Wednesday 20th November, I find myself at Maidenhead Rugby Club in the physio room waiting for the players who need taping up before the match. Three took up the offer but many didn’t, apparently visible tape is a target on the field! As the match starts I’m running up and down, keeping level with the ball and watching the players like a hawk, looking for obvious signs of injury, if they fall, are they getting back up.

The first half goes without incident. A determined comment from one TV Stags player “I know this is for charity but I want to win” during the break before the second half kicked off and kept me on my toes. One TV Stags player leaves the pitch with a shoulder injury. There are no obvious signs of a dropped shoulder so movement tests commence. As I move the arm, an audible pop is heard. As this wasn’t the first time the shoulder had been injured, professional medical advice would have to be sought to check the condition of the ligaments. 

As the match nears the end, TV Stags are losing. It doesn’t stop me being vocal and shouting at the players. I’m wrapped up in the match willing TV Stags to win, for Harper and out of my own pride. I see one TV Stags player crouching and stretching out his calves. I continue to watch as he runs towards the ball. He looked restricted, he drops down to stretch again and I vocally say that he’ll need taking off the pitch. Three minutes later, he is on the floor suffering full cramp. I run over and administer first aid treatment as the whistle sounds for the end of the match. TV Stags may have lost 17-25 but as Sgt Tom Day said, “it wasn’t about the match, it wasn’t about the result, it was about the amount of money we could raise.”

I’m glad I could help in a small way that day, an emotional match which no one wished to be playing in memory of a fallen loved one, friend and colleague.

Rest in Peace PC 7605 Andrew Harper, one of Thames Valley Police’s finest.