TWO special memorial games take place this Sunday (November 12) in memory of well-known former rugby league match official and Cardinal Newman High School teacher Frank Hawley, who sadly died earlier this year.
Hawley was a well-known member of the rugby league community around Warrington, having spent a number of years playing for Woolston Rovers and officiating on some of the country’s biggest games across a number of years, including 4 Challenge Cup finals and 2 Grand Finals in the late 1990s, early 2000s. Further to this he was also a huge part of the wider Warrington community having worked at Cardinal Newman High School, formerly St John’s for over 40 years teaching a number of generations of families across the town.
Frank’s passing earlier in the year left behind a huge hole in the lives of many across the town and his nephew Andrew has set up the Frank Hawley Challenge to pay tribute to his Uncle’s memory and raise funds for St Rocco’s Hospice. This has already seen Andrew take on The Great North Run and The Warrington Half Marathon in September. During the course of the next few weeks, he embarks on a further running challenge, running 3 miles, every 3 hours for 3 days culminating in a run to the Halliwell Jones Stadium with former Warrington Wolves, Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, Wales and Great Britain star Iestyn Harris. However, it is not this event he is most looking forward to.
On the 12th of November, Andrew has arranged the Frank Hawley Memorial Games, to be competed for between Woolston Rovers, Frank’s old club and town rivals Crosfields. In the Under 10s fixture, Andrew’s son and Frank’s Great-Nephew Noah will play for Crosfields and in the Under 12s fixtures, Frank’s Grandson Isaac will follow in his Grandad’s footsteps and appear for Woolston. It is something Andrew is really looking forward to “It was often joked upon that Frank’s first love was Rugby League and not my Auntie Rita and whilst this definitely wasn’t the case, it was certainly up there! The game gave him so much enjoyment and he would be so humbled to see how people are honouring his memory and he’d be over the moon to see Isaac and Noah playing in the games. He might even wish Noah all the best even though he’d be rooting for Woolston to win”.
The games have only been made possible by the support of Liz and Chris Eyres, from Sandstone Supplies UK Limited, who have sponsored the event with Liz commenting about how honoured they are to be part of the event “raising money for a great charity, in the name of a wonderful man who inspired so many people”.
The day kicks off at Hood Lane, the home of Crosfields ARLFC on Sunday 12th November at 11 am, with the first of the two games kicking off at 11.30 am.
There is no entrance fee to attend but donations to The Frank Hawley Challenge will be welcomed. Food and drink is also available.
Andy’s biggest challenge in memory of his uncle Frank Hawley
