Sunderland Football Club will once again show its support for Remembrance Day commemorations at the weekend.
The Black Cats take on Stoke City at the Stadium of Light this Saturday and the Sunderland squad will sport special one-off match shirts, screen-printed with the traditional poppy emblem.
After the game the exclusive shirts will be signed by the individual players and auctioned here on safc.com, with all monies raised helping to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal Fund and the SAFC Foundation, the Club's own registered charity.
Similar shirts were worn last year, as seen in the picture above.
The Club will be joined on the day of the game by military personnel from across the north east region, from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, 4 Regt Royal Artillery, 251 Med Squadron (Territorial Army) and The Rifles (TA). Soldiers will parade around the Stadium of Light pitch before kick off and form a guard of honour, in full military dress, as the Sunderland and Stoke City players come out onto the pitch.
This will be the fifth consecutive year that members of the armed forces have joined with the club to pay a fitting tribute during the country's Remembrance commemorations.
'Serving military personnel and veterans' groups will be present on the day as guests of the club, along with families who have lost loved ones in recent conflicts. Members of the Royal British Legion will be selling poppies in and around the Stadium to assist with vital fundraising for veterans.
Brothers in Arms, the charity set up with the aim of building a new war memorial in the City of Sunderland dedicated to local men and women lost their lives in battle or training since the end of the Second World War, will also be represented on the day.
SAFC chief executive, Steve Walton said: "As a region steeped in military tradition it is important that we pay a fitting tribute ahead of Remembrance weekend and we are delighted to be able to continue to support the inspiring work of the Royal British Legion.
"We are humbled to be able to welcome serving personnel, veterans and families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, to the Stadium of Light and it is a great honour to have them support our commemorations."
Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Dave Waller, Coldstream Guards and Recruiting Operations Warrant Officer for Sunderland, Tyne & Wear added: "It is with great pride that we will be marching at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
"The people of Sunderland, and in particular SAFC, are wholly supportive of the Armed Forces at all times and we truly appreciate this. This support boosts morale and makes the guys and girls feel appreciated when deployed on operations.
"The soldiers who will be at the game on Saturday are SAFC supporters and always follow their team when deployed overseas or at home. It's a great occasion to be involved in and I would like to personally thank the chairman, players and all those involved for their extreme generosity and support."
