Season › 2014-15 › News

Blues support armed forces

Everton will demonstrate its continued support and appreciation for those serving in the Armed Forces on Saturday, at the Blues' final home game before Remembrance Sunday.

Ahead of kick-off, representatives from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and British Army will lay poppy wreaths on the centre circle and before observing a minute's silence with the Goodison faithful.

During the tribute the representatives of the Armed Forces will be joined by Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion and former servicemen who are currently taking part in Everton in the Community's groundbreaking health and wellbeing project ‘Inside Right'.

Launched in 2009, ‘Inside Right' provides local veterans with an opportunity to participate in weekly football and exercise sessions at accessible community venues, take part in regular competitions and benefit from wider training, education and employment pathways.

The programme is designed to support veterans and their families who are at risk of becoming socially isolated upon returning to civilian life, and is backed by the Minisitry of Defence and many of the leading military charities including the Royal British Legion, the RAF Benevolent Fund, ABF The Soldiers' Charity and Combat Stress.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez said: “As a football club, we always want to make sure that this a day where we show our respects and our best thoughts to those heroes that lost their lives in conflict, especially this year when it is 100 years since the beginning of World War One.

“We always see this moment in the season as an important one and we will make sure at the weekend that it is the perfect moment to show our respects to the Armed Forces.”

This week, Corporal Jamie Gilligan from the RAF, Leading Seaman Paul Donnelly from the Royal Navy and British Army Warrant Officer 2 Les Ashfield were welcomed to Finch Farm to meet the Everton boss and legend Graeme Sharp, who took them on their very own guided tour of the facilities.

Corporal Jamie Gilligan of the RAF said: "It was a great opportunity today to meet Roberto Martinez and the team working at Everton. It will be a special moment for me to represent the RAF at Goodison Park on Saturday, at the Club I have supported all my life."

A significant number of Armed Forces personnel will also be supporting Martinez's men on Saturday after the Club donated 100 tickets to representatives from Military Veterans HQ in Anfield and the Duke of Lancaster's regiment.

Meanwhile, Toffees-supporting servicemen and servicewomen have been invited to send in photos of themselves proudly displaying the Royal Blue colours whilst serving overseas. The photos will be shown on the big screens and around the concourses of Goodison Park on Saturday, as well as in galleries on evertonfc.com and social media channels.

 

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