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| The White and Blue teams at the 2024 Rob Craig Memorial game (Photo by Steve Cunningham) |
The annual Rob Craig Memorial match took place at Blackburn Arena on Sunday, featuring a wide range of current and former NIHL league players, along with recreational players from various north west clubs.
The game is played every year in memory of former Blackburn recreational player Rob Craig who took his own life in 2017 and aims to raise funds and awareness for mental health charities.
A healthy crowd of over 600 cheered the teams on and they were treated to an entertaining goal fest worthy of the occasion.
The “Blue” team included current Widnes player Matty Barlow along with former Wild players Kieran Brown, Ian Thirkettle and Bobby Streetly while the “White” team featured Calum Ruddick, Mark Higson and Adam Barnes.
There were also a number of current and former Blackburn Hawks and Eagles players were spread across both teams as well as former team mates of Rob Craig from the Blackburn Falcons and Wyre Seagulls recreational teams. Manchester Storm’s Canadian import CJ Garcia also played on the White team.
The beneficiary of the 2024 Rob Craig Memorial game is Andy’s Man Club – an organisation that started off in Halifax and now organises local groups across the country where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a judgement-free, non-clinical environment.
Over £8000 has been raised so far from this year’s memorial game – with the total set to rise as player shirts are being sold off in an online auction.
For the record, the “Blue” team beat the “White” team 12-11 but, on this occasion, the taking part was certainly much more important than the winning.
You can find out more about the annual Rob Craig Memorial game HERE
and about Andy’s Man Club and their local groups via their website at andysmanclub.co.uk.
