Date: Thursday 29th May 2008

Location: Edgware Town FC

On a grey wet evening in North London Norwich Union took part in a charity football match with the English Fire Services Football team on May 29 at Edgware Town Football Club.

The Norwich Union team was made up of 15 representatives from across the business, captained by Sam Schofield, commercial property underwriter. Given the level of opposition, they came up against they acquitted themselves exceptionally well not giving up until the final whistle.

There was a clear difference in the standard of the two sides with the England Fire Service having a more or less full strength side on the field which made the contest a little one sided. By half time the score was 7 – 0 to the fire service although Norwich Union did cause two or three moments of anxiety in the Fire Service defence.

The second half carried on in the same manner with the Fire Service scoring regularly and Norwich Union still attacking when given chance. The game was sportingly cut short by the referee with the score at 13 – 0. This was a game played in excellent spirit by both teams and the Norwich Union side appeared to enjoy the experience.

This meant the Fire Services team won the Gerda Cup but it was presented, by Gerda Technology Managing Director, Alastair Thompson, to Norwich Union captain Sam Schofield, as a challenge to another fixture between the two sides next year – to the delight of the Norwich Union side!

The fixture came about when Gerda Technology Limited, proud sponsors of the England Fire Service Football Team, approached Norwich Union and asked if they would be interested in taking part in the match

The purpose of the evening was to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity and Norwich Union have generously agreed to match the money raised at the game.

Information on the England Fire Services Team:

England play 5 matches per year against the following teams:

• Wales FS
• Scotland FS
• British Army
• RAF
• Royal Navy

The players that represent the England FS have been chosen by way of trial matches. In all, representatives from 22 Brigades have taken part in one way or another. To date England are undefeated in the last three seasons.