More than 2,000 fans, families and local community members flocked to Concord Oval at its peak on Saturday for the inaugural Wests Ashfield Cross Code Charity Event – a first-of-its-kind event proudly delivered by Holman Barnes Group and Wests Ashfield.
Bringing together elite sport, grassroots clubs and the Inner West community, the free event united rugby league and football on one field, for one purpose: community impact.
Fans were treated to meet-and-greet sessions with the full Wests Tigers NRL squad and the full Wests APIA squad, alongside NRLW and West Harbour Women representatives.
Kids of all ages lined up for autographs and photos, with thousands of footballs and soccer balls signed across the day. Junior sprint races saw young participants awarded medals and trophies by Holman Barnes Group CEO Daniel Paton adding to the heartwarming atmosphere.
A trial match between Western Suburbs Magpies and Ryde Eastwood Hawks further showcased the depth of local sporting talent on display.
A Day of Unity Through Sport
The headline Cross-Code Exhibition Match saw Wests Tigers Legends take on Wests APIA Legends in a high-energy clash combining touch football and soccer, with the NRL All-Stars claiming the win in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall led the Legends side, while guest MC Beau Ryan kept the crowd entertained both on and off the field, alongside Brett Hodgson, Chris Lawrence and Chris Heighington amongst others.
NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley was also in attendance, joining sports presenter Tim Gilbert for a live interview about State of Origin and what it means to represent the Blues.
Member for Summer Hill, Jo Haylen, spoke on the field just before the clash got underway, reinforcing the importance of community-led initiatives that bring people together through sport.
Community Impact Front and Centre
Over $65,000 was raised on the day in support of three deserving charities - A Bloody Great Cause, Empower and Let’s Get Going.
In addition, a whopping $475,465 in cheques were presented on the day to local sporting clubs via Wests Ashfield Intra-Clubs program – a significant show of support for grassroots organisations across the community.
One of the biggest moments came during the major raffle draw, with local resident Kristy Bradley announced as the winner of a brand-new Mazda CX-5 Maxx. Kristy’s husband and young child proudly accepted the keys on her behalf, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
A Benchmark for Community Events
Holman Barnes Group CEO Daniel Paton said the overwhelming turnout and participation demonstrated the power of sport to unite.
“To see 2,000 people at Concord Oval, families, kids, fans and local clubs, all coming together for a day like this was incredibly special. This event was about unity in action. Bringing different codes together, backing our charities and creating genuine access between players and community. The energy across the day was something we’re very proud of and something that we’ll look to continue for years to come.”
With elite athletes, grassroots clubs, business partners and families side by side, the inaugural Cross Code Charity Event has set a new benchmark for community sport in the Inner West – and laid the foundation for what is set to become a much-anticipated annual fixture.
