2017 James Ackerman Cup

This Sunday the Village Motors Dolphins will clash with top of the table Sunshine Coast Falcons in a match which will test the endurance of both sides. Although battling for crucial points, both teams will have something else on their mind as they take to the field in honour of fallen former team mate, James Ackerman.

“The James Ackerman Cup is played in honour of former Village Motors Dolphin and Sunshine Coast Falcon James, who tragically lost his life following an on field accident in 2015,” General Manager of Football Grant Cleal said.

James Ackerman played 54 games for the Dolphins before returning to his home town to play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons. The loss of James has had a reverberating effect on the Rugby League community and in particular the Dolphins and Falcons.

Grant Cleal said that the Dolphins would continue to honour James when the two clubs played against each other. “We have a strong Club culture and players like James helped create that,” he said. “Coming together as a Club following the loss of James got many of his former team mates through,” he said.

Earlier in the year, James’ family donated headgears to the Realway Junior Dolphins, as part of the James Ackerman Legacy. The U8 Ackerman team were the recipients of the headgears.

Gates will open at 11am Sunday with the main game between the Village Motors Dolphins and Sunshine Coast Falcons kicking off at 2pm. The Ackerman family, including James’ children Millie and Ollie, will be at Dolphin Stadium to cheer on the Falcons and the Dolphins.