A couple of Arsenal invincibles appeared as surprise stars at a record-breaking five-a-side tournament.
The Ladbrokes Players Cup finals took place at Powerleague Birmingham over the weekend, bringing together 16 regional winners from across the country. It was the Slough Scorpionz who emerged victorious, winning a record £20,000, after defeating the Barrowfield Bruisers in the final.
However, the team’s work was far from done. Victory in the final unlocked a ‘Boss Level’ game that saw the ‘Scorpionz’ take on a side that featured a few former Arsenal stars, joined by fellow Premier League veterans Clinton Morrison and Paddy Kenny.
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The star-studded team included invincible title winners Lauren and Jeremie Aliadiere, as well as former Gunners, Chelsea and Tottenham defender William Gallas. The ‘Boss Level’ squad were also helped by freestyler Olivia Weedall and Love Island star Nas Majeed.
The stakes for the marquee game were set at £8k, with each of the 16 teams at finals day set to earn £500. The ‘Scorpionz’ enjoyed a 6-3 victory but it was former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison who was at the centre of the game’s most memorable moment.
The former Palace striker was joking around and landed a ‘headbutt’, which sent the referee sprawling to the ground. This saw the Republic of Ireland international sent to the sin bin with a yellow card, much to the crowd’s amusement, playfully pushing the ref aside as he exited the pitch.
"Our five-a-side sensations have proven they can mix it with the best with a convincing win against a handful of Invincibles, Premier League legends and freestyle stars, to the tune of a record-breaking cash prize at a Powerleague tournament,” Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said.
“The standard of football over the last few months has been nothing short of exceptional and we can't wait to see Slough Scorpionz defend their crown next year."
