Rutland businesses and residents only have this week left to sponsor a local charity football tournament.

The Rutland Cup is an annual event set to take place in July, and the team are looking for sponsors and raffle prizes to help raise funds for their chosen charity, Pepper's– A Safe Place. 

The Rutland Cup is an annual football tournament that sees 4 local teams compete in a series of friendly games across 2 weekends to raise money for Rutland-based charities. 

Last year, the cup supported For Rutland. 

This year, the event will be in aid of Pepper's – A Safe Place, a local charity dedicated to supporting mental health, wellbeing, and tackling loneliness. 

Last year's sponsors included The Crown Tavern, Rutland Late Night Pharmacy and The Royal Duke. Image credit: Dan Allen.

Event organiser, Stewart Lambie, said: "We supported Pepper's in 2021, and since then have had friends impacted directly by the work they do. As such, we plan on supporting them every year." 

The football clubs involved in this year's tournament will include Oakham, Uppingham, Cottesmore, Stamford Lions. 

This is the third year the team have organised the event, which was a popular annual cup in the 90s. Stewart has worked hard since 2021 to bring it back, seeing much success. 

Over the last 2 years, the event has helped to raise £2350.48 for local charities, and welcomes many players and spectators, some making firm friends for life through the tournament. 

This year, the event will take place on Saturday 8 July, and Saturday 15 July 2023 at Oakham United Football Club in Barleythorpe. 

The event will take place in July. Image credit: Stewart Lambie.

To help raise funds and support the organising of the tournament, the team are looking for sponsors, who will receive advertising and a banner on match days, social media coverage and mentions in local print and online newspapers, such as Nub News. 

Sponsorship funds will pay for match officials, trophies, medals and supplies. Any money made following these expenses will go to Pepper's- A Safe Place, who support many individuals within the local community. 

To raise further funds, the team will also be hosting bucket collections during the event, as well as a popular raffle, the results of which are set to be drawn on finals day. 

Currently the team are in search of a range of raffle prizes to support their fundraising. 

The team are looking for items such as store and experience vouchers, wine, sweets, gifts, local services and more. 

Can you sponsor the event or donate a raffle prize? 

Get in touch by emailing [email protected] to sponsor and give raffle prizes. 

Come and support the event, enjoy some top local football, indulge in food and drink and make the most of the Great British weather, whatever it may bring. 

Oakham were last year's winners. Image credit: Dan Allen.

See you there! 

Don't forget to check out the Oakham Nub News What's On page for other local events.