Armed Forces at the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Tie

25 June 2019

AB Sundecks are proud to support Warrington Armed Forces Day as part of their sponsorship of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

AB Sundecks are proud to support Warrington Armed Forces Day as part of their sponsorship of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.

The Royal Marines Rugby League team will be special guests of AB Sundecks at this Wednesday’s quarter-final tie between Leigh Centurions and Barrow Raiders.

This game is taking place at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium with a 7.30pm kick-off.

The Royal Marines team are in the North-West this week as they prepare for their game on Saturday 29th June against the Army RL Academy for the 10th Annual Tom Sephton Memorial Trophy festival.

It’s the first of three games in a festival of Rugby League to be held at Crosfields RLFC, Hood Lane North, Warrington WA5 1ET.

On behalf of AB Sundecks, director Laura Beaumont said: “We are delighted to invite the Royal Marines RL team to watch the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup-tie on Wednesday to share in the excitement and drama surrounding the event."
Warrington Armed Forces Day at Crossfields RLFC is the focal point of the town’s AFD celebrations.

The triple header of Armed Forces Rugby – A Tri-Services free, fun-filled family event that garners tremendous community support.

The three games are as follows:

Game-1=ROYAL MARINES-Vs-ARMY RL ACADEMY
Game-2=MERCIAN REGIMENT-Vs-DUKE OF LANCS REGT (for the Coleridge Cup)
Game-3=CROSFIELDS RLFC-Vs-ARMY RL

Around the main pitch there are numerous Regular and Reserve Units stalls and stands with asset and vehicle displays exhibiting their capability; informing who they are and what they do.

Veteran’s and Armed Forces Charity information stands, as well as ex-service/RBL associations together with involvement and activities from local Cadet forces ensuring engagement across all age groups.

Various community groups, Civilian Military enthusiasts and clubs with Blank Firing Field Guns and Small Arms, Emergency Services, Rugby organisations and charities also attend providing interesting and engaging activities that add to the festival atmosphere of the event.

The event is FREE to enter with FREE parking and FREE gifts for children.

Zero charge for the vast majority of activities provided including facepainting, craft lessons, inflatable obstacle courses, Airsoft Rifle ranges, climbing walls and more.

Local dignitaries and VIPs will be in attendance including 1* and 2* Senior Officers.

They are very much involved in community/commercial engagement and prize giving on the day.

The event is held in memory of Private Tom Sephton, a Soldier from Warrington who served in the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (1 MERCIAN). In 2010 Tom deployed on operations to Afghanistan and was seriously wounded on patrol and succumbed to his injuries the following day.

For many years he played Rugby League for Crosfields Rugby League Club, and it was Tom’s ex-team mates who came up with the original idea for a charity fund raising Rugby League match to be held in memory of their friend.
The Coleridge Cup is also a game in honour of former Warrington soldier Tom Coleridge, who was seriously injured in Afghanistan but has rebuilt his life working for local charity Warrington Disability Partnership.

Tom had his life torn apart at 18 when he was serving with the Duke Of Lancaster regiment in Afghanistan and his patrol was ambushed, leaving him with a ruptured spleen and paralysed. But now aged 26, he holds down a full-time job with Warrington Disability Partnership.