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Not even the London specialty coffee scene was immune from World Cup fever this summer, so when Climpson & Sons proposed to run a mini tournament of the top specialty coffee roasteries, the idea was immediately a hit. Assuming an irresistible series of photos ops, we sent Sprudge contributor Giulia Mule out to London Fields to document London baristas playing a beer-fueled iteration of the beautiful game.

Finals for the Great London Coffee Roastery Football League happen tonight, Wednesday the 23rd of June, beginning at 6:30pm at London Fields.ย 

This may well be the best British football played all summer. ย 

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The Great London Coffee Roastery Football League kicked off at the end of June involving some of the finest roasters in town: Square Mile, Allpress, Caravan, Ozone, Workshop, Pact Coffee, Nude, and Climpson & Sons. Over four weeks the 5-a-side football teams took part in 30-minute games in London Fields, one of East Londonโ€™s most popular parks and Climpson & Sonsโ€™ local.

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At the semi-finals last week the competition was fierce, with some cracking goals and equally impressive goalkeeping. The team at Climpson & Sons just nearly missed out on a place in the final after losing 2-3 against Caravan. โ€œI think our semi-final victory against Climpsons was the best game so farโ€ says Simon Lewthwaite of Caravan. โ€œIt really was a game of two halves and Miles (Kirby, Caravanโ€™s owner) stole the show with some nimble goalkeeping skills.โ€ It was a huge upset for the home team but a well-deserved victory for Caravan, who will play Allpress for the trophy at the grand finale tonight.

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Allpress won the match with an impressive 5-0 score against Nude. And not only did the New Zealand-founded roastery score the highest number of goals in the semi-final games, they also had the largest and loudest group of supporters, led by Allpress barista trainer Dani Reid. Speaking about the tournament, Reid commented, โ€œItโ€™s been great to watch everyoneโ€™s skills and the team kits improve as the comp progressed.โ€

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All the teams put an effort to show off their best looks, but in a city known for its fashion sense it was Workshop Coffee who looked the most dashing, sporting customized black and white t-shirts with names and numbers printed on the back.

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Four weeks after the start of the tournament, the fitness levels of the players have been tested, their competitive streaks have grown and the kits have improved. โ€œThe tournament has been a real treat for the coffee industry,โ€ says Simon Lewthwaite, but of course the league’s meaning is not strictly coffee related, nor is it strictly serious in any sense. There’s something so wonderfully wholesome about a summer sports league; this one just happens to field its competitors from eight of London’s very best coffee roasters.

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We may have seen more sideline beer-drinking than goals scored, but that’s part of the spirit and rich pageantry that makes this league so rich. Tonight we’ll find out a winner between Allpress and Caravan; the tabloids are sputtering, the punters lining up. While London Fields will never be mistaken for Stamford Bridge, this may be the most entertaining pitch in all of London tonight.

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Please enjoy this supplemental feature on the 8 teams that make up the Great London Coffee Roasterie Football League.

Giulia Mule is a Sprudge contributor based in London. Read more Giulia Mule on Sprudge.

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