Colchester United will be hosting the launch of this year's Colchester Poppy Appeal.
And being without a home game until well after Remembrance Sunday, this Saturday's match against Scunthorpe will be when we remember those who lost their lives in past conflicts.
Colchester’s Mayor and first citizen, Cllr Robert Davidson, will be donating for the first poppy of this year’s Poppy Appeal launch here at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The launch hosted by Colchester United takes place at 2pm and begins the two-week appeal period ending on Remembrance Sunday on the 14th November.
Joining the Mayor and U’s Chairman Robbie Cowling at the launch will be the Garrison Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ed Rankin, High Steward Sir Bob Russell, and Colchester MP Will Quince.
The long-established link between football, the military and remembrance, was crystallized at the 1927 FA Cup Final at Wembley between Cardiff and Arsenal with the traditional singing of the moving hymn ‘Abide with me’ which had been sung in the First World War trenches and now fans at the game. In 2018, the Premier League, The FA, EFL and the PFA joined forces under the banner of "Football Remembers" to mark Remembrance.
The "Tull 100" project used the story of Walter Tull - one of the first black professional footballers and a pioneering Army Officer killed in action in 1918 during the second battle of the Somme - to fund and inspire a series of inclusion projects at football clubs and community organisations around the country.
Before kick-off, an Act of Remembrance will held pitchside with players and fans joining in a minute silence.
President of the Colchester Branch of the Royal British Legion, Fred Woolhouse, said: "This year is the Centenary of both the Royal British Legion and the Colchester branch forming.”
"I must thank Colchester United for hosting the very special launch for us. As a Garrison town, we are fortunate to have such close bonds with the military.
"The fantastic generosity of the community and U’s fans during the appeal period is something that sets Colchester apart and will contribute to the £100,000 target the Branch set for itself this year.
"Money raised locally enables the Legion to continue its vital work delivering lifelong support to Service and ex-Service personnel and their families through hardships, injuries, and bereavement.”
Colchester United’s General Manager, Tim Waddington added: “It’s a privilege for the club to work with the Garrison and Royal British Legion and host the launch of this year’s Colchester Poppy Appeal.”
“We have always been proud of being in a Garrison town and supporting the troops that serve our country across the globe, and will continue to strengthen the links between the club and the Garrison.”
Poppies can be bought around Colchester in supermarkets, shops and at the Red Lion Walk Shopping Centre with a range of payment options from cash, contactless, text or web.
For more information and fundraising ideas visit https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/poppy-appeal