THE start time of this Sunday’s Sharon Wood Mini-Soccer Tournament has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the World Cup final.

The 18th edition of the annual tournament, which takes place at Wendron United’s Underlane ground, will begin at 9am, with people encouraged to arrive earlier.

If England win tonight’s semi-final against Croatia, then the Three Lions will play in the World Cup final at 4pm on Sunday.

Peter Thorne, one of the event’s organisers, said: “The ones that are on first we will communicate to and say ‘look, can you be there early because you’re going to be on first’ and then if we can gain an hour there, that will be very beneficial later in the day.

“They are welcome to come in the clubhouse [to watch it] but if some people want to go back home and watch it with the rest of their families we understand that.”

The event is held in memory of Sharon Wood, a founding member of the youth setup at Wendron who tragically died from cancer in 1999 at the age of 44.

All football will be suspended at 1pm on the day to make a special presentation of £3,477 to Cancer Research UK, bringing the total Sharon Wood donation, over 19 years, to an impressive £50,000.

More than 100 teams are expected to compete across the seven different age groups, which range from under-7s up to under-13s.

There will be volunteers running a tea and cake stall as well as a large number of referees who have all given up their time freely.

Scorse Foods of Helston are also supporting on the day by running a BBQ.

The “Graham Wood Sporting Trophy” will be awarded to the team in each group who, in the eyes of the referees, has shown the highest level of sportsmanship.