This Saturday will see the fifth instalment of the James Ackerman Cup, a special game on the Intrust Super Cup calendar.
Taking place at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Saturday, the game is played in memory of Sunshine Coast Falcons front rower, James ‘Ackers’ Ackerman, who tragically passed away during a game in 2015.
The match between Ackerman’s two former clubs, the Sunshine Coast Falcons and the Redcliffe Dolphins, is played each year to honour the legacy of the much-loved father of two, with Redcliffe last hosting in 2019.
While Ackers played most of his football at the Redcliffe, the talented forward was a Sunshine Coast junior and had returned to the Falcons in 2015.
At the club’s training yesterday, Sunshine Coast Falcons chief executive officer Chris Flannery presented Ackerman’s son Ollie with his very own Falcons #8 superhero jersey, a special moment in front of the Ackerman family as well as the Intrust Super Cup and Hastings Deering squads.
With the number eight Falcons jersey being retired in both the Intrust Super Cup and Hastings Deering sides, Flannery said the jersey presentation highlighted just how much the James Ackerman Cup meant to his family and the Falcons community.
“We presented Ollie with the jersey in front of both squads and the Ackerman family was there and so seeing Ollie there, the players know just how important this game is to the Ackerman family but to our football club as well,” Flannery said.
“They know when they run out on Saturday to honour the legacy that he has left at the footy club and to go out and play for him.”
Along with the Falcons player of the year being awarded the James Ackerman medal and ‘Ackers’ being mentioned in the club’s victory team song, Flannery said the retirement of the number eight jersey was one of the small ways the club could keep his legacy alive.
“When players in five-to-10 years’ time ask how come we haven’t got a number eight jersey in our kit, there’s a story to tell why there’s not and it’s because of James Ackerman and that’s how we honour and remember him,” Flannery said.
Flannery said the match was always one of the most special days on the calendar for everyone involved at the club and was excited to see the annual match return for 2021.
“Obviously, the players know the significance of the match and what is means to the entire football club and with the game not being able to be played last year, it’s made this one particularly special for us and the Ackerman family, so everyone is particularly keen to see the James Ackerman Cup played again this year so we’re all pretty excited for Saturday,” Flannery said.
“James was just a tough-as-nails character, he wore his heart on his sleeve and was just a genuinely good guy that his team mates knew was going to give his 100 per cent every time he took the field and they really loved playing next to him.
“Off the field he was very well liked throughout the club, loved a beer and a bet and a good time as much as anyone, but when it was time to train or play he certainly trained hard or played as hard as anyone could,” Flannery said.
The Falcons CEO said he expected to see a big crowd turn out for the game, with the Melbourne Storm v Gold Coast Titans game to follow the occasion at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
“This is always one of our biggest day of the year crowd wise and especially playing Redcliffe who are our big brothers just down the road, we’re expecting a big crowd with all our season members and sponsors in attendance.
“The Melbourne Storm are playing the Gold Coast Titans on the card after us so we’re expecting it to be a huge day and a really fitting way to honour the James Ackerman Cup.”
