THE uniting of Okehampton?s football and rugby clubs will be the lasting legacy of the Neal Cousins Memorial Match which came to an end on Sunday after a decade of celebrating the life of one of the town?s young sportsmen. Neal Cousins died of leukaemia in 1997 at the age of 24 and every year since then the match has been played in his memory, raising a massive £45,000 in total for charity. Organisers decided to end the popular event on its tenth anniversary but friendships made through the years will carry on. The match has been played at the rugby club and football club on alternate years with the home team taking on the other side at its own sport ? Neal was a keen rugby and football player and made many friends through these activities. One of his best friends, Chris Drew, has played in every match bar one and is now 32. He said the match had been a great way to remember Neal. ?Neal would have been absolutely delighted to see the clubs come together and raise money for this fantastic cause. In his time there was quite a divide between the clubs but this event has changed that. ?This year we had many of the players who played in the first memorial match so it was great to see everyone back together again.? Chris said the event was always very poignant and a minute?s silence was held before each game. ?When you look into people?s eyes you know they are all thinking of Neal ? he was a very good friend ? you could trust him with your life and friends like that don?t come along very often. ?When he died it was a very big loss to a lot of people.? He added that the clubs hoped to arrange joint events in the future. Neal?s father, Trevor, said it was very appropriate to end the event after ten years: ?We did not expect it to go on this long ? it has been fantastic but I think it is very appropriate to end it now. ?It makes me very proud to see what the players have done in Neal?s memory and it really brings a lump to your throat. ?I would like to thank the organisers and players and supporters who have turned up each year and given generously to raise funds.? Committee member Andrew Luxton said Sunday was tinged with sadness because it was the last one. ?It has been hard work but very rewarding,? he said. ?The amount of support we had from everyone was remarkable and testament to Neal and his family. ?The Neal Cousins Memorial Match had become a big part of the town?s calendar and I think a lot of people are going to miss it, but I think it was time to let it go.? More than £30,000 has been raised for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund and the remainder has been split between the two sports clubs involved in the event. Chief executive to the ELF Malcolm Roker said: ?Ten years raising this amount of money is fantastic. ?ELF is very grateful to the organisers of the Neal Cousins Memorial Match for all the hard work it has put in year after year. ?It is true recognition of the affection that Neal was held in.'
