Ahead of our Remembrance Day fixture with Burnley on Saturday, four members of West Ham United’s U12s squad visited the historic Poppy Factory in Richmond as part of a special educational and community project designed to help young players connect football with remembrance, respect and social action.
The visit formed part of the Premier League Truce Project, which runs annually and builds up towards a qualification tournament at Aldershot Barracks on Remembrance Sunday and the Truce Tournament in Ypres, Belgium, in December.
Since 1922, The Poppy Factory has provided secure and supportive employment for hundreds of veterans, many with mental and physical health conditions. Since 2010, the charity has helped over 3,500 veterans and family members to change their lives through employment support in communities across the UK.
The charity still produces around 100,000 wreaths each year from its Richmond home, including the special wreaths laid at the Cenotaph by the Royal Family on Remembrance Sunday.
Our young players have been exploring the Club’s wartime history, seeking to commemorate those who served and use the power of football to engage with veterans in their local community.
The first part of the project has focused on uncovering the stories of West Ham players who served during the First and Second World Wars. The U12s learned about the West Ham Pals Battalion, who fought in the First World War, and Sam Small, who scored the winning goal in the 1940 Football League War Cup final during the Second World War.
The young Hammers listened to presentations that shared the incredible history of the organisation and explained how it continues to support veterans across the UK, then experienced how each poppy is made with care and meaning, serving as a lasting symbol of remembrance and gratitude.
Our visit marked the third year in succession that the Hammers have supported and paid our respects to the history and ongoing work of The Poppy Factory.
The group was accompanied by Academy Player Care Manager Ian Lowe and Louis Pernice, who supported the players throughout the day’s activities and reflections.
