Blyth Spartans host inaugural Better Together Cup in aid of mental health charity
Five teams took part in the tournament at Croft Park over the weekend.
The inaugural Better Together Cup drew large crowds to Croft Park, home of Blyth Spartans, across the weekend of July 17th to 19th, raising money for Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, with QTS Data Centers making a £20,000 donation.
Five clubs and their communities came together at an event organised by QTS Data Centers in the name of grassroots football and mental health.
Dunstable FC were crowned the first Better Together Cup champions after defeating Blyth Spartans in Sunday's final. Also taking part were Ashington AFC, Horley Town FC, and AFC Newbiggin. The final capped off a weekend which drew 700 supporters to Blyth.
Andy Lawson, Director of Pre-development at QTS, also presented a cheque to former footballer and mental health campaigner Clarke Carlise on behalf of Tyneside and Northumberland Mind on the pitch at half-time during one of the weekend’s matches. The £20,000 donation was made as part of the ongoing Better Together campaign to support the charity's work expanding mental health services across the region.
Carlisle said: "The event at Croft Park this weekend proved once again that football can open a door to talking about mental health that might otherwise stay shut. My thanks to QTS, Blyth Spartans and Tyneside and Northumberland Mind - this is what showing up for a community looks like."
Kevin Miles, Chair of Blyth Spartans, said: "The atmosphere across the weekend was electric, and the whole club felt it. To see Croft Park packed for a cause that matters so much to people here made everyone proud. We are grateful to QTS for making it happen and already looking forward to doing it again."
Elsewhere, Rita Patel Miller, Social Strategy Director, QTS, said: "This weekend was everything we hoped the Better Together Cup would be. Seeing clubs, fans and families fill Croft Park around such an important cause was heartwarming. We are proud to be a small part of this community.”
The Cup forms part of QTS's ongoing Better Together campaign, launched in 2025 to serve the communities around its Cambois data centre campus and the wider North East.