Rugby League Cares were privileged to join a celebration of the strengths of the sport’s relationship with the British Army and of the wider community game at Crosfields ARLFC in Warrington this weekend.
Francis Stephenson, the General Manager of the Seriously Injured Players Fund, joined RL Cares Player Ambassador and Well-Being Manager Adrian Morley at Saturday’s 15th Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy – a festival of Rugby League which has become an annual highlight of Armed Forces Week, commemorating the Warringtonian who died at the age of 20 serving in Afghanistan in 2010.
After Friday night fixtures involving Crosfields Legends, the Royal Marines, and the Masters teams from the Army and Widnes, there were three more matches on Saturday, culminating in the clash between the British Army Select XIII and a Crosfields Select XIII – or the Soap, as they are more often known locally in reference to Warrington’s chemical manufacturing heritage.
But there was so much more on offer than the action on the pitch, with thousands of people of all ages enjoying the sun, and showing their support for the Armed Forces.
Morley presented the player of the match award in the first game, between the Royal Marines and the Army’s Development team, to the Army’s bustling prop Rory Walker – and Francis Stephenson highlighted the importance of the sport’s presence in the Armed Forces.
“We started the year at the Army’s Northern headquarters in Catterick, celebrating Rugby League’s Memorandum of Understanding with the British Army, and Saturday was another great example of the strength of the relationship.
“There are so many shared values between the Armed Forces and the sport of Rugby League.
“It’s always a pleasure working with Sergeant Alan Boyle, Lt Col Andy Black and their colleagues – and huge congratulations are also due to everyone at the Crosfields club who made Saturday’s event such a fantastic success, as they continue to remember Tom Sephton.
“We were delighted to have our gazebo on the touchline of the main pitch alongside the Warrington Wolves’ Supporters Trust, and to have a chat to the various guests of honour including the Mayor of Warrington, Councillor Sagheer Zaman – and the whole day was a reminder of how important Rugby League is to the town and community of Warrington, with a bit of a feelgood factor at the moment with the team going so well in the Super League.
“We’re looking forward to some further engagement with the British Army at Catterick this summer.”