Soccer Fans Get A Chance To Play At Old Trafford

10 June 2004
News release

Vodafone Gives Soccer Fans Chance To Play At Old Trafford

Kiwi soccer fans are being offered a unique opportunity to play on the home ground of the most famous football team in the world.

Vodafone today launched the Vodafone Shield campaign to find a New Zealand five-a-side team to play in front of 65,000 people at Old Trafford, the legendary home of Manchester United.

Vodafone sponsorship manager, Brendon O’Connor, said the Vodafone Group is the major sponsor of Manchester United.

“We’ve linked up with them to create this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for soccer fans to have a real ball at one of the most celebrated football stadiums in the world.”

O’Connor said that around 300,000 people in New Zealand play soccer and the sport continues to grow in popularity every year.

“We’re excited about giving our customers the chance to run on the same hallowed turf as the likes of David Beckham, Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy.”

O’Connor added that the competition is open to everyone who has an interest in the ‘beautiful game’.

“You don’t have to be an aspiring Ryan Giggs to enter. You just have to love sport and be able to get enough equally keen friends together – male or female and over 18 - to form a team.”

To enter the Vodafone Shield, fans need to register their team of seven players – which includes two reserves - on the Vodafone website: www.vodafone.co.nz.

All teams registered by 5pm, June 30th will have the opportunity to be selected as one of sixteen teams to go through to each of the three regional play-offs being held in Christchurch (5 July), Wellington (6 July) and Auckland (7 July).

The top team from each region will then take part in the finals in Auckland on 11 July.

The overall winning Kiwi side will be flown to Manchester for a week to compete for the Vodafone Shield against teams being sent by Vodafone from six other countries, with the grand final taking place on 5 August.

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