BT Sport Giving Pub Teams Chance To Play On Professional Pitches With 'Pub Cup' Tournament

BT Sport is "attempting to strengthen its ties with football fans" with a new football tournament that "promises to give pub teams the chance to play in famous stadiums," according to Tony Connelly of THE DRUM. The BT Sport Cup is inviting anyone over the age of 18 to "represent their pub in a grassroots tournament throughout May." The competition will start as a seven-a-side tournament with 16 qualifying teams "randomly selected to take part." BT Sport will "supply full kits for the teams who will face off at Championship side Queens Park Rangers’ Loftus Road stadium" on May 10 and Everton’s Goodison Park on May 15. The final will take place at Arsenal’s 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium on May 23 and will "consist of an 11-a-side match over a full 90 minutes with BT Sport pundits David James and John Hartson each taking managerial responsibilities for one of the teams" (THE DRUM, 4/12).