Forces charities bank thousands

21 marras 2017 By David Watters

Thousands of pounds have already reached or are on the way to the Royal British Legion and other armed forces charities thanks to the EVO-STIK League's clubs and the generosity of their fans, players and officials on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Charities supporting current and former servicemen and women have been banking bumper cheques since poppy sales and collections were held before and after clubs observed two minutes of silence before kicking off in their league and Buildbase FA Trophy fixtures on Saturday 11 November.

As well as their fundraising efforts on Armistice Day, numerous clubs also invited current and former members of the armed forces to see their matches for free. Many like Trafford in EVO-STIK League North, also took the opportunity to invite veterans to fixtures as guests of honour.

Six are pictured on parade at Shawe View before before they took on Bamber Bridge - Irish Guardsman James Ferry, Royal Marine Shane Bennett, Wren Air Engineering Mechanic Claire Wright representing the Royal Navy, Quartermaster Sergeant Jeff Hawker from the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Warrant Officer Dawn Hawker from the Women’s Royal Army Corps and Kingsman Chris Squires who served with both the King’s Regiment and the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Altrincham remember before kicking off against Ramsbottom United in the FA Trophy

Elsewhere, Atherton Collieries invited their local cadets to parade on the pitch at Alder Street before they hosted Marine in the FA Trophy while Kidsgrove Athletic manager Ryan Austin was among the officials and volunteers representing clubs at wreath laying ceremonies at local war memorials on Remembrance Sunday as the nation remembered the British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who've died in conflicts around the world since The Great War of 1914-18.

Remembrance Sunday is held every year on the second Sunday in November, the nearest to Armistice Day on November 11 when the guns of the global conflict finally fell silent in 1918 after four years of war. Two minutes' silence is held at 11am before the laying of wreaths at war memorials around the country, the silence representing the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when the war ended.

Images courtesy of Twitter

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Chasetown's players stand in silence before kick-off against Workington in the Buildbase FA Trophy

Kidsgrove Athletic manager Ryan Austin lays the club's wreath at their local war memorial on Remembrance Sunday

Atherton's local cadets enter the arena before their Buildbase FA Trophy clash with Marine

Matchday tribute from the Scholars

Halesowen Town and Shaw Lane come together to remember at the Grove before kicking off in the EVO-STIK League's top flight

Mickleover's website tribute

The back page tribute in Atherton's programme

Prescot Cables and Scarborough Athletic gather in the center circle before kick-off

The players of Ossett Town and Colne before their EVO-STIK League North meeting

Hednesford Town and the match officials mark Armistice Day at Keys Park before kick off against Cleethorpes Town

The Atherton Collieries wreath at their local memorial

Where next?

Quinn is back as new Ducks boss Former Brighouse Town boss Paul Quinn is back in the EVO-STIK League as the new manager of Shaw Lane.

Monday's North Division action review In-form Skelmersdale United made it six unbeaten in the EVO-STIK League North on Monday night but they will be frustrated not to have won at Alder Street in the end against Atherton Collieries, writes Pitchero's Steve Whitney.