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The 11th annual Bookseller Fives tournament was played out in sunny north London once again, with many teams returning to take up the challenge. Who would prevail?

Magnum Book Services topped Group A and they did so without losing a game, only dropping points against The Beautiful Game (5-5). This meant that they qualified for the afternoons Cup Competition as opposed to the Plate. They were joined by The CLA who pipped Taylor & Francis to the runners-up spot, doing so on goal difference.

Group B was dominated by two teams. Diviniti Publishing and Wolter Kluwer Stealth finished level on points after they each won 5 out of their 6 games. Each took points off the other whereby it was debutants Diviniti’s 6-0 win that ensured they qualified in pole position.

Bertrams FC were one of two teams to finish the morning session with a 100% record. They won Group C after winning all six group games. In the process of this they amassed a whopping 35 goals. HarperCollins finished runners up in this group meaning Random House and Waterstone’s would have to make do with places in the Plate.

Central Books were the other team to finish with a 100% record.  They won Group D at a canter and in doing so made themselves, along with Bertrams FC, favourites for the cup. Scholastic UK took the runners up spot, leaving Little, Brown Legends and Wiley Coyotes to play Plate football in the afternoon.

Taylor & Francis - 2009 Plate Winners

With nine teams qualifying for the Plate it meant we needed to lose one before we started the Quarter Final. The Bookseller took on Waterstone’s in what was effectively a play-off for the wooden spoon. Waterstones triumphed here, winning on penalties after an entertaining 6-6 draw. This was, however, to be their one and only win of the day as they crashed out to Taylor & Francis in the very next round. Wolters Kluwer London narrowly avoided competing in the play-off round but only succumbed to Random House in the quarters. Taylor & Francis then went on to beat Random House in the Semi-Finals 5-3, booking their place in the Final. There they were to meet Profile Green Snakes who themselves had beaten Little Brown Legends (5-4) and Wiley Coyotes (4-2) on their way. It was Taylor & Francis who comfortably won the Final 5-1.

The stand out game from the Cup quarter finals was Bertrams FC win over WK Stealth. The game had ended 4-4 after normal time and needed penalties to decide it. Bertrams were the ones who held their nerve winning 3-1. Elsewhere, and penalties were needed again to separate Magnum and Scholastic. Another high scoring draw as the teams drew 3-3, but it was Scholastic that stood firm. Central Books won their quarter final comfortably against The CLA (8-3) to set up a semi final showdown with Bertrams. Chances are whoever won this would go all the way. Bertrams eventually edged what was a nervy game 3-2. In the Final they would play Diviniti who themselves had come through ties against HarperCollins (4-2) and Scholastic (5-1). Unfortunately they just didn’t have enough to compete with Bertrams in the final who went on to win the Cup 5-2.

Betrams United - 2009 Cup Winners

Event organisers Top Corner would like to congratulate everyone who took part for making the tournament the fun and enjoyable day that it always seems to be, and also to thank The Bookseller – their team may not have set the event alight with their football this year but their support each year certainly does.

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