
Despite the suspension of the season in 2020 the scheduled Broncos Championship fixture against York City Knights last July was designated as the John Sullivan Trophy and so it’s appropriate that this year’s fixture against the Knights on Sunday 11th July will be played for the John Sullivan Trophy in earnest.
The “Sully” is a joint initiative between the Broncos and the LBSA, designed to highlight the issue of young male suicide and supporting the Sullivan family’s chosen charity CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
Sully was a member of the Club’s Academy for many years, and his tragic suicide in 2014 came as an awful reminder of the struggles former professional players can have coming to terms with post Rugby League life. Since the inaugural Sully was played against Dewsbury Rams in 2017, we have raised around £1,500 in support of CALM, including well over £200 in 2020 despite no actual game taking place! The event has enjoyed great support from both home and away fans, with significant contributions from Stevo in 2017 and Sully’s former Academy team-mate Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook in 2019.
We’ve set up a Virtual Bucket Collection at PayPal. As this is the fourth Sully there are options to donate £4, £8 and £12, plus an “Other Amount” button to decide for yourself. All transaction charges will be met by the LBSA so every penny raised will go to CALM.
We will also be running its Virtual 50/50 Draw at the usual £2; £1 of this will go to CALM and 50% of the remainder will make up the prize. We have decided that the proceeds of the 50/50 Draw element will also be donated to CALM on a one-off basis; and the LBSA will again cover all transaction and other costs.
Given current restrictions it’s not possible to hold an actual presentation of the Trophy at the game this year but we will be unveiling a new improved Trophy to be contested for from this year on.
The scourge of young male suicide will only have been exacerbated during this most challenging of times; we can do our little bit in showing the Rugby League family’s concern for young men’s health and wellbeing; whether Rugby League players or not.