Stockport County Community Trust’s military veterans’ team was honoured to take part in the recent Royal British Legion Football Cup, along with eight other sides from EFL clubs.
This pilot two-day tournament, organised in partnership with EFL in the Community, took place at the Lilleshall Sports and Conferencing Centre and brought together dozens of veterans, serving personnel and their families. It showcased football and physical activity as a catalyst for recovery and signposted the support available at football clubs and Lilleshall’s Battle Back Centre, which offers adaptive sport and adventure activities to help improve confidence and wellbeing.
Said Paul Flood, the Royal British Legion’s Head of Recovery Services:
“We are proud to be partnering with EFL in the Community to provide a programme that supports veterans’ physical and mental wellbeing. When people leave the Armed Forces, the camaraderie is one of the biggest losses.
“Having the opportunity to be part of a team again and be around likeminded people is what makes this football programme special.”
Added the Community Trust’s Armed Forces Co-ordinator, Mark Ward MC:
“I’d like to thank the EFL and the Royal British Legion for hosting such a fabulous tournament. Our lads represented County with pride, winning two of their four matches including a hard-fought victory against our rivals across the Pennines, Leeds United.
“Events like the RBL Football Cup can help military veterans to reconnect with former colleagues and rediscover the camaraderie and comradeship they’ve missed since coming out of service. It’s an issue that the Trust fully recognises, hence our delivery of two projects specifically designed to help and support the armed forces community.”
The Community Trust’s NAAFI Break is a friendly and supportive get-together for past and present members of the armed forces. It takes place every Thursday morning (10am-12pm) in the Pareto Lounge at Edgeley Park.
The Military Veterans’ Football Session welcomes all ex-forces members and takes place every Friday evening (6pm-7pm) at Powerleague Stockport in Heaton Mersey.
For more information, please email [email protected]
RBL’s Stockport County poppy pin-badges can also be purchased here: https://www.poppyshop.org.uk/products/stockport-county-football-pin-2024 (all profits will go towards the Royal British Legion’s work in supporting the armed forces community).
