A Time to Remember- A Time to Reflect

01/03/2021  -  1.00

Graham Brookland

The Army Football Association is delighted to forge links with the Football and War Network based at the University of Wolverhampton, where we plan to work together to provide the vast and unique historical content of our organisation that stems 132 years to eventually enable the wider public domain the opportunity to learn and view more about our proud heritage.

Even before our formation in 1888, Army teams were in the forefront of the developing game. The Royal Engineers were involved in the first FA Cup final in 1872 and eventual winners of the competition in 1875 beating Old Etonians 2-0 in a replay at the Kennington Oval.

Indeed, since the inaugural FA Cup Final through to the current day, the British Army or Army FA have been involved on every occasion from on the pitch, pitch side, pre-match entertainment or ceremonial duties. It is a proud occasion for what remains a most prestigious day in the domestic football calendar.

Our history is vast. The Army Challenge Cup is one section within a variety of tradition and values that remain to this day. From playing a significant role in the formation of the Football Association in 1863, to soldiers featuring regularly in many of the early international matches. From the annual Inter Service Tournaments, Kentish Cup through to the respect shown on the circuit to our Referees whose Executive Committee are celebrating their own 100^th year centenary during 2020/21.  We have so much heritage to share. Football is The Soldiers’ Game.

During the period of 2014-2018, the Army FA were honoured to be involved in a variety of Remembrance and educational occasions commemorating 100 years of significant periods of World War 1; over 4,500 professional footballers joined up to serve during World War One.

It all started in December 2014, at Aldershot Town FC’s EBB Stadium and was a collaborative venture between the Army FA, Football Association and the National League club. It was also the culmination of the FA’s “Football Remembers” event where players, staff and fans were encouraged to commemorate those who swapped football boots for Army boots 100 years before where impromptu games of football took place in no-mans land known as “The Christmas Truce”. All international football matches were cancelled in December 1914 but, on Christmas Day, a football was produced in the Trenches from the German lines. Several hundred troops participated.

100 years later the German Combined Services team (Bundeswehr) were the opponents against the British Army in Hampshire. Approaching 3000 spectators attended as the Army’s L/Cpl Calum Wilkinson scored the only goal of the game.

The two captains at the 2014 Game of Truce at Aldershot Town FC (Source: Author)

Private R. Charlton (Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Sir Bobby) was the Guest of Honour whilst the Chief of the General Staff, Sir Nicholas Carter and FA Chairman Greg Dyke were also present. The match attracted worldwide media interest, with more than 60 journalists and TV crews present with match highlights shown in Germany, Canada, USA and Italy. The popular BBC1 “The One Show” broadcast the show from the Hampshire stadium and the match was also the centrepiece of the BBC’s Football Focus Christmas edition.

General Sir Nicholas Carter, GCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen, Chief of the General Staff makes presentation to Sir Bobby Charlton at The Game of Truce (Source: Author)

Moving forwards two years we were also involved in the commemorations to mark the centenary of The Somme. The first event in Guildford commenced on the first day (1^st August) and remembered the sacrifices made by local men from the south east of England and based on the famous kicking of the football into No Mans Land by the 8^th East Surreys on 1 July 1916. Alongside SERFCA, PWRR and the Army Benevolent Fund in conjunction with Surrey University, the competition included men and women’s tournaments. Fittingly the Army Royal Logistic Corps were the victors in the men’s discipline.

Two months later Burton upon Trent provided the venue for the 100^th anniversary commemorating the end of The Somme. The Men and Women’s Bundeswehr squads travelled to the United Kingdom and, poignantly, both representative squads paid their respects at the National Arboretum during their visit to Staffordshire.

The Army Men and Womens visit the National Arboretum in Alrewas in November 2016  (Source: Author)

The Women’s match was played at the England National Football Centre at St George’s Park; the Army were 3-1 victors. The Germans recorded a 2-1 victory, in the evening, at Burton Albion FC.

Onto November 2018 and the 100^th commemoration of Armistice Day with the Games of Remembrance. The same teams involved but the profile raised significantly with Nottingham as the venue and, in addition to the major ceremonial events that took place, the occasion undertook a project “For Club and Country” which encouraged schools to partake in educational opportunities. Over 14,000 men and women lost their lives from the Nottinghamshire area during World War One.

The launch of the Nottingham Games of Remembrance in August 2018 with the respective players (Michael Dawson and Richard Duffy) and Club Ambassadors (John McGovern and Les Bradd) of Nottingham Forest and Notts County. (Source: Author)

A wonderful day, the women’s match was played at Notts County’s Meadow Lane in the afternoon attracting 6,500 spectators, mainly school children. It was quite emotional viewing bus loads of children arrive in anticipation of the occasion whilst learning so much about what Armistice Day is all about. Prior to kick off they could visit the “Fun zones” around the stadium where they could take part in activities organised by different units within the British Army whilst also learning about what it was like to live in that era.

The Lord Lieutenant of Nottingham, Sir John Peace alongside Major General “Mitch” Mitchell MBE at the Womens Game of Remembrance at Notts County in November 2018. (Source: Author) 

Performances featuring The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals and The Band of the King’s Division, the Military Wives Choirs, Laura Wright and Carly Paoli set the tone before the players made their way on to the field. They were led out by Private Derby – the ram who is mascot of The Mercian Regiment – before the National Anthems were played with usual remembrance practice following, with ‘The Last Post’ being played by a bugler before a minute’s silence was observed.

Then it was game time. The evening match was replicated at Nottingham Forest for the Men’s equivalent. It was a German success both times with respective 2-1 and 3-1 successes. Over 13,000 people supported the day but thousands more throughout the country did likewise with many individuals, football clubs and societies providing their own online tributes remembering those who lost their lives during The Great War. The event was specifically designed to raise the awareness within the civilian community of what World War One was all about and this was achieved.

Action from the British Army v German Bundeswehr Game of Remembrance at the City Ground, Nottingham in November 2018. (Source: Author)

A year later, at a sold-out City Ground crowd of 29,314 for the Nottingham Forest v Derby County English Football League Championship match, presentations were made with charitable payments of £50,000 raised through the initiative to beneficiary local and military charities. On the pitch were the Lord Lieutenant of Nottingham, Sir John Peace, (who was a huge influence on the success of the event alongside then Army FA Chairman Major General “Mitch” Mitchell MBE) together with Colonel Colin Francis MBE, Deputy Chairman of the Army FA, Major Sean Birchnall and Private Demi Edwards who were representing the British Army men’s and women’s team. It was collective team work that made the occasion so poignant involving the National Football Museum, Woodland Trust, Never Such Innocence alongside Nottinghamshire County and City Councils and the Lord Lieutenant of Nottingham. Following the cheque presentation there was a Guard of Honour from the Army Cadet Force who were flanked by 12 Nottingham Forest Armed Forces Veterans club members who stood beside the Cadets for the Guard of Honour. The wreath laying was completed by Ralph McClure, one of the last surviving D-Day landing veterans from Nottingham.

The Army FA has also been honoured to be involved in the FA Premier League Under 12 Truce Tournament. On Remembrance Sunday each year (unfortunately Covid-19 put paid to 2020) the Army FA proudly host an event in Aldershot, and it has become a traditional, poignant and educational part of the calendar.  

Players from the FA Premier League Under 12 Truce Tournament held in Aldershot every November

The concept of the event, again, originates from World War One. It has developed over the years where players from each competing team take part in a moving ceremony prior to the commencement of the competition. Players read aloud names of those who represented their clubs but were killed in conflict before laying a wreath. Poems are read before The Last Post, two-minutes silence followed by Reveille.

Commemoration and respect are an integral part of the Army Football Association and we are proud of the variety of activities we have been involved in over the years to recognise this not just throughout the United Kingdom but throughout the world too.

Biography

Graham Brookland has worked for the Army Football Association since 2007. He is also Co-Founder of Aldershot Town Football Club, formed in 1992, after the liquidation of Aldershot FC, whom he had followed since first visiting the Recreation Ground as a seven-year old in 1974.  In 1983, he joined the Supporters Club Committee and became Chairman as a 24 -year old in 1991. He served Aldershot Town FC in a variety of roles over 21 years including Secretary and Head of Media before choosing to return to the terraces as a supporter in 2013. In 2015, he wrote a book “To Make A Dream Survive” documenting his personal experiences as a fan and official covering both clubs.

Graham Brookland