Adverse weather and player unavailability had caused a traditional Rugby match between Abingdon and the Oxfordshire Fire Service to be cancelled for the past three seasons but it is now to be reinstated. Always previously played on New Year’s Day, the fixture is a memorial to player Ian Bland who died in a car accident in 1982, and it will now take place on Abingdon RFC’s new floodlit pitch on Tuesday 8th November; kick-off 7.15pm.
A former pupil of Fitzharrys School, Abingdon, Ian was a popular and highly talented player at the town club and would regularly guest for the Fire Service during their midweek games. Following his untimely death aged just 21, a match in his memory between the two sides was arranged for 1st January 1983, a game in which over 50 players participated. It thereafter became a regular New Year fixture for the next 25 years as the teams battled for the same trophy presented at that first event.
Ian’s mother Judith Bland will again be presenting the trophy to the winning captain and said she would be delighted to see as many of Ian’s old friends at the evening as possible.
For further information contact:
Kelvin Sykes
Club Captain, Abingdon RUFC
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