Quote ="Geordie"Unfortunatley the weather (red arrows and army vehicles) broken generator (paintball) and health and safety (Archery) put pay to a few things but the day was a roaring success.
Total count isn't in yet but we are already at about £8,000 raised for help the heros.
The game was a full blooded afair and considering the Crosfields lads hadn't played together for 4 years in fact a lot of them hadn't picked up a ball in that time they aquitted themselves very well and did their mate Sefo proud.'"
Close but not quite Geordie ..... after much recounting of the many, many coins .... just to be 100% sure, the grand total that Crosfields ARLFC will be sending to Help for Heroes is .... £7659.86p ....... not bad if I do say so myself!!!!!
The game itself was indeed a full blooded affair .... both sides were DETERMINED to do Toms memory justice! Hard physical Rugby League played for all the right reasons in the very best of spirits.
It was a very memorable and humbling day in Warrington – the Army won a nail biting game 32 – 30 (although they were were 3 tries to nil down after 20 minutes) against a very, very tough team.
Brigadier Andrew Sharpe OBE (Late CHESHIRE) Regimental Colonel of the MERCIAN ran on for last 10 minutes (at 50 the oldest player to ever pull on the Army RL shirt in anger) and did a solid job for us at prop (never dropped a ball or missed a tackle). Pte Tom Snooks 1 MERCIAN, from Burtonwood (at 17 and too young to deploy on operations; the youngest player to pull on the Army RL shirt in anger at open age) was outstanding at full back and Man of the Match. They all did Army RL proud but most importantly they provided much appreciated support to the family and friends of Tom – Well Done!
To para phrase from Brig Sharpe’s email this morning:
“... please pass on my profound thanks to all at Crosfields ARLFC. I know that the Sephton family were deeply moved by the gesture and the commitment, and the people of Warrington (MPs, mayors and all) got a taste of what Army commitment to each other is all about. I am very, very grateful”.
Geordie you were right on one thing that’s for sure, Crosfields did Tom Proud.
Al
The Brigadier and Tom Snooks
