚽ The Pig Cup line-up ⚽🐷

The teams vying to be the first winners of the trophy are:

  • Andy’s Man Club 💙
  • Bishopton Vets 🐾
  • CrossFit Ripon 💪
  • Econ 🏢
  • HYL Clean-Dry 🧼
  • Mario’s Restaurant 🍝
  • North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services (two teams) 🚒
  • The One Eyed Rat 🐀
  • The Portly Pig (two teams) 🐖
  • Ripon Bowling Club 🎳
  • Ripon Decorating Centre 🎨
  • Ripon Races 🏇
  • Ripon Select Foods🫘
  • The Tap on the Tutt Boroughbridge 🍺

Andy’s Man Club meets at Ripon Bowling Club on Monday evenings, and Ripon Men’s Shed — whose workshop is located in Water Skellgate — is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 🛠️.

The Portly Pig, will have two teams playing in the Pig Cup and here is their six-a-side squad, minus Tom Sands, Lee Robinson and Peter George (who took this photo)