Staff have pitch fever (From Free Press Series)

Staff have pitch fever

1:43pm Thursday 29th June 2006 in Pontypool news

STAFF at two Cwmbran companies brought together after a takeover deal decided to get to know each other by setting up a friendly inter-company football tournament but no sooner had they played their first two games than they found themselves without a pitch to play on.

Employees of Yes Loans and its newly-acquired subsidiary Dial set up the tournament as part of the drive to bring the two parts of the business together following the takeover earlier this year.

They played on two Sundays at Southfields in Cwmbran, Yes Loans in red shirts and Dial in blue, for a trophy with the score from each game engraved onto it.

But now the organisers, 21-year-old quality team supervisor Jamie Ryan from Cwmbran, who manages the Yes Loans side, and his opposite number, Dial's manager Gareth Molson, aged 23, from Pontypool, have found that the football season is over and the goalposts have been removed.

With the World Cup in full swing, the players have suddenly found themselves with nowhere to go after an exciting start to their competition, which has left Yes Loans two games up against their new rivals, and Dial itching for revenge.

"We're desperate to find a pitch so that we can start to play again," said Jamie. "We're appealing for anyone who knows of one in the Cwmbran area to get in touch with us, but it has to have its own goalposts!"

The idea to get to know each other on the football field came after loans broker Yes Loans Ltd purchased Dial, which was on the brink of liquidation in February this year, saving the jobs of nearly 200 staff.

"With both companies operating out of two halves of the same office on Llantarnam Park, and a squad of 300 employees to draw on, two football teams seemed like a great idea," said Jamie.

The company is now seeking to recruit another 100 members of staff to ensure which would ensure there is no shortage of team members, substitutes and supporters.

Anyone interested in employment opportunities with Yes Loans and Dial should contact the recruitment hotline number, 0800 052 5555.