Dawson & Burgess have been proud sponsors of Doncaster & District Football Association for over 30 years and were proud to attend the Challenge Cup final on 20th May 2016. Partner at Dawson & Burgess, Mark Toseland’s, connection with the President, David Ambler, goes back over 50 years when David refereed with his father.

“David came to work for Dawson & Burgess in the 1980’s, bringing his much valued experience to our personal injury litigation and insurance claims department.

On a personal note, I am extremely grateful to have been invited as guest along with my brother John and my partner at Dawson & Burgess, Tony Dallman, because my father refereed the Challenge Cup final match in 1964 and I still have the Shield he was presented with.

Although I was not allowed to attend, it being an evening fixture on a school night, I remember him telling me the next day how tired he was. The Challenge Cup final match had been a step up in fitness for dad and the players had run him ragged. This is hardly surprising since his usual training regime consisted of ten Park Drive and sucking a Hacks cough sweet. I suspect training methods for players and referees have improved somewhat over the last 50 years.

I also remember a particular Saturday afternoon fixture in the pouring rain. The changing rooms, in a village hall, were at least half a mile away from the pitch. After the match a huge centre half refused to give dad and I a lift back to the changing rooms in his car. My dad having sent him off half way through the first half for a particularly vicious two footed challenge might have had something to do with it!”

Congratulations to Houghton Main and Swinton Athletic for reaching the final and well done to Swinton Athletic for their 1-0 victory!