The FA will continue to work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as it builds up to events on 1 July marking the start of the Battle of the Somme a century ago.
FA CEO Martin Glenn paid a personal visit to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, managed by the CWGC, as part of The FA’s commitment to the ongoing Football Remembers programme. The Somme commemoration coincides with England’s involvement in UEFA EURO 2016 in France.
The 141-day Battle of the Somme witnessed the bloodiest day in British military history on July 1, 1916, when more than 19,000 soldiers were killed and tens of thousands injured. The nation – including the England squad and FA staff – will pay their respects overnight from 30 June to 1 July.
"From a personal level, it was humbling experience," Glenn said, after laying a wreath of remembrance at Thiepval alongside technical director Dan Ashworth.
“I've got the privilege to represent the country in a certain way, and certainly the Football Association, but it was also very humbling.
"I've not been to the Thiepval Memorial before. I know World War I history but I've not been there and 72,000 unidentified soldiers nearly fills Wembley – it's huge. You just can't believe the scale of it.
"It was very atmospheric, the memorial was brilliant, beautiful and had a nice human feel to it as well. It was humbling to do it.
"The FA has been involved with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a number of years and we bring their message to a different audience though football, which opens up a wider group of people."
Football Remembers began in 2014, with the The FA, Premier League and Football League working together to pay tribute to the servicemen and women involved in the First World War between 1914 and 1918.
