Greetings from Helmand!
In 2010, as the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment – 1 MERCIAN, Welfare SNCO I struck up a fantastic relationship, on behalf of 1 MERCIAN, with Warrington Wolves. They have freely hosted many of our injured/recovering soldiers from Op Herrick and have gone far ... far beyond others in their hospitality and support. In particular they were, and remain, tremendously supportive of the family of the late Private Thomas Sephton and Marine Steven Birdsall. They are hugely pro-military and the link between the Club and 1 MERCIAN has been further strengthened with numerous joint publicity events and complimentary match tickets.
Keen to offer further support the club has adopted the Mercian Regimental Benevolent Charity as one of its chosen charities for this season.
[sizeThe Mercian Regiment Benevolent Fund
The Mercian Regiment is a proud, close knit, family regiment with three centuries of operational success behind us. We continue to draw our fighting strength from the history and traditions of our antecedent regiments, the strong family ties we maintain with our counties and communities and the reputation we have earned on recent operations.
The Mercian Regiment has gained considerable operational experience in recent years with many deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Our 1st Battalion recently returned from Afghanistan at the end of last year ,our 3rd Battalion is currently deployed on operations in Helmand province, later this year our 2nd Battalion will also deploy. This is reinforced by the 4th Battalion, (our TA Battalion), who is not only the largest TA infantry battalion in the British Army but they have also provided the greatest number of TA infantry soldiers to deploy on operations over recent years.
We support our soldiers and retired colleagues through The Mercian Benevolent Charity. This charity provides relief either generally or individually to past and present members of the Regiment and to their dependants. By making grants of money or paying for items, services or facilities, the Charity seeks to alleviate need, hardship or distress. Last year alone the Charity spent over £75 000 between three hundred different cases[/size.
In addition Bensons for Beds – the main club sponsor – has pledged to donate £500 to Help for Heroes for each game that the club win, to put into context last year Warrington Wolves won 22 games
On Friday the 13th of May 2011 2000hrs Warrington Wolves will be playing Castleford Tigers in round 13 of Superleague XVI. The game being broadcast live on Sky Sports. The Club have given over 500 tickets out to the forces - and tickets are available on the ‘Tickets for Troops’ website
As you're probably aware this match is being styled as a Military Charity fundraising game, with all donations between split between The Mercian Regiment Benevolent Charity and Help for Heroes.
Warrington Wolves will be wearing a ‘one off’ Military/desert DPM style strip for this game, (picture attatched) with replicas available to buy. £5 from the sale of each shirt will be donated to the above charities.
The Players shirts themselves will be auctioned off over the following weeks.
On Tuesday 10th 1000hrs a media day is being held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, with 1 MERCIAN Players and Warrington Wolves Players, TV, Radio and press will be in attendance.
The club are very keen to get 1 MERCIAN involved as much as possible in the run up to the match and the evening itself. The Battalions own RL strip (Kindly funded by the Royal British Legion) will be launched at the The Haliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday 12th May 1000hrs .... ish, the day before the Warrington V Castleford Game.
The 1 MERCIAN Rugby Team have been invited to watch Warrington Wolves ‘Captains Training’ in preparation for the following evenings game. Post training session selected Wolves players will then coach the 1 MERCIAN RL Team.
After this the 1 MERCIAN RL Team will move to Crosfields ARLFC for a training session with the Crosfields coaches in preparation for the 2nd Annual Sephton Trophy, to be held on the 9th of July ... more details will follow.
On matchday, Friday 13th May, Warrington Wolves have kindly invited a number of MERCIAN, Forces RL and Military Charity VIP’s to enjoy their hospitality. Most important of all they have invited The parents of the late Pte Thomas Sephton – 1 MERCIAN, The parents of the late Mne Stephen Birdsall – 40 Cdo RM, Kgn Tom Colridge and parents – 1 Duke of Lancs – (Very seriously injured) – All are Warrington servicemen who served on Op Herrick 11. and a number (TBC dependent on medical/treatment issues) of 1 MERCIAN Injured soldiers – selected by 1 MERCIAN.
They have been invited to dine at the club in an executive suite (where the 1 MERCIAN Regimental Colours and 2010 ‘Millie’ BEST UNIT award and Mercian Eagle will be displayed), take in the match, be responsible for selecting the ‘Man of the match’ and post match where the 1 MERCIAN RL team will join them, and meet the players.
Outside of the stadium there will be the 1 MERCIAN Regimental Recruiting Team , 75 RE Regt (local TA unit) and 4 MERCIAN will have their recruiting stands manned and on display . A ‘Help for Heroes’ Gazebo manned by ex Cheshire Regiment Soldiers. Mercian soldiers will carry out a ‘bucket collection’ at the game both inside and outside of the stadium.
The MERCIAN Corps of Drums will also be in attendance along with ‘Pte Derby’ the Regimental mascot. (Goat)
In true military style Warrington Pipe Band will provide pre-match entertainment.
Please come along and show your support ... let's try and make this a night to remember for all the right reasons.
..... I only wish that I could be there to see it all for myself!!
A Mercian
..... Cpl Waine Bolger
