Britain has a proud track record of a free and diverse press holding corporates to account.
Business journalists put one over against the corporates on Friday night, in their annual charity football match against the communications industry.
The ‘Hacks’ beat the ‘Flaks’ 3-1 in a physical battle at Plough Lane, home of AFC Wimbledon, led by skipper Dan Hyde (Daily Mail).
This continued the Hacks’ dominance in the fixture, which dates back more than two decades.
“We’re incredibly grateful, raising more than £7,500 from this match is a brilliant achievement – thanks largely to Devolver Digital, the lead sponsor”, said Paul Munro, Deputy CEO at AFC Wimbledon Foundation. “The money will make a real difference to our work in the community. Best of luck to the Flacks next year in their quest for revenge.” AFC Wimbledon Foundation will use the money to run activities for young people, typically but not always on free school meals, and the elderly in South-West London.
The Financial Times’ Ramsay Hodgson, legs pumping like Ronaldo (R9) in his Barcelona pomp, gave the Hacks an early lead with a clinical left-foot finish.
The Flaks equalised through FTI Consulting’s Mathias Davies, who was an attacking threat throughout.
Dominating possession and creating a number of chances, the Flaks smelled blood.
BeZero’s Tommy Ricketts had a bullet header blocked on the line from a corner.
Camarco’s Lloyd Nicely rounded the keeper … only to have his shot cleared from the line.
Then came a match-turning moment.
A “stonewall” penalty for FTI Consulting’s Joshua Ayodele was waved away by referee Harry Staight (AWS) – with a yellow card for the all-action midfielder, to rub salt in the wound.
The Hacks lost defensive linchpin Billy Mclean (FT) to injury. Up stepped man-of-the-match James Titcomb (Telegraph) to marshal the rearguard action.
This gave the journalists a platform to launch a series of rapier counter-attacks.
One of them yielded a corner, from which the Hacks’ Ramsay Hodgson put the Flaks in front with a hint of Gerd Muller.
Wave after wave of Flak attacks were absorbed by the Hacks, whose star midfielder Lee Stobbs (freelance) scored a breakaway goal at the death.
Jamie Ricketts
Managing Director, Strategic Communications
FTI Consulting
