The 2018 Father Christmas Cup

Posted by Team, 11th December 2018

The 2018 Father Christmas Cup (FX Cup) will hold its annual charity tournament event this weekend at Silverbacks Park, with the funds raised going to support local families who have recently lost a parent.

For those unfamiliar with the FX Cup, the tournament has been going strong for several years with it’s originating principles stemming from the Christmas traditions in World War One of stopping fighting on Christmas Day to take part in a football match in No Man’s Land. The idea of peace and civility towards one’s fellow man, as well as hope at a time of need, are some of the fundamental tenets upon which the FX Cup is built.

The day itself is a fantastic depiction of a community coming together to support those who need it most. Youth tournaments in the morning are followed by the adult tournament in the afternoon and the plethora of volunteers, players, beneficiaries and sponsors add to the familial feel of the day and its festivities. Atlanta United, fresh off the back of their recent MLS Cup Victory, will also have a presence in the form of the Arthur Blank Foundation on site, with all the shirts used in the event sponsored and bearing the logo of the Five Stripes.

GIS (whose CEO James Abrahart sits on the board of the FX Cup Committee) help support the event by providing signed soccer shirts from both professional partners and non-partners alike in Europe that can be raffled off. In 2015 and 2016, the GIS team won back-to-back adult tournament titles, upsetting Atlanta United’s Academy teams both times in the final!

There are four beneficiaries of the event taking place this Saturday December 15th. If you want to learn more about the event, take part or sponsor, then please click here to visit the homepage of the FX Cup.

For so many of us who play the game of soccer – it is as much about the people we play with and the camaraderie involved as it is about the beautiful game. Nowhere is this more powerfully highlighted than in the Christmas season and at this great event. Coming together to support the community and be part of something that transcends the notion of sport is felt ever more so at this time of year. If you are able to show your support this weekend, volunteer or spend a bit of time at the event – you will feel part of something very special. If you want to make any donations - please follow this link!