Boxing Day Donation
The purpose of ‘Boxing Day’ is in the giving and that tradition has been followed faithfully by Percy Park and Rockcliff Rugby Football Clubs in the charitable donation of ‘gate money’ to worthy causes. That tradition has been in place since the two clubs began playing against each other on the 26th of December since the days of Queen Victoria!
Percy Park has always donated their gate money to Hospital related causes. ‘Back in the day’ somebody somewhere must have had an inkling that our players, at some point in their career, might end up receiving treatment from the capable hands of a Doctor or a nurse as the fixture historically contested the Moor Park Hospital Cup (also known as The Moor Cup). The hospital, located off Norham Road North in North Shields, became part of the NHS family in 1948 before finally closing its doors in 1986 with the emergence of North Tyneside General Hospital.
This year Percy Park have made a sizeable donation to the Accident and Emergency Department at Northumbria Healthcare. The Doctors and Nurses at Accident and Emergency Departments will always have our enduring thanks for being there when our players require their care and attention. Over the years many Percy Park players have graced those revolving doors either as walking wounded or in the back of an ambulance. Who can forget the injuries to Andy Dunn, John Scott, Sean Williamson and Josh Lake…just to name a few….there has been many more!
Pictured is Percy Park RFC Team Manager Tim Walker presenting a cheque to Mr Mike Rickards Consultant in Emergency Care at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Cramlington.
Many, many thanks to all who gladly donated.
For information the donation was made to: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Charity number CM016 providing Emergency and urgent care services including emergency surgery.