Remembrance at Chelsea
From the official Chelsea FC website:
Chelsea Football Club is supporting the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal at Sunday’s match against Arsenal, where we are marking Remembrance.
The Royal British Legion raises money to support serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families. Poppy sellers will be present around the stadium on match day and they will be able to take contactless payments.
Prior to kick-off, Chelsea Pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea will lead the teams out when they walk on to the pitch, as members of the UK Armed Forces Chelsea Official Supporters Club wave a Chelsea poppy banner in the centre circle.
Both captains will then lay a wreath in the centre circle and there will be crowd banners and displays in the stands and a ‘Chelsea Remembers’ on-field display.
A Trumpeter from the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment will play the Last Post pitchside, with a minute’s silence honouring those who lost their lives in conflict across the world.
Head coach Graham Potter said: ‘We are marking Remembrance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as it is our closest home fixture to 11 November, and it is always an important occasion when we come together to honour those who have lost their lives to war.
‘We will be joined on the pitch by active servicemen and women, as well as by Chelsea Pensioners, as we pay our respects before the game. We will remember them.’
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta added: ‘We will honour all of those who have lost their lives because of war with a period of silence before this game. We will also be led onto the pitch by the Chelsea Pensioners, and both captains will lay wreaths on the centre circle. It is always
a huge honour for us to be able to pay our respects in this way.’
Chelsea Women will also be observing a minute’s silence at the WSL game away at Manchester United on Sunday and will have poppies on shirts.
The special poppy-embroidered shirts the men’s team players will wear for the Arsenal game, plus those to be worn in the forthcoming matches against Manchester City and Newcastle, are being auctioned to raise funds for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
Click for full details of how supporters can bid for their favourite Blues shirt
‘Chelsea Supporters Group’ can also be found on Twitter and Facebook
