Over 4,000 people are expected to attend the FREE festival of Rugby League in Warrington. Saturday, June 24, sees the annual Armed Forces Day Celebrations take place across the nation.
Crosfields RLFC will be marking the celebrations by hosting the eighth annual edition of the Sephton Trophy festival.
Combined with Warrington Armed Forces Day, it’s the country’s biggest FREE community Rugby league festival.
For the past seven years, the local, rugby and military communities have come together to celebrate the Armed Forces and remember one of its own, Private Thomas Sephton of the Mercian Regiment, who tragically lost his life in Afghanistan in 2010.
Before Tom’s sad passing, he had played for Crosfields for many years, and is still remembered fondly by a many people at the club – his former team mates initially came up with the idea of holding a memorial game for their friend.
Now in its eighth year, the festival sees an action-packed triple header of Armed Forces Rugby League.
First up and kicking off at 11.30am, the Royal Marines Rugby League take on the Army Rugby League Academy XIII.
Then, at 1.30pm, the Airborne Forces of the Parachute Regiment Rugby League go into battle against the Royal Air Force Rugby League Academy.
Before arriving at the main event, where National Conference side Crosfields take on the might of the Army Rugby League 1st XIII at 3.30pm.
Speaking at the pre-festival photoshoot, Warrington Royal Marine, Sergeant Joe Long said: “It’s a real honour for me to be here at the Imperial War museum North to launch this year’s festival. “To be able to pay my respects to those who have lost their lives is a real privilege, especially as we are taking on the best up and coming players that the Army Rugby League Academy has to offer.
“To be the playing first game of the day should make it a great spectacle.”
The Armed Forces Rugby League teams are looking to show just what it is that they offer those who may be thinking of joining the Forces. Hard, fast and aggressive Rugby League, where rivalries know no bounds, yet where the game is played in the very best of spirits.
The Festival sees a triple-header of Rugby League. A bumper crowd is expected to turn out The Sephton Trophy is always a hotly-contested affair.
Seven years on from the first game, taking on one of the branches of the Armed Forces has been no easy task for Crosfields, the impressive and incredibly generous support from the public has seen the festival go from strength to strength as Crosfields player Joe Moore, who has played in every one of the Memorial games, said: “The way the event’s grown, from playing in front of a few hundred friends and family, into over 4,000 people, where it’s three and four deep around the pitch is a scary prospect for some of the lads!
“Until you line up for that minute’s silence for the first time, you don’t realise just what this game and Armed Forces Day means to so many people, not just in Warrington, but across the whole of the UK. “It really is an honour to be a part of.”
Aside from three games of Rugby League, there is plenty to do for all the family on the day, including; Armed Forces stands, stalls, activities, including an Inflatable Assault Courses, Rifle Ranges, military vehicles and displays. Then there’s the Armed Forces Veterans, local and rugby organisations and charities such as State of Mind, RL Cares and the Steve Prescot Foundation, Rugby League activity stands and stalls, the huge Raffle & TOM’bola, more inflatables – even Zorbs! With special appearances from Betfred Super league players, Food from the famous Crosfields Masters BBQ team and bars, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
The event is FREE to enter with free parking and free gifts for the kids.
Crosfields would like to invite everyone to come along and have a great time with friends old and new and show our support to our Armed Forces on this very special day.
The festival opens at 10.30 and the club will make you very welcome! Warrington Armed Forces Day and The Tom Sephton Trophy takes place at: Crosfields ARLFC Hood Lane Recreation Ground Hood Lane North Warrington Cheshire WA5 1ET … from 11.30am on Saturday, June 24.