EPS members go to England for 10th annual Woodall Cup

Officers from Edmonton and Manchester, U.K. played a soccer game to honour Edmonton Police Service Const. Daniel Woodall, who was killed in the line of duty.

The 10th Woodall Cup, a soccer match played in memory of an Edmonton police officer who died on the job, was played in Manchester, England, for the first time this year.

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Const. Dan Woodall died on June 8, 2015, after being shot while making an arrest in west Edmonton. He was from England.

Police officers from both countries have since honoured his legacy each year with a soccer match.

“This year we made the extra effort to get over there. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Edmonton Police Service Const. Bruce McGregor from team EPS Blues said on Friday.

Eighteen EPS and RCMP members made the trip to Manchester, according to McGregor.

“We had a chance to stay at the Sedgley Park Greater Manchester Police training facility. At that facility, there’s a tree that they planted in honour of Dan. So that was proud and special for us to see. And then we had a couple of Greater Manchester Police tours,” McGregor said.

“Policing is a little different but the same everywhere. We had some good stories. We talked about Dan, we shared some laughs, and the brotherhood was fostered.”

Although the EPS Blues won the cup 4-1, McGregor said the most memorable part of the trip was seeing Dan’s family again. One of his sons played on the EPS Blues team and hoisted the cup when they won.

“It was great to have him out there and he fit right in.”

McGregor added, “The fact that we get to share Dan’s story with not just the city, the province, and worldwide … is important, I think, for new recruits coming into the police service.”

“That day, he walked up to a house like we do hundreds of times, every day, not knowing what was behind that door. Unfortunately, something very tragic happened. And so it’s important for us to remember not to take things for granted, to take our job seriously, be professional and to honour Dan.”