This year marks the centenary of the end of WWI and the Trust is supporting The Royal British Legion who are leading the nation in saying Thank You. For the past few months we have been engaging with the community to capture their own personal stories. From Monday 29th October, we are thrilled to be releasing a new video each day, up to and including November 11th, of the Blackpool community saying Thank You. You can hear more about this by watching the explanatory video here.
Saturday 3rd November – 12pm
Blackpool FC Chairwomen, Natalie Christopher, will unveil a recently commissioned plaque that will commemorate those employees and supporters of Blackpool Football Club who have given their lives in service of their country.
Saturday 3rd November – 3pm
Blackpool FC v Bristol Rovers on Saturday 3rd November will be the club’s armistice fixture. Players will wear the poppy logo on their shirt and the two teams will place wreaths behind both goals. A one minute silence will be observed before the match and the last post will be played. To commemorate this poignant centenary, the Football Club and Community Trust are making 100 tickets available to ex-servicemen and women to come and attend the match.
Monday 5th November – 11am
The first of two stadium tour that will explore the historical links between Blackpool FC and the Armed Forces. This will last 90 minutes and is free to attend. Click here to book or click here to view the leaflet.
Thursday 8th November – 1pm
The second of two stadium tour that explores the historical links between Blackpool FC and the Armed Forces. This tour will last 90 minutes and is free to attend. Click here to book or click here to view the leaflet.
Thursday 8th November – 3.30pm
George Elmore, Arthur Evans, William Fiske, Benjamin Green, and Fred Griffiths, were all players who represented Blackpool Football Club who sadly, along with thousands of other young men, all fell during WWI. To mark the centenary of the end of WW1 Blackpool Football Club and Blackpool FC Community Trust, in partnership with the Woodlands Trust, EFL Trust and The National Football Museum, are planning to commemorate their sacrifice by planting five trees; one for each player, at a special service within the Fylde Memorial Arboretum and Community Woodland, Moor Park Avenue, Blackpool, FY2 0LZ. First team manager, Terry McPhillips; Blackpool FC Community Trust Chief Executive, Ashley Hackett, Arboretum Manager, Paul Binns, plus two Blackpoolveterans will be among those representing the Football Club and Community Trust at the ceremony.
We would also like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Gerry Wolstenholme for his significant contribution in collating the records of the individuals involvement with Blackpool Football Club.
Monday 12th November – 11am
We are also supporting Blackpool Carers Centre at their Centenary Coffee Morning event on Monday 12th November, where they will also be displaying the poppy cascade that they have developed. Click here for more information. We are delighted that two of our supporters / authors, Jordan Wylie and Gerry Wolstenholme, will be present to share their knowledge and experience of the links between military and football. This will be followed by a Q&A.
Tuesday 13th November – 10am
Jordan Wylie, ex-serviceman and Veteran ambassador for Blackpool FC Community Trust, will speak with students from our education programmes and share his experiences, which he has gathered since leaving school in Blackpool with no qualifications. Subsequently, he went on serve in the British Army before pursuing a career as an author and TV personality, most recently as one of The Hunters on the hit TV show, Hunted.
Monday 19th November – 11am
Launch of our weekly veterans coffee morning that will take place at the club from 11am until 12.30pm every week thereafter, except for the Christmas period. Click here for the poster.
Members of the public are welcome to attend all of the events listed above.
