Remembrance Day

Subterms

    Latest story

    250 Shares139 Views

    Steve Cooper reaches out to distraught Nottingham Forest fan after playing The Last Post as players console him on pitch

    by

    STEVE COOPER has reached out to distraught young bugler Caiden Storry and invited him to meet his Nottingham Forest heroes.The 16-year-old Forest season-ticket holder was invited by the club to play The Last Post before kick-off as the club marked Remembrance Day.
    Steve Cooper has reached out to young bugler Caiden Storry and invited him to meet his Forest heroesCredit: Rex
    Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa players consoled the young fan on the trumpet after he lost his way performing The Last PostCredit: PA
    Ollie Watkins was among the first to show his supportCredit: Sky Sports
    However despite making a flawless start, Caiden lost his way and never made it to the end, to his obvious distress.
    TV viewers saw Forest and Villa players led by Ollie Watkins and Lucas Digne to console the devastated kid and Cooper paid tribute to the youngster afterwards.
    He said: “For a 16-year-old boy who’s a fan to stand in the middle of the pitch and do that and do it brilliantly as well, he should be really proud and we are proud of him. 
    “It was nice to see how both sets of players responded, because they have to perform and they know what it’s like. 
    READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
    “I managed to have a word with Caiden and we will reach out to him and bring him to the training ground because I want him to meet the players so he knows how good he was. 
    “He said ‘I’m sorry about that,’ and I said, ‘What for, everyone is really proud of you’. 
    “The Villa boys were excellent and the fans and players did a brilliant job, Caiden did a brilliant job today and I am really proud he delivered that for us.”
    The youngster executed the military bugle call superbly but just struggled to hit the correct notes at the end.
    Most read in Football
    That prompted a brief second of confusion inside the stadium but then the entire ground – including both sets of players, coaches and fans – burst out into spontaneous applause.
    The lad appeared visibly upset following his unfortunate mishap.
    But before walking off the pitch holding his trumpet, he was consoled by a few of the players from both teams.
    Villa trio Ollie Watkins, Nicolo Zaniolo and Lucas Digne as well as Forest’s Orel Mangala were among those who gathered around the fan with classy gestures of support, including hugs and handshakes.
    And viewers at home praised both the bugler and the footballers for the wholesome moment.
    One said: “Absolute class from fans and players alike. Great to see.”
    Another wrote: “Can we just say a massive well done to that 16yr who did their best with the Last Post pre-match. So brave. Lovely of the NFFC and AVFC players going over afterwards.”
    A third added: “All the Forest and Villa players coming up to the bugler after the Last Post was so wholesome.”
    A fourth commented: “Fair play to the lad… I know I couldn’t do that in front of 30,000 people.”
    And a final user typed: “Absolutely top effort and brave of that young man playing The Last Post. Also great that both sets of players acknowledged him after.”
    Once the match got underway, Ola Aina fired Forest into the lead after just five minutes, drilling low into the bottom corner.
    Read More on The Sun
    And Forest made it 2-0 to wrap up the three points just 68 seconds into the second half.
    Mangala let fly from range and Emi Martinez made a meal of the save, pushing the ball up into the air before it spun back over the line.
    The 16-year-old is a season-ticket holder at The City GroundCredit: Sky Sports
    Everyone burst out into spontaneous applauseCredit: Sky Sports
    Players from both sides displayed their classCredit: Sky Sports
    Forest paid their respects to the fallen soldiers who died during the warsCredit: PA
    The teenage supporter walked off with the military personnelCredit: PA
    The stadium got behind the fan after his mishapCredit: AFP More

    More stories

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      James McClean reveals death threat after anti-Irish troll warned he’d burn down his house with his family inside

      by

      JAMES MCCLEAN has revealed a sickening message he received threatening to set his house on fire and burn his family.
      The Stoke City midfielder posted a statement on Instagram days earlier urging more support against anti-Irish abuse.

      James McClean revealed a sick death threat he received on InstagramCredit: Instagram @macajw

      He posted this message in response to the abuseCredit: Instagram @macajw

      Irish international James McClean in action for StokeCredit: PA:Press Association

      And the 31-year-old has since shared a vile direct message he received over the weekend.
      The message from an account named elliot.rg20 read: “don’t make me set your house on fire and burn everyone inside it”.
      There were three more abusive messages sent to the footballer, which McClean highlighted.
      In response, McClean called him a ‘wee d***head’ and challenged him to repeat the insults to his face.

      The 31-year-old added: “Honestly god I’d happily slap the head of (sic) him.”
      It came after McClean’s lengthy post on Friday in which he called for discrimination to end.
      He wrote: “Does being abused for being Irish and anti-Irish abuse acceptable?
      “I have highlighted the abuse publicly on social media recently and the silence from everyone is deafening.”

      James McClean hit out at anti-Irish abuse and called for more support to tackle itCredit: Sportsfile
      Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been urged to do more to tackle hate and abuse.
      Stars like Axel Tuanzebe have been subjected to racist abuse, while managers Mikel Arteta and Steve Bruce both were targeted with death threats.
      Instagram have promised to impose stricter penalties including deleting accounts.

      McClean has been targeted in the past for refusing to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day.
      He wrote an open letter citing the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre as his reason, which he described as ‘one of the darkest days in Irish history’.
      The British Army killed 13 people and injured 15 more on that day after 15,000 protesters gathered in the streets of Derry.

      Solskjaer slams ‘disgusting’ racist abuse of Man Utd duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial on social media More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      De Bruyne, Fernandes and Grealish shirts help raise £350k for Poppy Appeal as Prem fans bid on Remembrance Week jerseys

      by

      PREMIER LEAGUE fans have so far raised almost £350,000 for the Poppy Appeal by bidding for stars’ shirts… with Kevin De Bruyne’s proving the most coveted.
      Supporters around the world have been showing their support for the Royal British Legion’s annual appeal.

      Kevin De Bruyne has proven to be a popular figure as fans look to buy his match-worn shirt

      Football fans have also been competing to get their hands on Bruno Fernandes’ jersey

      The sizeable figure has been raised from auctioning shirts worn by stars from all Prem clubs over the Remembrance weekend, with some lots still running.
      All the jerseys have been signed with all the proceeds going to the charity.
      According to the British Legion, the top bid of any shirt so far is £4,512, which has been placed on De Bruyne’s top from City’s clash against Sheffield United.
      Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes is second on the list, with one supporter bidding £2,890 on the Portugal maestro’s shirt.

      While new England hero Jack Grealish is in third spot, with interest in his Aston Villa shirt rising to £2,851.
      Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is in fourth spot with £2,752, with Crystal Palace ace Eberechi Eze completing the top five as his shirt has fetched a £2,500 bid.
      While Tottenham Women superstar Alex Morgan is in the top ten, as her jersey currently has a bid of £2,283.
      Over 52 countries have been involved in placing bids for the shirts, with a staggering 6,848 bids placed.

      Most expensive Premier League shirts

      Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City – £4,512
      Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United – £2,890
      Jack Grealish – Aston Villa – £2,851
      Mohamed Salah – Liverpool – £2,752
      Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace – £2,500
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal – £2,419
      Sadio Mane – Liverpool – £2,373
      Son Heung-min – Tottenham – £2,363
      Alex Morgan – Tottenham Women – £2,283
      Jordan Henderson – Liverpool – £2,105

      Claire Rowcliffe – the Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion – thanked the public for their generosity during the Covid-19 crisis.
      She said: “The pandemic has had an overwhelming impact on people’s livelihoods and way of life, leaving some in the Armed Forces community in dire need of urgent help and support. 
      “We are extremely grateful for the support that the football community shows the Poppy Appeal every year.
      “The Legion’s work is entirely dependent on the public’s generous support.
      “And this year we need that support more than ever, so we can ensure that those who have served and sacrificed on our behalf are looked after. Every poppy counts.”

      Oliver Dowden says the Premier League and EFL should work together to support themselves More

    • 203 Shares189 Views

      in Soccer

      EFL bosses BAN Armed Forces from attending matches on Remembrance weekend despite pleas from teams

      by

      EFL bosses have banned the Armed Forces from matches on Remembrance weekend.
      Many teams were hoping to invite military personnel to lead the tributes before kick-offs.

      1

      EFL bosses have banned the Armed Forces from matches on Remembrance weekendCredit: Rex Features

      But despite being put on standby by the Government to patrol the streets during any future lockdowns, bungling EFL execs do not believe they are safe enough to enter secure, virtually empty football stadiums.
      An email sent to Championship, League One and League clubs yesterday read: “We’ve had a few queries in respect of additional activity for Remembrance fixtures.
      “Due to Covid-19 restrictions and these fixtures being played behind closed doors, no additional personnel who are not attending the fixture to aid the delivery of the match should be in attendance, e.g. bugler or military personnel.
      “We are suggesting however that clubs pre-record activity and this can be played out on matchday.”

      Meanwhile, EFL clubs have turned down the Premier League’s offer of a £50million bail out – potentially driving League One and Two clubs to the wall.
      In a move seemingly certain to spark further top flight fury, the three lower divisions branded the offer ‘conditional’ as they declined to accept the money.
      The Premier League had offered £20m immediately for League One and Two with a further £30m to come, on top of the £27.2m in ‘solidarity’ payments already made, with no separate cash for the Championships.
      And after a day of twists and turns as the 72 clubs met virtually in their respective divisions, the EFL said: “The need for continued unity across the membership base was fundamental to discussions across all three divisions.

      “Therefore there was a strong consensus that any rescue package must meet the requirements of all 72 Clubs before it can be considered in full.
      “The League has been very clear in its discussions of the financial requirements needed to address lost gate receipts.
      “While EFL Clubs are appreciative that a formal proposal has now been put forward, the conditional offer of £50million falls some way short of this.
      The decision caused deep anger and resentment for some Premier League clubs, who were talking of ‘pulling the plug’ altogether.

      Manager Paul Fairclough talks about the England C team and its importance to the game More