England Under-19s will face France on Tuesday for a place at the Euro Finals - but Freddie Woodman took some time out from preparations to pay his respects to those involved in a battle of a very different kind.
Sean O'Driscoll's squad are in northern France, attempting to qualify for this summer's European Championship in Greece, and have so far registered victories over Denmark and Azerbaijan.
France v England
Euro U19 Championship
Elite Round Qualifier
6pm BST, Tuesday 31 March
Louis Villemer, Saint-Lo
But football was far from their thoughts on Sunday afternoon as they made the short trip from Caen to Normandy to visit the beach at Arromanches, scene of some of the D-Day landings during the Second World War.
The outing was particularly poignant for Newcastle United goalkeeper Woodman - his grandfather, Leslie Bates, was a sailor on a Normandy-bound minesweeper immediately before D-Day.
Woodman said: “When I found out where our matches were taking place I said to our team administrator that I had to go to Normandy.
“It is such a big thing for my family and I knew it would have meant a lot to me to go there, which it did.
“To stand on the beach where my grandad had fought during the war is something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life. I sent him a photo of me on the beach and he sent me a message back saying he was proud of me.
"Just him saying that to me meant a lot.
“It’s really weird to think that I’m here playing football for my country and my grandad was here fighting for his country not so long ago.
“But there’s no comparison – he’s the hero of my family. A lot of my family have gone on to have good careers in different areas but he’s the person we all look up to.”
Woodman’s grandfather, a Crystal Palace season ticket holder who, on Saturday, celebrated his 72nd wedding anniversary with his wife Ivy, joined the navy at 19. He has since given all of his wartime medals to his grandson, the middle one of five.
“I can’t even imagine what must have happened on those beaches”
Bates, understandably, does not like to talk too much about his days at sea, but has treated Woodman to the odd tale or two.
Woodman said: “The stories he has told me about the war are something I’ll cherish forever. They are out of this world.
“To hear what him and my nan had to go through is crazy.
“When he went to war he was pretty much the same age as me now and I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. My whole family are really proud of him.
“I always commemorate Remembrance Day with him and I carry a photo of my nan and grandad with me wherever I go.
“Deep down, that’s what it’s all about. I play football for my family, to make them proud.”
The group of England players and staff stopped at the cliff-top above Arromanches where many of the German artillery were placed as the troops first landed at the beaches and where there now stands a memorial to the Royal Engineers, among others.
It was then down to the beach itself and, with remnants of the old harbour still visible, it was a moving experience for players and staff alike.
Woodman added: “It was really emotional being there, trying to think about what must have happened here on 6 June [1944].
“All the lads found it really interesting. To have been to one of the most famous landmarks in history is something that we shouldn’t take lightly. And it’s amazing to think that it actually wasn’t that long ago.
One group of U19s players and staff on the beach at Arromanches
“I can’t even imagine what must have happened on those beaches. We’ve seen photos and seen a few film clips but I can’t describe what it must have been like.
“A few of the lads were asking each other what they would have done if they were a soldier at the time, but we couldn’t really say. We can’t put ourselves in that situation. No-one should ever have to go through that.
“All the lads were saying ‘how can anyone our age go to war?’ They couldn’t comprehend it.
“But we’re just footballers. People like my grandad are the real heroes.”
