A MEMORIAL rugby match to celebrate a club stalwart who died last year will raise cash for Cancer Research UK.
Until he lost his long battle with cancer in September, Dave Bottoms was passionately involved in rugby.
After moving to Barnard Castle, Mr Bottoms became a member of the town’s rugby club in 1996 as a player. He went on to manage the club’s first and second teams and became its director of rugby.
His dedication to the sport and the club also included writing reports of matches for the Teesdale Mercury.
Mr Bottoms was also a prolific fundraiser, helping to pull in thousands of pounds for cancer charities.
Now the club he so passionately supported has organised a fundraising match to celebrate his life and contribution.
The David Bottoms Celebration and Memorial game will take place on Saturday, April 29, on the Demesnes.
Paul Davis, club coach at Barnard Castle Rugby Club, said: “Dave arranged it with me when he knew his time was coming to an end. It was agreed with his family that it will be a celebration of his life.
“The plan is that we get two teams out with an under-35s match and an over-35s match to show how much respect we had for Dave.”
The event will see Mr Bottom’s family and friends involved. His eldest grandson Adam Smith, 13, who plays for Barney’s juniors, will play in the under-14 game, while his younger brother Nathan, 9, will be supporting from the touchline. Sons-in-law Dane Bellas and Martyn Smith will also boot up as will nephew-in-law Fraser Nicholson, from Dumfries, and cousin in law David Thomas, a retired player from Wales and London.
Mr Bottom’s widow, Alison Smith, said: “He was a wonderful, kind and loving husband, father, granddad and friend and he touched many people’s lives through his love of rugby and his passion for his career with the NHS.
“Dave was passionate about all sport but especially rugby from an early age. He had heart problems as a small child and wasn’t allowed to do sport so when he got the all clear there was no stopping him.
“He played at school and university and his first senior club was St Neots RUFC in Cambridgeshire. Although he was only there for five years in the early eighties, it was a wonderful, friendly club and four of Dave’s contemporaries from that time are travelling to be at the celebration memorial game.
“He then played for Bedford Athletic RUFC before a very brief spell at Northallerton RUFC. He joined Barnard Castle RUFC in 1996 when we moved to the area and was devoted to the club for the rest of his life. He played, managed was on the organising committee and became a Durham Referee before returning to managing at the club.
“He was always a friendly face in the clubhouse after the games and mentored many young and new players. More recently, he loved to take his grandsons to junior rugby on a Sunday morning and supported them for as long as his health allowed.
“The rugby community have always been very kind and supportive to Dave, myself and the family and they are exactly that, a big rugby family, wherever you are in the country or the world but especially our own Barnard Castle RUFC.”
The afternoon will kick off at 2.30pm at the club’s pitches on the Demesnes with an under-14 sevens game followed by two further games for under 35s and over 35s.
The event is free and there will be collections for Cancer Research UK during and after the matches with a raffle in the club house afterwards.
Anyone wishing to play should contact Paul Davis on 07740 086 685.
