Bill Beaumont to attend Didcot RFC charity match
Former England captain and rugby legend Bill Beaumont will be steaming into the Didcot rugby club's Edmonds Park ground next Sunday, (Feb 27) on his way back from the previous days international at Twickenham, to meet the teams playing in the second Martin Llewellyn Memorial Cup game, 12.30 kick-off.
Beaumont is the captain of the RFUs Injured Players Fund (IPF) Ambassadors XV, an august array of 15 former players who support and work tirelessly for the cause.
Last years inaugural match between the Didcot 1st XV and Didcot Past raised £10,000 for the IPF and hopes are high that they can even top that this time around when the proceeds will be split between the IPF and the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Air Ambulance Service.
“We were stunned last year, we were expecting half that,” admitted organiser John Galpin, himself seriously injured while playing back in 2009. “I won’t hold my breath, but to get to £10,000 again this year I would be really chuffed.”
It’s very much a fun day and last years match saw over 40 former Didcot players pulling on a jersey once again to play for the Didcot Past side.
“Last year even my 60 year-old Dad, Mick, a former No.8, played 10 minutes, like a lot of them did, and then left it to the younger ones,” smiles Galpin.
A large percentage of the money raised last year came through a post match charity auction when a signed England shirt went to the lucky bidder for £2,500 and who has since donated it back to this seasons auction.
England back-row man James Haskell has also come up trumps and has donated an England shirt signed by the entire 2011 squad for Sunday’s auction while autographed items from Jamie Oliver, Tim Henman and World Darts Champion Phil Taylor are all up for grabs at the right price.
Once again festivities, including the charity auction, will stretch long into the night with local bands K Lacura, Shattered Dreams and soloist Mike Davey entertaining the guests at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, the clubs social base.
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