The Premier League, The FA, EFL and the PFA are joining forces under the banner of ‘Football Remembers’ to mark the Armistice Centenary and Remembrance weekend.
On 11 November 1918, the Armistice was signed, signalling the end of World War One. One century on, England’s four football bodies will be part of the nationwide commemorations, with support from Premier League Clubs, EFL Clubs and the English national teams paying tribute through a variety of activities.
Remembrance Sunday coincides with the Armistice Centenary, and a range of Football Remembers activity will take place over the weekends leading up to 11 November to mark the efforts of servicemen and women, past and present.
Bespoke commemorative coins from the Royal British Legion will be used for the coin toss at every Premier League, EFL and FA Cup match to pay tribute and say thank you to all those involved in the First World War.
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Here at Brunton Park, we will have members of our local British Legion branch (accompanied by their 'Poppy Man' mascot) carrying out a bucket collection around the stadium ahead of kick off. Please give generously if you can.
We will also have two veterans from the King's Own Royal Border Regiment who will help us to mark a minute of silence with a bugle rendition of the Last Post.
The veterans will take place in the pre-match line-up, and will then accompany the officials to the centre circle. One of the veterans will then play the Last Post - on the Referee's whistle - as the the second veteran salutes as a sign of respect to those who lost their lives over the years.
In light of last weekend's tragic events at the Kingpower Stadium, we will also use the minute of silence to remember those from Leicester City who passed away, and to send our support forall of those connected with the club who have been so closely touched by this incident.
Thank you in advance for your participation and support of the Poppy Appeal.
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In the build-up to Remembrance weekend, Football Remembers will also be backing a number of related projects, including For Club and Country, for which Premier League and EFL clubs across the country will plant trees at their stadiums and training grounds, serving as living legacies to the hundreds of footballers who served and fell in the First World War.
Through For Club and Country, which is run in partnership with the Woodland Trust and the National Football Museum, The FA and England planted trees at St George’s Park in memory of the 14 internationals who served in World War One.
Launched in March and continuing through to November, the Tull100 project is using the story of Walter Tull to inspire a series of inclusion projects at football Clubs and community organisations around the country. Walter Tull was one of the first black heritage professional footballers and in 1917 he became the first black heritage Infantry Officer in the British Army.
In a more artistic tribute, the four football bodies are sponsoring The Greater Game at Waterloo East Theatre, a play that tells the story of Clapton Orient and the men who swapped the football fields of London for the battle fields of the Somme in 1916.
In addition, Football Remembers will be promoting the Games of Remembrance which see the British Army and German Army football teams competing in memory of those who fought so bravely decades ago. Two fixtures will take place in Nottingham on Thursday 8 November with Notts County hosting the Women’s game at 12pm and Nottingham Forest hosting the Men’s match at 7pm.
Other events and initiatives taking place across the game over the coming weeks will form part of the Football Remembers initiative and be promoted by The FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA.
About Football Remembers
First launched in 2014 at the start of the First World War Centenary to mark the Christmas Truce, the Football Remembers campaign is returning in 2018 as the Premier League, FA, EFL and PFA come together to collectively mark the Armistice Centenary. Amongst others, the following projects will be supported:
For Club & Country
Operated in partnership with the Woodland Trust and National Football Museum, For Club and Country will see over 60 EFL and Premier League clubs create living legacies by planting trees at club sites with commemorative plaques, in tribute to players who lost their lives in the First World War. The FA planted trees at St George’s Park earlier this year. You can watch a video about the project at:
https://www.forclubandcountry.org.uk/Fundraisers/england
The Greater Game
A theatrical production based on the book They Took The Lead by Stephen Jenkins, The Greater Game tells the true story of the 42 men from Clapton Orient who signed up En Masse to fight in the Great War and the Battle of the Somme with tragic consequences.
Sponsored by the Football Remembers initiative, the play runs from the 30 October to 25 November 2018 in Waterloo East Theatre.
Games of Remembrance
The British Army Game of Remembrance is an established fixture against the German Army. For the Armistice Centenary, the women’s game will be played at Notts County’s Meadow Lane (12 midday) and the men’s game at Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (7pm k.o), on Thursday 8 November, 2018.
Schools in the local area are being encouraged to organise school trips with many activities for children including displays, music and educational opportunities being included in a youth fan zone. Funding is available from the Army to help cover the cost of travel and a number of free tickets have been set aside for organised school trips.
Tull 100
Launched back in March and continuing through to November, Tull100 – Football Remembers uses the story of Walter Tull – one of the first black heritage professional footballers to inspire a series of inclusion projects around the country. In 1917, Walter Tull became the first infantry Officer of black heritage in the British Army. He was killed in action in France in March 1918.
The initiative commemorates Tull and celebrates his legacy by offering small-scale funding to local community groups including schools, football teams and youth, arts and voluntary groups to discover Tull’s story and hold their own Tull100 events discussing barriers and inclusion in the community.
