SHARKS ‘FAN FOR LIFE’ ARCHIE ENJOYS DAY TO REMEMBER

A late Sharks comeback made for a special ending to Sunday’s Gallagher PREM fixture against Harlequins – but for six-year-old Archie Bromley it was a day he would never forget as he got to walk out onto the pitch with our very own George Ford. 

Sports-mad Archie first met George in July when, ahead of England’s fixture against Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, some members of Steve Borthwick’s squad paid a visit to Alder Hey Hospital, in Liverpool. 

At the time Archie, from Staffordshire, was recovering from a 12-hour operation to remove a large brain tumour that had left him unable to see or walk. 

Three months on – and now back on his feet – the club invited him to the CorpAcq Stadium to meet his hero again and take to the pitch with the whole team ahead of the round three win. 

“It was an incredible day,” said Archie’s dad Ryan Bromley. “When we saw Archie walk out with George I looked up at my wife, Emily, and she was bawling. He walked when he first came out and then it was just amazing to see him try and run with George. 

“He’s had a really difficult last few months and there were times when we all feared the worst so we feel so lucky that he’s coming out the other side.  

“It meant everything to us to see the smile on his face. Sharks have definitely got a fan for life.” 

Archie’s tumour was discovered in June after he started being sick and losing his balance at school. Scans revealed the large mass in his brain and he was rushed to Stoke Hospital, and then to Alder Hey, for emergency surgery. 

“The tumour was huge and his surgery was at 8am the day after they found it,” Ryan said. “The operation took 12 hours but they managed to remove all of the tumour. The biggest challenge though was that he couldn’t walk or see. 

“About two weeks after the surgery the England players came in and it was perfect timing – it gave him such a lift. The nurses were helping him think of some questions to ask and he loved meeting George and the other players. 

“That visit gave us all so much motivation to keep working hard to get Archie back on his feet. George is his favourite rugby player so it was amazing when the club got in touch to invite him to the game on Sunday.” 

With the TNT cameras rolling on Sunday afternoon, Archie ran out onto the CorpAcq Stadium pitch with his hero, while seven-year-old brother Freddie ran out with Sharks flanker Christ Tshiunza. 

“Freddie was so nervous,” said Ryan. “But Archie takes everything in his stride. When he came out, he was walking at first but then he started running. It was just an incredible, emotional experience for us all and I can’t thank everyone at the club enough. 

“He was absolutely buzzing about it and he asked me if George Ford was his friend now. 

“After the game we saw George again and he’d just had a blood test. Archie really hates blood tests and he has to be restrained to have them, but after seeing that George had one, he said “if George can do it, I can too.” Honestly, I can’t even explain how much it meant to us. 

“It’s given him so much confidence. He was sport-mad before this and it’s given him the motivation to get back into his football, rugby and cricket. 

“The day after the game he took his Sale shirt into school and stood up in front of everyone in assembly to show them the pictures and talk about what had happened. He was just so happy and after everything he’s been through that means so much. 

“He’s getting stronger all the time and last week he had a scan to make sure there was no tumour left. It was all clear so hopefully we’re behind all of this now. 

“We’re a family of Sharks fans now and we can’t wait to come back.”