Last Saturday, veterans who regularly take part in Blackpool FC Community Trust’s armed forces activities were invited to come along to the Blackpool FC’s Remembrance Day match against Luton Town FC thanks to our ticketing sponsor LogoLogo.
Six of our veterans volunteered to sell poppies for the Royal British Legion poppy appeal and raised a massive £337! Over 40 veterans had a momentous day with free tickets to see the military dedication of the last post and a minute’s silence to honour our fallen and to enjoy the football.
Thanks to Armed Forces Covenant Trust and the Veteran’s Foundation funding, Blackpool Community Trust deliver various provisions for our Armed Forces community.
If you’re a local veteran, you can join us at:
- Veteran’s Boxing at Kingscote Boxing Gym on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm on Lytham Road.
- Our NAAFI Break takes place at The Corner Flag in Blackpool FC Stadium on Wednesdays at 10:30 am.
- A Walk & Talk group at Stanley Park, meeting at 1:30 pm on Thursdays at Blackpool Cricket Club. Thanks to support from Assura Community Fund we can host a Wellbeing Hub after this session, upstairs at Blackpool Cricket Club, with refreshments for the participants and an opportunity to socialise.
- Veterans Footballers meet up for a kickabout on Thursday evenings at Weeton Barracks from 6 pm.
Our Armed Forces Engagement Officer, Tony Codling, a veteran who served 12 years in the army with the Royal Pioneer Corps, spoke about his new ventures within his job role.
“The veterans have had a great year of monthly trips to places of interest, they enjoyed the Armed Forces Week in June with various events throughout the week. The jubilee celebrations started off with the jubilee NAAFI break, and then some of our veterans travelled down to London for the festivities.”
Last week we joined with all the Community Trusts from around the country to come together to commemorate 104 years since the end of the first world war. Together we lay wreaths and paid tribute with a minute’s silence to remember those who gave their lives in all wars.
As part of their social action project, our NCS participants from Blackpool & Fylde College – Public Services paid their respects to fallen heroes. They designed, prepared and created a mural which will be used next year. Students also took part in a parade, wrote and read poems aloud and laid a wreath.
Blackpool FC Community Trust would like to pay a special tribute to those six Blackpool football players who were killed during World War I and to the passing of our late Queen Elizabeth II. Our community Fylde Memorial Arboretum has a special garden commemorating the fallen who gave their lives. Recently a plaque was unveiled to commemorate Her Majesty’s service to the people of the realm.
Blackpool FC Community Trust’s veteran football team took part in a friendly against Fleetwood Town Community Trust veterans on Armistice Day, 11th November, at Fleetwood Rugby Club. The match kicked off at 7 pm after a minute’s silence and the last post was played by a bugler. Thank you to all those who came along to support us. Blackpool FC Community Trust veterans won the game 2-0 and brought home the Remembrance Cup.
On Remembrance Sunday, our Community Engagement Officer, Tony Codling laid a wreath at our Fylde Memorial Arboretum & Community Woodland to commemorate the six Blackpool football players who died during WW1. Later he attended the Blackpool Cenotaph War Memorial ceremony to remember all those that sacrificed their lives in all wars and laid a wreath from all at Blackpool FC Community Trust.
