Two rival Bath investment firms have competed in a charity football match to net money for the city’s Cancer Unit Support Group (BCUSG).
A team made up of staff from Royal London battled it out with players from Novia Financial in aid of the charity, which provides essential equipment for cancer patients at Bath’s Royal United Hospital (RUH). 
Despite strong winds and rain at Bath City FC’s Twerton Park ground, the players were cheered on by a lively crowd of around 80 supporters, including fellow staff and friends.
Royal London ran out winners, beating Novia Financial 8:0 in a contest that was closer than the final score suggested.
Man of the match was Royal London’s top scorer Ben Hatton who, during one of his goal celebrations, joined workmates in the stand to encourage the applause from supporters.
As well as donations made during the game, there were also bucket collections at Royal London and Novia’s offices in the run-up to the match. Combined with proceeds from a number of other recent events, these brought in just under £1,000.
The charity is aiming to raise just under £370,000 in total for three projects – the out-of-hours helpline, new equipment to target radiotherapy more accurately and an upgrade of a solid-state gamma camera to provide better images for cancer diagnosis.
The charity match trophy and medals were presented by BCUSG head of fundraising Alan Webb. Who said: “We would like to thank the players from Royal London and Novia and their supporters for organising this friendly charity match.
“The money they have raised will help to improve outcomes for local cancer patients at the RUH.
“We would also like to thank Royal London’s staff in Bath for making us their official charity and for their impressive fundraising efforts during the last couple of years. We are currently seeking new business sponsors so that we can continue to raise money to pay for essential equipment that’s not provided by the NHS.”
To donate to the Bath Cancer Unit Support Group appeal – or for more information about its work – visit www.bcusg.org, email fundraising@bcusg.org or phone 07896 741233.
Pictured above: Alan Webb of the BCUSG presenting the winning trophy to Royal London team captain Dan Rabbits. Below: Players from the Royal London and Novia Financial teams
