The Leek Post Charity Shield dates all the way back to 1888 but was retired when the Leek & Moorland League folded in 1988, the Shield’s centenary year. We reintroduced the Shield four years ago having located its whereabouts via Staffordshire FA. 

The idea was to then play a pre-season tournament and contribute all the proceeds to the Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund, which was set up by Steve & Alicia Rutter, who tragically lost their son Kieran in a road traffic accident. The fund supports many local charities and good causes in the area and is supported extremely well by local people and businesses.

Since the Shield’s reintroduction we have raised between £4,000-£5,000 and the event seems to be going from strength to strength each year. A fabulous day at Pointon Park raised £1,000 this year, which was donated to the Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund. 

This season we held a Leek Post Charity Day with U9s & U10s playing in two Leek Post Charity Shield junior tournaments, with junior teams from Leek CSOB Spiders and Eagles coming out on top. We then held a Veterans game which was won by The Park Inn, Leek. All of this took place before the Shield Final itself which was was won by Leek CSOB, with Jack Keeling winning the man of the match award, presented by one of our sponsors Glen Shirley of Truck Fusion. The Shield was presented by Jules Blythe, representing Shield sponsors Protech Electrical Limited. 

As Chairman of the competition I’d like to thank The Leek Post & Times for their continued support and sponsorship along with Protech and Truck Fusion. Thank you also to Dave Critchlow for not only organising the officials, but for also giving up his time to officiate on the day along with his team of officials. 

A thank you also to Vicky Collins and the Staffordshire FA for their support in helping set up the Shield as a competition, which we believe is one of the oldest competitions in Staffordshire.  

Daryl Biddulph, Leek Post Charity Shield Chairman