OKEHAMPTON?S rugby and football clubs will square up against each other this Sunday for the ninth Neal Cousins Memorial Day. The match, which alternates between football and rugby each year, is the main focus of a day filled with activities to remember Okehampton sportsman Neal Cousins, who died of leukaemia in 1997 at the age of 24. Over the previous years, more than £40,000 has been raised for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF) but for the first time last year the proceeds were split three ways between ELF and the town?s rugby and football clubs. This year, the event will start at 1pm with a youth match between Okehampton Rugby Club and Okehampton Argyle. After this, there will be an opportunity for anyone to show his or her skills in a rugby Conversion Challenge. The main game between Okehampton Rugby Club and Okehampton Argyle Football Club will kick off at 2.45pm at the rugby club?s showfield. At 4.15pm, straight after the game, Chris James will be showing everyone in the clubhouse his brand of magic, followed by a presentation of the trophy to the winning side and a cheque of £1,500 to ELF, Okehampton RFC and Okehampton Argyle FC from last year?s event. The evening?s entertainment will begin with an auction with numerous items up for grabs, including a signed six nations rugby shirt, and a football the England team used in training sessions at the Grove. The organisers expressed thanks to everyone who assisted in the event this year and the previous eight, and to all those who have been generous in many ways.
