CLUB HOLDS INAUGURAL BRAMPTON RFC HALL OF FAME AWARDS  3rd March 2007

Brampton Rugby Club marked its almost fifty years of existence with an inaugural Hall of Fame Reception at the Clubhouse on Friday evening, 2nd March 2007. With close to 100 Club players, builders and guests at the event, the evening was a resounding success and a platform for future events.

Even as guests were arriving, and Master of Ceremonies Matt Cappuccitti was warming up, an early award went to Chaylia Porter, MVP of the Senior Women's team who had been unable to attend the Awards banquet last Fall.

With the commencement of the formal proceedings for the Hall of Fame, Mr. Peter Murphy was invited to speak to the first honorees for the Hall of Fame. The 2006 season saw the passing of Ralph "Pops" Lee and he was inducted posthumously, together with Don Llewellyn, a founder of the Club. Llewellyn was an RAF Spitfire pilot decorated for bravery with the DFC in the Second World War. He helped start the Brampton and Georgetown Clubs which eventually merged in 1963, and he played his last match for the Club in 1973 at Cedar Park vs Burlington.

The third inductee was Mr. Sandy Mackenzie. Peter Murphy vividly described how Sandy, a man of slight frame, has been the only man to command the undivided attention of his wife at a Rugby match, because of his heroic tackling from his full-back position.

Peter Murphy ceded the floor to Mr. Jim Andelcra, the first Women's Coach at the Club, with Graham Davies in 1989.  To universal applause, Jim mentioned that it was about time this event was held. He spoke of the talent and ability of two women players - Julie McGann and Louise Pearce. At the first practice, in the middle of a sleet storm, 17 women turned out, including Julie McGann. In the first Women's game at the Club they were thrashed 88 - 0. However, by 1993, the Women's  team with Louise, Julie, Evelyn Gerber and others playing, managed to dethrone Ajax for the Senior A Provincial crown.

Jim spoke to Julie McGann entering the Hall of Fame as an intimidating player who had a superb tactical vision of the field, and a worthy selection to Canada's National Team. Louise meanwhile, another worthy international and member of the hall of fame, was an outstanding crash ball player and a superb kicker. Both players thanked the Club and spoke of the family and the best of people it contains and has across the generations. Julie even noted that her children used to play with a ball on the touchlines during training, and now here they are today at her induction, as twenty and eighteen year-olds.

Mr. Hedley Benyon, President of the Club, spoke to the induction of two distinguished former players: Brian Dickson and Mark Allison. Brian was a formidable Number 8 seemingly without fear, who would in Peter Murphy's words rampage through the serried ranks of the opposition. Meanwhile, Mark Allison was an outstanding prop who went on to play for Canada.

All inductees at the ceremony were now invited to remove the curtain to reveal the Hall of Fame and their plaques on the wall.

Following a short refreshment break, the evening resumed with Jill Zonneveld, former Director of Rugby Canada's Women's Program, Board member and IRB representative,  awarding their international caps to Louise Pearce and Julie McGann. This was a complete surprise two both women, as the shocked looks on their faces bore testament to their delight.

An international cap is the pinnacle of achievement for a Rugby player, and Jill stated that it was her honour in presenting these two outstanding Canada Women's players with this recognition. Louise Pearce first played for Canada against Wales in the 1994 Women's World Cup in Scotland, while Julie McGann's first game  was in 1992 against the United States.

Chris Leitch, a past president of the Club, now took the podium to thank Mr. Hedley Benyon and Liz Benyon his wife, for their preparations and planning for the evening. He continued by thanking Rugby Canada for their initiative in setting up Volunteer awards. Three of these were awarded on this evening.

The first Volunteer Appreciation Award was to Mr. Peter Murphy, who arrived in 1976 and who has been part of the heart and soul of the Club ever since. He has been a record keeper and historian, a writer of the Club's constitution and a Full back and Prop "extraordinaire" who always brings his boots. Whenever the Club is discussed in Rugby circles, inevitably the first question asked is "Do you know Peter Murphy?"