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AND THE WINNER IS
Harrow Bhoys FC have been named as John Smith’s pub team of the year
They won £2,000 plus another £5,000 for their pub, Frosty's. In association with John Smiths.
FROSTY'S is the wrong name for a pub with such a warm and friendly atmosphere, especially one chosen as the winner of the John Smith’s Pub Team of the Year Competition.
Retired England cricket star Darren Gough, teamed up with John Smith’s to find the pub and pub team that are Only Ordinary by Name. After weeks of searching, and entries from plenty of worthy boozers and teams, Frosty’s, from Kenton, north London, was crowned the winner.
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Darren turned up to help celebrate their well-earned victory and present cheques of £5,000 to the pub and £2,000 to the pub’s team –the Harrow Bhoys.
Landlord Alan “Frosty” Monaghan says: “Little boozers like this are good for the community. There are a lot of pubs closing down, but this one ain’t. This one’s staying open for a long time.”
Bar manager Phillip Parsons describes the pub, which has only been open 16 months, as a great mix of young and old: “I’ve been in the pub trade for 35 years and never felt an atmosphere like it.
“And because we know everybody, we always find out if someone is ill or struggling. One of the locals will pop round and do a bit of shopping or whatever needs to be done for them.
Frosty’s sponsors two football teams, Kenton Town FC and Old Salvatorians, based in Harrow, and has fundraised for two Irish teams Enniscrone and Corofin.
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The Harrow Bhoys have been instrumental in organising fundraising nights for good causes and Frosty’s locals have raised more than £25,000. The charities supported include Stamp Out Suicide (SOS), Macmillan Cancer Support and St Luke’s, a hospice over the road.
Phillip says: “Frosty’s is the heart of Harrow Bhoys FC. We support them and they support us.”
The runners-up
The Ford Inn, Plymouth
The pub – run by Trevor Milton, a former NAAFI manager – has a valiant darts team, who give it a “Great British try every time”. Defeat is laughed off with a mixture of ribbing and support.
Hogarths Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Events include Macmillan coffee mornings, charity bike rides and the biggest open darts event in Derbyshire, which has raised more than £3,500 for local charity Ben’s Den.
The Plough Boy, Lincoln
Regulars built a football team at a pub that had been through a tough time. Local Ian Ray says: “The new owners are turning it back into the great pub that customers deserve.”
One Eyed Jacks, Gloucester
Landlady Patricia Hurley’s mantra is: “Respect each other and we’ll make you welcome.” The pub is host to men’s and women’s darts teams, quizzers and a mixed skittles team.
The City Royal Bar, Brechin, Angus
Darts team members are aged 18 to 80, and they admit they’re not the best – their slogan is: “Our drinking team has a darts problem.” The pub holds regular charity nights too.
Harrow Bhoys are only in their third year, but they topped Division Two in the Middlesex County Football League in their first year and won the Middlesex Junior Trophy in their second. Their manager Dave Monahan says: “We’re lucky enough to have some good players, but it would still be a greatteam even if we didn’t win things. “The social side is hugely important in grassroots football and we’re lucky with Frosty’s. They always put on food after the games and there’s a man-of-the-match presentation with champagne or prosecco. It’s a bit like the Premier League, but we play at Northwick Park not Old Trafford!”
Alan says that the pub intends to give some of the money to SOS and share the rest among the staff. Frosty’s also intends to cover the cost of the Bhoy’s flights and hotels on the team’s preseason tour of Ireland, where they will play in a tournament in aid of the charity.
Darren Gough says: “Frosty’s really has got the lot. And the Harrow Bhoys are a great team in AND out of the pub. “It just goes to show how important pubs like Frosty’s are to give support to their local teams and community.
“Frosty’s and the Bhoys are worthy winners. This is a pub that I’d be proud to call my local.”