The North West’s business community came together on Wednesday to compete in the Manchester Business Fives charity five-a-side football tournament.

While the nation’s eyes may have been on England’s World Cup opener against Croatia later in the day, several Manchester companies first battled it out in the Business Fives tournament on the 3G pitches at Powerleague Central in Ardwick.

Among the teams taking part was BusinessCloud, with co-owners Jon Symcox and Chris Maguire joined by content creator Dan Brown, Andy Nicol of Sputnik Digital, Aiden Mainzer of Engage Solutions Group and Marc Balduin of Pets Purest.

BusinessCloud may have left empty-handed, but the team raised more than £250 for Rochdale-based Springhill Hospice, even donating the money set aside for new kit to the charity.

BusinessCloud beat Fisher German 5-2 in Europa Cup semi-final at Business Fives

After winning their first two games 3-1 against Johnson Law Group and WTA Group, the BusinessCloud squad collected more injuries than points.

Nicol dislocated his knee in a 3-1 defeat to the eventual champions, CW Solutions, and took no further part in the competition.

BusinessCloud qualified for the Champions League group stages but, with no substitutes to call on, lost their next three games by a combined score of 11-2.

Things went from bad to worse when the team’s German-born playmaker, Marc Balduin, pulled a quad muscle, leaving the side with just four players.

BusinessCloud dropped into the Europa Cup and their opponents in the semi-final, Manchester property consultants Fisher German, generously agreed to play with four players to balance the sides.

After winning the semi-final 5-2, BusinessCloud’s quartet took on a full-strength Go Car Credit in the Europa Cup final, eventually losing 7-3 despite leading 3-2 at one stage.

Jonathan Symcox said: “We had so many injuries by the end that we were just relieved to finish the tournament, but it was great to see so many Manchester businesses stepping up for charity.

“We managed to raise at least £250 for Springhill Hospice, which was the aim of the game. However, I don’t expect a call from Thomas Tuchel anytime soon.”