Friends and coaches of Josh Granfield have handed over £1,500 to the Northamptonshire Air Ambulance raised at their seventh memorial match.
Organised by friend and DRFC player Sam Dudgeon, the rugby match, which took place on August 23 at Daventry Rugby Football Club, saw friends and teammates of Josh, who died in 2007, challenge a senior team selected by coach Dave Brown.
To date Josh’s XV have won all but one of the games with Coach’s Choice solitary success coming in 2012. This trend looks set to continue, with Coach’s Choice unable to match Josh’s XV.
Dave Brown said: “It’s a win-win situation for me. I am enormously proud to be able to play against my former charges and see their game develop as seniors. Every year I try and pick a side that can challenge them but once again we fell short this year”.
Despite the Coach’s Choice side losing to Josh’s XV, there were winners all round with the biggest beneficiary being the Northamptonshire Air Ambulance who received a donation of £1,500.
An additional £1,500 was also raised for Daventry Rugby Club to help them continue the development of rugby for local youngsters. But there was also fun for all the family at the grounds with stalls and other activities.
Sam Dudgeon said: “I can’t thank the Daventry public enough for their generosity, especially the players that made up the Josh XV for all getting individual sponsors.”
Josh Granfield, from the Headlands in Daventry, died aged 16 in September 2007 after falling through the roof of a warehouse. The air ambulance was called out to help him.
Friends and former teammates have since gathered for a memorial match each year, with the next taking place in August 2015.