Supporting a common cause
The Suppliers Premier Cup Charity Football Match, was organised as a collaborative partnership between James Hunt, CEO of New Era Energy and Rocky Sivell, Regional Operations Director at John F Hunt Power. The aim was to bring the two companies together for a common cause – supporting those in need by raising money for two charities; Phoenix Heroes CIC, which provides critical support to veterans and their families and Mind, an organisation that helps individuals facing mental health challenges.
Melissa Lancaster, Brand Manager at New Era, explains more: “Both James and Rocky wanted to make a meaningful impact on everyday lives, fostering community spirit and creating positive change through teamwork, camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose.
“This event was brought to life in less than two months, and seeing it come together in just a few short weeks was nothing short of remarkable. It’s a true testament to the dedication of everyone involved…from Rocky Sivell at John F Hunt, and Alan White at New Era Energy, who had the initial idea, to Brett Jacobs, whose connection with Redbridge Football Club secured us a location.”
Unity and vision
“Our CEO, James Hunt, gave us the green light and the funding to make it happen. Unity and a focused vision helped us pull this off, alongside the creativity of our design team and the contributions of every single supplier,” Melissa continued, sharing insights into the effort and input the team had made to ensure the event was such a success.
“I especially enjoyed designing the Suppliers Premier Cup brand identity, drawing inspiration from a football pitch and combining the brand colours of New Era Energy and John F Hunt to create a striking, memorable design. The Falcon emblem has traits of a successful supplier to the construction industry, speed to quickly adapt to changes and challenges and sharp vision and clear focus on goals and market opportunities. We hope the Suppliers Cup will continue to grow each year and become a place where suppliers can unite both on and off the pitch.”
Community and camaraderie
“On match day, the excitement was at fever pitch, and the atmosphere was electrifying. As the teams arrived and got into their branded kits, energy levels were high and the players were ready to give it their all. The newly laid, 3G pitch provided the perfect stage for this contest. Supporters cheered enthusiastically while enjoying a classic matchday feast of burgers and hotdogs, contributing to an unmistakable sense of community and camaraderie.
“Both teams battled fiercely, digging deep and playing with heart, making history in this first-ever cup. New Era Energy claimed victory in a hard-fought match, though the 8-1 scoreline didn’t quite reflect the quality and determination shown by both sides.”
Alan White, Head of Environmental for New Era, added: “From the moment we stepped onto the pitch, you could feel the unity among us.”
Melissa continued: “The atmosphere peaked after the final whistle, as everyone gathered at the bar for a charity auction. With David Hunt expertly driving up the bids, the auction was a roaring success, raising even more funds for our deserving charities.”
A huge achievement
“Raising over £5,000 for Phoenix Heroes and Mind was a huge achievement. It wasn’t just about football though. Knowing we were supporting Phoenix Heroes and Mind gave players and supporters a sense of purpose. That, more than anything, brought us closer as a team.”
“A massive thank you to everyone who made this event possible! Special thanks to Scott and Yasmine from LCM Media for capturing the day on video, and to the many generous sponsors and supporters – from banners and football kits to the officials who kept the game running smoothly. Without your support, this event wouldn’t have been possible.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s Suppliers Premier Cup, where we anticipate even more suppliers joining us for what promises to be an even bigger and better event.”
Rocky Sivell, Regional Operations Director at John F Hunt Power, concluded: “In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to give back and prioritise mental health. With everything going on, supporting initiatives like this helps remind us that we need to take care of one another.”
You can read more important guidance on prioritising mental health in our insight feature here.
Images provided by New Era Fuels
