Youngsters Savour Ypres Trip

Organised by the Barclays Premier League, the group of Under-12s joined their counterparts from the rest of the league for a series of events that combined football, education and tributes to the sacrifices of those lost during the First World War.
Alongside the football there was comprehensive tours of sites around Ypres that aimed to provide a valuable education for players from all Premier League teams of the events of the First World War.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore was also on hand to conduct the opening ceremony of a new 3G pitch, which was been presented to Ypres as a gift to mark the centenary of the Christmas Truce.
Following the presentation the young Foxes spent some time getting down to work with the Poetry Society, which provided the youngsters with another opportunity to reflect on what they had learned, with the overall result seeing one poem read at a Parliamentary Reception in December.
All teams placed their own wreaths at the Menin Gate war memorial, where the Last Post Ceremony was observed before a trip to Ypres’ concert hall for a special performance of ‘Our Friends, The Enemy’.
The City youngsters also laid a wreath where the name of Leicester Fosse player Robert Messer – one of 12,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers listed at Tyne Cote – was inscribed on the memorial wall at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Academy director Jon Rudkin praised the trip and said: “The three day event was a combination of football, education and tributes to those lost during the First World War including a number of former Leicester City players.
“The squad played against fellow Premier League clubs on the newly opened Ypres pitch and while we didn’t reach the final it was a terrific opportunity for our players to experience such a high profile tournament.
“The staff, which included Richard Keeling, Rodney Ballintyne, Tom Gibson and Education Officer Ian Cawley, spoke about it being an experience that everyone will never forget.
“The squad were joined by the Premier League’s Chief Executive Richard Scudamore as they visited the various military cemeteries while learning about the German perspective and Tyne Cot grave site where almost 12,000 service personnel are buried.
“A Club wreath was laid at the Menin Gate war memorial by our players alongside the Premier League’s wreath laid by Richard Scudamore, as a time of reflection was paid by all.
“It was a very powerful experience for our players from both a footballing and educational perspective.”