Tony Ventham died on Valentines day 1993, the legacy he left is thriving today
in Dagenham Rugby Club.

What do you do when a fellow player and friend is sadly taken? Answer: Play
rugby and drink copious amounts of beer of course! And so the Tony Ventham
Memorial Cup was born.

This annual event in the Rugby Calendar has been a hightlight for both
Dagenham and May & Baker as well as many of Tony's family and friends.

Shared between both grounds, the format has been the same for the last ten
years. As many players as possible who knew and played with Tony take the
field to honour his memory, and in the words of Tony's mum and dad,
"No matter what the score you are all winners".

Sadly Tony's dad, Bobby Ventham, President and staunch supporter of
Dagenham Rugby Club and Tony's mum, Olive, have now passed on and this
chapter in the cup was brought to a close on Sunday 27th of April.

The final game in the chapter saw many of Tony's friends and Rugby
colleagues play together in a combined Dagenham and May & Baker side
against Essex Veterans. The belief was that it may have been the last
time all the old faces would have a chance to play together again.
Surely they can't go on forever?

Not only did players attend, but as usual, a massive crowd watched.
And so the afternoon began, splilling into the bar to re-aquaint old
friendships and relive past antics.

The cup however, will continue in Tony's memory every year when Dagenham's
first XV play May & Baker first XV - a clash I am sure Tony would
have enjoyed.