Published
By Ashley Cox
Presented proudly in partnership with the Manchester United Foundation charity, the second CPC Inclusion Cup reached its thrilling finale on Friday, as students from eight colleges took to the field at The National Football Centre, St. George's Park.
With our second collaborative football tournament designed to enthuse, excite and empower a host of SEND college students from across England's North East and North West, the guest of honour on a sunny Finals Day was a man that once carried the hopes and dreams of supporters from both regions - the former England international forward, Andy Cole.
Arriving at St. James' Park for a club record fee in 1993, Cole's goals helped propel Kevin Keegan's resurgent Newcastle United to the newly christened Premier League. He would then net the club's first back in the English top flight on the grand stage of Old Trafford, against the defending champions, Manchester United.
The following season, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson broke the British transfer record to bring Golden Boot winner Cole to the Theatre of Dreams and it was in Manchester United red that he won no fewer than five Premier League winners' medals, not to mention two FA Cups and the 1998-99 UEFA Champions League.
Now as millions around the world know all too well, the game of association football has a real tendency to evoke the poetic, the ironic and the unexpected. From the local parks to national stadiums, this unifying truth remains present and undefeated. As such, it was perhaps little surprise that the magic dust of the Beautiful Game paid a Friday visit to rural Burton upon Trent.
After growing out of last year's one-day tournament for Greater Manchester area colleges, this year's CPC Inclusion Cup was intended as a two-stage event, with heats for students from the North East (on Monday 2nd March) and North West (Friday 13th March) of England alike, before our April Finals Day determined the very best of the best.
However, in the spirit of inclusion, we were pleased to welcome a wildcard from the Midlands in Halesowen College, a further and higher education institution just west of Birmingham, who last month reached the milestone of 20 years as CPC members.
And, much like the Danish Dynamite of EURO 92, the unexpected entrants battled through the field and took the trophy home.
Receiving the mighty CPC Inclusion Cup and medals from hero Cole, it was a day to remember for students and staff alike, with SEND learners from various backgrounds taking to the field at the very same facility used by the England national teams, plus a number of other professional sport clubs. By providing this rare opportunity, we hope to have helped make lifetime memories.
On behalf of everyone at Crescent Purchasing Consortium, we congratulate our overall winners, plus all those who took part in the Finals Day and regional heats, without whom, this fun and inclusive football competition would be nothing beyond an idea.
Inclusive beyond full-time, CPC extends thanks to all responsible for getting the students to St. George's Park and home safely.
The CPC Inclusion Cup was born out of the relationship between CPC and The Manchester United Foundation, an organisation whose own mission to Engage, Inspire and Unite mirrors much of the game-changing spirit of CPC's central Giving Back ethos.
In 2026, CPC welcomed a record number of Giving Back funding applications, with our panel delighted to approve support for a variety of purchases, projects and events, targeting issues of SEND support, physical and mental wellbeing and absenteeism.
With funds also used in the past two years to facilitate qualification bursaries, Giving Back can help bring rewarding events like the CPC Inclusion Cup to life, with our funding pot itself comprised of surpluses that are generated by spending made through CPC's compliant purchasing frameworks, as well as by using our premium professional procurement support services.
By opting for CPC as Your Procurement Partner of Choice, you can contribute to our greater remit of Giving Back to education, making young people's experiences happier and more beneficial, via ideas, interventions and initiatives, like the Inclusion Cup.
As a registered charity, CPC's profits are reinvested in the sector, thus there are plenty of other winners for us to share news of in 2026; a year where a certain other football tournament will soon take centre stage!
Our thanks again to all this year's CPC Inclusion Cup entrants, Accrington & Rossendale College, Askham Bryan College, Bishop Auckland College, Blackburn College, Cheshire College, Eccles Sixth Form College, Gateshead College, Halesowen College (🏆), Hartlepool College, Hopwood Hall College, Knowsley Community College, Nelson and Colne College, Oldham College, Preston College, St. Helens College, St. John Rigby College, Stockport College, Trafford College, Tyne Coast College, Warrington & Vale Royal College and York College, plus Andrew Cole, Danny Simpson, John Shiels and all at The Manchester United Foundation.
From kick-off at The Cliff to the final whistle at the National Football Centre, the CPC Inclusion Cup was Giving Back in action.
Look out for our special film on the 2026 CPC Inclusion Cup in the coming weeks and remember to connect with us at CPC via LinkedIn and our regular Members' Newsletter to ensure you don't miss any news of opportunities to be part of events.
