England’s largest ever football pub tournament has surpassed all targets with over 4,000 pubs signed up and 2,440 teams having entered. More than 17,000 players have put down their pints and pulled on their shirts to take part in 93 tournaments at 76 different locations in England to represent their local pub.

The Carlsberg Pub Cup is open to all standards of five-aside teams and has now completed its regional qualification stage. Teams who finished in the top four of their groups have progressed to the regional finals which take place at sixteen venues over three consecutive weekends in April. The sixteen winning finalists will then play for the honour to become Carlsberg Pub Cup Champions at Emirates Stadium on May 19^th.

The eventual winners will play a team of European legends who have played for top European teams including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Chelsea. The five confirmed players are Nuno Valente, Patrik Berger, Michel Salgado, Vitor Baia and Bolo Zenden.

The winning team will take part in pre-tournament training session with their manager Gareth Southgate who will lead them out against the team of European legends at UEFA EURO 2012™. Before flying to Poland and Ukraine they will be measured for official England suits and presented with full playing kits. After their match against the legends they will then enjoy watching England v Sweden in style at UEFA EURO 2012™.

Gareth Southgate Carlsberg’s UK brand ambassador, said: “The Carlsberg Pub Cup has encouraged football players of all abilities to get out and play, which is exactly what this type of competition should be about. Over 2,000 teams have entered and I’m looking forward to meeting the eventual winning team and taking them to the European Championships this summer to represent England – it really is an incredible prize.”

Patrik Berger who came close close to winning at UEFA EURO 96™ with the Czech Republic and has since played in England with Liverpool, Portsmouth and Stoke City is looking forward to the match: “The chance to play at UEFA EURO 2012™ will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the winning team. I am looking forward to pulling on my boots again with my new team mates to take on this English team”

During the qualification stages Green Cards were handed out to those teams that showed sportsmanship, played in the right spirit and for deserving acts on and off the field or “That Calls for a Carlsberg moment”– these Green Card holders will be entered into a draw to play a separate tournament at Emirates Stadium.

Dharmesh Rana, Senior Brand Manager, Carlsberg, added: “Having over 17,000 players taking part in the Carlsberg Pub Cup is exactly the kind of participation level we were hoping for.  The Goals and Powerleague centres have helped us achieve this number and our Green Card mechanic has encouraged teams who wouldn’t normally play in these tournaments to enter which is great. The two prizes of playing at Emirates Stadium and a VIP trip to UEFA EURO 2012™ are prizes that only Carlsberg could offer.

For further information please go to www.carlsberg.co.uk/pubcup