The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy
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The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy is a Charity Amateur Rugby League Match held in memoriam of Private Thomas Sephton. Tom was an Infantry Soldier in The Mortar Platoon, The 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) – 1 MERCIAN. Tragically Tom died in July 2010 as a result of the wounds he received in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 12. Tom came from Penketh, Warrington and was an outstanding sportsman. For many years he played rugby for Crosfields Amateur Rugby League Football Club. At 18 Tom joined the army and went on to represent his Battalion where his skills and bravery on the rugby field drew admiration from all. It has been said of him that, “He was never one to shy away from any situation and put his body on the line for the team. He tackled well above his weight and was a pleasure to be with both on and off the pitch, a young man of honour with a wry sense of humor and a sharp wit, a man with courage that belied his stature and loyalty beyond measure”. Tom was a key and influential part of the 2006 Crosfields ARLFC Under 16‟s squad that swept all before them, winning the Under 16‟s North-West Counties League Championship and reaching the National Cup Semi-Final. From this squad an impressive number of Toms‟ team mates have gone on to achieve great things in their young rugby careers, playing professional Rugby League with Superleague clubs, Warrington Wolves, Saint Helens, Salford City Reds and Widnes Vikings. More are playing for Rugby League Championship clubs and Superleague Under 20 teams. Others have had a change of code and are playing Rugby Union for teams in Bath, New Zealand and France. It was these young men who came up with the original concept of a charity fund raising rugby league match in memory of their friend. With the assistance of 1 MERCIAN and the Army Rugby League the match was made possible. The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy is contested for annually between a Crosfields ARLFC Select XIII and a Rugby League team from the UK Armed Forces. The match has grown into arguably the biggest amateur rugby league event in Warrington and the surrounding area. The 3rd Annual Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy On the 30th June 2012 - Armed Forces Day – At Crosfields ARLFCs, Hood Lane Recreation Ground. A Crosfields ARLFC XIII will take on the Army Rugby Leagues Corps Champions, The Royal Engineers, in the third annual Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy. In addition, in a military rugby league double header, 1 MERCIAN RFC will take on a team from the 1st Battalion the Duke of Lancasters‟ Regiment – 1 LANCS in what is hoped will become an annual challenge match. Preparations are underway to make The 2012 Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy the biggest and best event yet. The occasion was always meant to be a Military Charity Fundraiser and this years chosen charity is The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - SAAFA – Forces Help Charity. In particular, the Norton Homes projects at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, Surrey. The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy 2010 On Saturday the 18th September 2010, hundreds of people joined together at Crosfields‟ Hood Lane Recreation Ground to witness and enjoy the first annual Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy where the Crosfields ARLFC Select XIII took on an Army Rugby League XIII. In addition to the game itself, with the support of numerous local benefactors and with the help of the Army, providing a 60‟ long inflatable assault course, paint-balling range, military vehicle displays and various stands and stalls, it all helped to make the day much, much more of an event. The 2010 Rugby League Challenge Cup Winners, Warrington Wolves RLFC, kindly loaned The Carneigie Challenge Cup to Crosfields ARLFC for the day and even the „Wolves mascot „Wolfie‟ made an unexpected appearance. Amongst those in attendance were Toms‟ family and friends, senior army officers, local MP‟s, The Lord and Lady Mayor of Warrington, dozens of local councillors and plenty of rugby fans. On the actual day of the game Toms‟ Unit - 1 MERCIAN, were still deployed on operations in Afghanistan, though injured comrades who had recently returned and men from the Battalions‟ Rear Operations Group were present at the game and made the day very special indeed. A huge charity raffle was held for an amazing number of donated prizes, with everything from signed rugby shirts, to tickets to the Superleague Grand Final, to a holiday in Ibiza! The 2010 Crosfields ARLFC Select XIII Team consisted of the players and coaching staff who had lined up alongside Tom in his amateur playing days, in particular the 2006 Under 16‟s side. They had all come together for the first time in four years and had been training incredibly hard for the previous four weeks The Crosfields ARLFC Select XIII With the Carniegie Challenge Cup in preparation for the game. The Army RL Select XIII players came from all over the UK, Northern Ireland and Europe and featured soldiers from countries even further afield of Fiji, South Africa and Australia. The Army Rugby League Select XIII With the Carniegie Challenge Cup The game itself was 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. Brigadier Andrew Sharpe OBE (Late CHESHIRE), The Regimental Colonel of the Mercian Regiment, ran on for last 20 minutes of the match (at 50 the oldest player to ever pull on the Army Rugby League shirt in anger) and did a solid job for the Army at prop („never dropped a ball or missed a tackle). Private Tom Snooks 1 MERCIAN from Burtonwood, Warrington, (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 deservedly took the honour of the „Man of the Match‟. In a very memorable and humbling day the Army won a nail biting game by 32 – 30 (The Army team were three tries to nil down after Brigadier Andrew Sharpe OBE (late CHESHIRE) presents the „Man of the Match‟ Trophy to Private Tom Snooks 1 MERCIAN 20 minutes!) against a very, very tough Crosfields side. In front of an appreciative crowd, Toms‟ parents, Angela Horn and Ian Sephton presented two awards. Firstly all The Army RL Select XIII Captain received the Tom Sephton Challenge Trophy, and secondly the Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy – A bronze figure of a soldier and 81mm Mortar, which remains in the Crosfields ARLFC Clubhouse. Following emotional speeches from Brigadier Sharpe and Major Rich Navialurua (Director of Community Army Rugby League) the players, families and supporters retired to the club bars. The real winners on the day though were undoubtedly the „HELP for HEROES‟ charity. After all the donations were gathered, the collection buckets emptied, food sales and raffle takings counted. In total Crosfields ARLFC presented a cheque to „HELP for HEROES‟ for the grand total of £7788.03p. Mr John Griffin – Crosfields ARLFC Team Manager, Alex Thompson Crosfields ARLFC Mr Mike Donnison – Crosfields ARLFC Chairman – Mr Chris Upham BEM, JP – Warrington „Help for Heroes„ Coordinator, CSgt Robert Muir 1 MERCIAN – Army RL Select XIII, Andrew Webb Crosfields ARLFC The Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy 2011 On Saturday 9th of July 2011 at Crosfields ARLFC the second annual Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy Charity Rugby League match took place. Crosfields ARLFC XIII took on the rugby league team from Toms‟ Battalion – 1 MERCIAN. It promised to be a match of great passion and emotion. Both teams had a vested interest in the match, the Crosfields team were still smarting from the 2010 defeat, and Toms‟ comrades in arms in 1 MERCIAN wanted to pay homage to their friend and comrade in the best possible way … by winning. 1 MERCIAN RL Standing Back Row Left - Right: Captain Richard Sawyer, Lance Corporal Daniel Bagshaw, Corporal Waine Bolger, Lieutenant Alex Kersey, Colour Sergeant Rob Muir, Lance Corporal Stuker Naivelinikoro, Corporal Aaron Wells, Private Frazer Matiatonga, Private Tom Snooks, Lance Corporal Jacob Howden, Lance Corporal Laurie Cartwright, Lance Corporal Darren Green, Corporal Gwyn Rowlands (Welsh Guards), Lieutenant Ben Smyth. Kneeling Front Row Left - Right: Private Steven Naylor, Corporal Darren Lightfoot, Lieutenant Ben Smith, Private Robbie Kenyon, Lance Corporal AtikiniBiu Nagogolevu, Lance Corporal Mika Vonisi Biukoto, Private Andrew Leeming, Lance Corporal Carl Fletcher. Once again with the support of local benefactors and with the help and support of dozens of Crosfields volunteers the day could be nothing but a success. Bar-B-Ques and bars were in full swing. The army provided a 30 foot high climbing wall, military vehicle displays and weapon stands. There were stands from 1 MERCIAN and the local TA Unit 75(V) Regiment The Royal Engineers. From face- painting to nail bars to bouncy castles, music and more meant that there was something for everyone. On a glorious sweltering hot summers day more than 1500 people came along and enjoyed a fantastic occasion. The event opened with 80 minutes of Womens Rugby League. The fledgling Crosfields Ladies team took on Warrington Ladies RL and silenced many a critic with the skills and passion on display. The Sephton Trophy had the crowds roaring, The 1 MERCIAN Corps of drums led the Mercian team onto the pitch, followed seconds later by the Crosfields Select XIII. The cheers and applause only abated when the two teams formed up on the half way line for the referee to signal for a minutes silence.