Rhett Czapla

Rest in Peace, Rhett
(17 April 1975 – 22 March 2022)


Today has been a very sad day for many of our friends and players; indeed, it has been a sad day for our Club.

I, like a great many people, have spent the day mourning the loss of one of our true friends and Clubmen. I am writing this knowing that one of our finest sons suddenly and unexpectedly passed away this morning.

Rhett Czapla was one of a kind, someone who had a connection with everyone he came across and was loved by them. I played my first couple of seasons at Blueys with “Zappa” and I was welcomed into the team, made a friend, and with Zappa as a popular and well- respected local, my family and I were welcomed with open arms into the team.

I am still in a state of shock that this has happened. As a Club, we are indebted to Zappa for his friendship, support and loyalty (after all, he even has the tattoo to show his love for the Club).

Still playing in our longstanding Over 35.1 team, more recently Zappa showed again that he was a natural as he successfully moved into a coaching role – with ‘his’ Under 14 team winning their competition in 2020 – I know he was well-respected by that team and it just showed his kind-hearted ability to bring people together to enjoy their games.

I don’t have room here to fully express the beautiful person our Zappa was – we truly cannot fathom our loss today. On behalf of the Board, Committee and our Club, our most sincere condolences to Rhett’s family. He was a man loved by his family, friends and us at the “Blueys”.


David Smith
BMFC President