TWIH: Remembrance Fixture Anniversary

Ten years ago this week Leicester City created history by beginning a tradition that has since become an established institution nationwide. They were the first ever Club to mark Remembrance Day with a specially themed fixture remembering the great contributions made by servicemen and women over the years.  In so doing they began the convention, now well established, of clubs wearing an embroidered poppy on their shirts for Remembrance Fixtures of their own.

The match which started this tradition was Leicester City’s Premier League home game against Blackburn Rovers on 2 November, 2003. For this game, Blackburn also agreed to wear embroidered poppies on their shirts.

Their manager Graeme Souness said: “Everyone connected with Blackburn Rovers is delighted to be able to contribute to this historic occasion. It is so important that those who fell in action and those who gave so much in service to their country should never be forgotten. We fully endorse the Remembrance Day initiative. Any talk of war dead or injured puts our game of football into perspective. We would urge all to support this worthy cause.”

The Premier League was so impressed with the idea that it wrote to all Premier League clubs informing them about the Leicester City scheme.

Buckingham Palace was also informed about the planned Remembrance activities at Filbert Way.

Before the match, a full-scale collection for the Royal British Legion was held outside the ground.  

Leicester City ball boys ran out with poppies before the kick off.

In addition, the Club, the Royal British Legion and the Leicester Mercury organised a half-time parade of 40 Leicestershire & Rutland veteran armed forces servicemen and women. Representatives in the parade included personnel from the operational theatres of the Second World War including Dunkirk, North Africa, the Far East and the landings in Italy and Normandy. Major post-war conflicts were also represented. Senior aircraftsman Barry Brown from RAF Cottesmore, recently returned from Iraq, led the parade. Former Leicester City player Jimmy Harrison who played in the 1949 FA Cup Final for the Club also took part.

It was reported at the time that the veterans on parade were overwhelmed by the response they received from all sections of the City crowd. One veteran said that walking around the stadium with the band playing, and feeling the warmth of the reception from all sections of the crowd, was an experience he would never forget.

Supporters at half time also heard the Royal British Legion Quorn Pipe Band, playing traditional tunes.

After the game, the players’ special poppy shirts were kept so that they could be raffled off to raise funds.

The total amount raised at the game for the British Legion was £5,432.52p. This was for the financial, emotional, and social support of ex-Service personnel. Their appreciative spokesman said: “It is a fabulous encouragement for the local organisation of the British Legion to be part of this spectacular first-time event.

“It is not only about having a Poppy Collection on the day. It is also the opportunity to show that the British Legion is very much alive and vibrant in the community. It is important that people realise that the Royal British Legion supports service men and women across the ages and from all conflicts. The veterans who walked around the ground at the Stadium demonstrated that. Everyone who has served their country in the Armed Forces holds a special place in the hearts of so many people.” 

The game itself was televised live and broadcast to troops across the world. There were nearly 31,000 fans in the stadium. It was not a particularly good game. Leicester only had two shots on goal. Fortunately they scored with both, the goals coming from Marcus Bent and Steve Howey. The final score was 2-0. The win was badly needed as Micky Adams’ side was struggling in the Premier League.

A week later, Manchester City was one of the first clubs to follow Leicester City’s lead.  Their fixture was also themed to mark Remembrance Day.  Their players wore specially embroidered red poppies on their shirts, as did their opponents who were, appropriately enough, Leicester City.

Since then the tradition of Remembrance fixtures with the embroidered poppy shirts, started by Leicester City ten years ago this week, has spread nationwide.