Jameson and the EFL are hunting for one amateur team to live like a pro for a day, and grassroots clubs in the Swansea and west Wales area could be in with a shout. Just don’t mention the Swans 3-0 south Wales derby win to the gaffer.
Every pub team has a manager who thinks he could have been Michael Laudrup. One amateur side is about to find out what it’s like to be managed by someone who has actually done it, and has also been in a few derbies.
The Jameson x EFL Ultimate Matchday is back for a second year, and entries are open now. The prize is a full professional-style matchday for one grassroots club. That means new PUMA kits, a pitch dressed in EFL-style branding with corner flags, ball plinths and interview boards, and match officials from the EFL. Sky Sports will have David Prutton, Jobi McAnuff and Luke Chambers on hand to react to the key moments and interview the standout players.
Sidwell in the side, McCarthy in the dugout
Former EFL midfielder Steve Sidwell will play for the winning club, as he did last November for the inaugural winners, Mercia United. This time he’s bringing Mick McCarthy, the ex-Wolves, Ipswich and Republic of Ireland boss, back to the dugout for one game only. McCarthy once tried to sign Sidwell as a player and failed, so Sidwell is looking forward to finally playing for him “only 15 years later”.
Swansea City fans will know McCarthy for another reason. He took over at Cardiff City in January 2021, and left Cardiff by mutual agreement that October. So there’s a real chance that a team from this corner of South Wales ends up being talked through a game plan by the man who faced Swansea City in the derby. That could be one of the more awkward team talks in local football history, or one of the best.
Sidwell, for his part, has some South Wales form. In a Jameson Football Manager stunt he promised to make the local South Wales community proud by taking Newport County up the virtual leagues.
A day out at a Swansea City training ground?
The prize also includes access to your local EFL club’s training ground, “to experience what the pros do on a daily basis”. For anyone in the west Wales area, that means Swansea City. Fairwood is the club’s first-team training base, while the Academy is based at Landore, in the shadow of the Swansea.com Stadium. We don’t yet know whether a winning side from this area would visit either one, as that is for the competition organisers and the club to arrange. It would still be a rare chance for a group of weekend players to see how the professionals work.
The winners also get a year’s supply of Jameson Ginger & Lime cans for the squad. Two runners-up will receive PUMA strips, replica EFL match balls and cans.
What are the odds?
Last year’s competition drew more than 3,000 entries before Mercia United were picked as winners. That’s a lot of competition, but there is no limit on entries per club. Getting everyone in the squad, the subs, the manager and the bloke who washes the kit to enter will improve your chances.
Key dates
- Competition opened Monday 19 October.
- Winners announced Monday 9 November.
- The winning club must be available Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.
Entries are made through the Jameson website.