The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

All News

Men

Women

Internationals

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

Club Ambassador Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall has called on the Blue Army to once again show their incredible generosity in support of the Royal British Legion.

2020-11-11T07:30:00.000Z

The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

Club Ambassador Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall has called on the Blue Army to once again show their incredible generosity in support of the Royal British Legion.

2020-11-11T07:30:00.000Z

The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

Club Ambassador Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall has called on the Blue Army to once again show their incredible generosity in support of the Royal British Legion.

2020-11-11T07:30:00.000Z

The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

Club Ambassador Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall has called on the Blue Army to once again show their incredible generosity in support of the Royal British Legion.

2020-11-11T07:30:00.000Z

The Birch On The Importance Of Supporting The Royal British Legion

Club Ambassador Alan 'The Birch' Birchenall has called on the Blue Army to once again show their incredible generosity in support of the Royal British Legion.

2020-11-11T07:30:00.000Z

On Sunday, Leicester City hosted its Annual Remembrance Fixture in unusual circumstances as the Foxes' squad and management were unable to share the occasion with the Club's supporters.

Over previous years, King Power Stadium has been decorated, beautifully, with stadium-wide displays of remembrance commemorating the sacrifices of servicemen and women in conflicts past and present.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunday's 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was staged behind closed doors, but the Birch was proud to be in attendance on a significant day for everybody at Leicester City.

"It's a special day in the Club's calendar, if not the most special of all," he said. "Unfortunately, the Blue Army can't be with us, but it's a special day for those who sacrificed their lives all those years ago.

"Cast your mind back to the sacrifices that the generation before us gave. They sacrificed their lives. I'm proud, once a year, to wear my father's medals. He was lucky to come back from Burma.

"I'm proud to wear his medals each year on this special day. Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody that lost a family member back during those five or six years during the conflict.

"Hopefully, this time next year, it'd be fantastic if we've got 30-odd thousand members of the Blue Army here again, paying their respects to those that never came home."

Players during both of City's first team and LCFC Women fixtures on Remembrance Sunday proudly adorned poppies in support of the Royal British Legion's poppy appeal this year.

While those shirts will auctioned, with all funds going to the Royal British Legion, the Birch has issued a rallying cry to all supporters to help wherever they can - with donations of their own, big or small.

Providing lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families, the Royal British Legion delivers expert advice and guidance, recovery and rehabilitation, and assistance with transitioning to civilian life.

That support, the Birch says, is invaluable for people who so often make enormous sacrifices to ensure people around the world are able to live their lives in peace.

"Certainly, as far as Leicester City Football Club is concerned, we try to do it in the best possible way that we can to raise funds or make donations," he added.

"If you wind back all those years (to the First World War and Second World War), try to remember those who put up with five or six years of a horrendous problems.

"It was not just our soldiers and the Navy and the Air Force, it was people that had to put up with the bombings day in and day out.

"If you can help, with just a few bob, it can go a long, long way to easing somebody's needs.

"There's still people out there that are recovering from what happened. A loved one would go out and wouldn't come back.

"It will help the Royal British Legion to donate to certain areas to help families that have come through that. It's a bigger picture than just one day, the poppy appeal.

"If you can use this day and make an impact with just a few bob, or whatever you can afford, then my goodness, it is worth it.

"None of us would be here if it hadn't been for those guys, so just for a few minutes on this special day, please think about it."

On Wednesday, people around the country and the wider world will once again fall silent to mark Armistice Day, which saw the cessation of hostilities in the First World War on 11 November, 1918.

The Birch asked the Foxes faithful to remember those who lost their lives during that conflict and all others, before and after, on Wednesday and to do anything they can to help raise essential funds.

"If there's one thing I've found out since I finished playing in my time here and from working behind the scenes in various roles, I realise the generosity," he continued.

"Nobody knows the generosity of the Blue Army more than me. I know that, over the years, when they're asked to help, they come out in droves and they are fantastic supporters of every charity that's put in front of them.

"Of course, this one is so meaningful to everybody, including everybody in the country, but especially here at King Power Stadium, so please get online and donate.

"It goes without saying, it is, for me, one of the biggest causes of why we're all here today."

Please click HERE to donate to the Royal British Legion.

For more information about The Royal British Legion, please click HERE.

LATEST HEADLINES

Vote For Your Goal Of The Month Voting for April’s Goal of the Month competition is now open, brought to you by Lite Finance.

55 Mins Ago

Wes Morgan Joins Silver Foxes For Mental Health Awareness Week Club legend and our Premier League winning captain, Wes Morgan, surprised participants from Leicester City in the Community’s Silver Foxes programme with a special visit to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.

3 Hours 55 Mins Ago

Join Ranieri, Morgan & More: 5000/1 Anniversary Match Tickets On Sale Tickets are on sale for our 5000/1 Anniversary Match at King Power Stadium on Saturday 30 May (2pm kick-off), which will support local causes through the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation.

19 Hours 55 Mins Ago

To Porto & Rome - Bobby Roberts On Post-Leicester Managerial Career Leicester City paid a Club record transfer fee to sign midfielder Bobby Roberts in 1963. At his home in Leicestershire, Bobby recently spoke to Club Historian John Hutchinson about his management career after representing the Foxes.

21 Hours 55 Mins Ago