Saturday 28 June marks Armed Forces Day in the UK and The Football Association is proud to be offering its support as the nation recognises the contribution made to our nation by those who serve, and who have served, in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
The backing for the men and women is reinforced every year but has taken on an extra significance in 2014.
This year marks the centenary of the start of the First World War, the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings that proved momentous in bringing about the end of the Second World War and has also seen The FA’s link with the Ticket for Troops organisation reach a new level.
Notably, The FA has teamed up with the British Council, Premier League and Football League to launch a Football Remembers project focused around the Christmas Truce matches that took place between soldiers of both sides in December 1914.
As part of this, The FA President HRH The Duke of Cambridge and England star Theo Walcott are judging a schools competition to design a memorial.
“To those that fought to preserve that right for each and every one of us, we owe an eternal thanks.”
Sir Trevor Brooking
The winning entry will be placed at the National Memorial Arboretum near to the national football centre St. George’s Park in Staffordshire later this year, while there will be a number of other activities over the coming months and through to 2018 to mark the sacrifices made by troops 100 years ago.
The FA also made the Forces a major part of its 150th anniversary celebrations last year including a special charity game including proceeds to Help for Heroes and Team Army.
In terms of Tickets for Troops, The FA welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron and services personnel at St. George’s Park last month to mark half-a-million tickets being donated to the charity since it began in 2009.
This has included major FA Cup and England matches at Wembley Stadium, with a thousand such seats being allocated to the Forces for the World Cup send-off match against Peru.
HRH The Duke of Cambridge and England star Theo Walcott kick-off the Football Remembers initiative
While in Miami earlier this month preparing for the finals, Sir Trevor Brooking led an FA delegation at a special service to acknowledge the Normandy landings of 1944 with UK and US veterans present along with those serving today. He reflected on the 1950 World Cup, also in Brazil, and its significance after the Second World War.
Sir Trevor said: “The reality and horror of war bears no relation to what happens on a football field; no analogy should ever be made between the two. That said, without the courage of that generation and indeed also of those that served in the First World War a century ago, the world would be a hugely different place.
“It is remarkable that just five years after the end of that brutal war, national teams were able to play football again on a world stage. But that's the way it is with football, it does not try to ignore that we might live in an uncertain world - indeed conflict and suffering are still relevant today for many around the globe.
“It does not and should not turn a blind eye to such realities, but it is also vital to keep the game going - to give people hope where there is despair. To remind that above all, there is the Beautiful Game, the expression of joy and wonder that unites us all wherever we are from.
"To those that fought to preserve that right for each and every one of us, we owe an eternal thanks.’’
Those words ring true for everyone we acknowledge on Armed Forces Day.
Click here for more information on Armed Forces Day and find out about events taking place near you.
