This weekend’s home clash with Woking will be Stockport County’s designated Remembrance Day fixture, giving supporters, staff, players and sponsors the opportunity to honour those who have served and sacrificed in the British Armed Forces.

As part of County’s support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, the club will be joined by cadets from across the borough on Saturday.

Several Armed Forces Associations will be in attendance at the home clash with Woking including veterans carrying the standards of the Cheshire Regiment, Cheshire Regiment Association, Mercian Regiment Association and Royal Artillery Association along with members of Stockport and Hazel Grove branches of the Royal British Legion.

The parade will be led by the band of the ATC cadets. The Junior Services (Cadets) will also be forming a guard of honour to welcome the two teams on to the pitch.

Supporters will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for the work of the Armed Forces during the ‘Last Post’ which is being played by members of the 5th Manchester Boys’ Brigade.

The club will also undertake a number of activities aimed at celebrating our Armed Forces and raising awareness of ways in which fans can support the Poppy Appeal this year. The players will be proudly wearing the poppy, the emblem of the Royal British Legion, on their shirts.

This year, the Legion is asking for communities across the country to ‘Remember Together’ all those from different cultures and nationalities who have served in the British Armed Forces. The Legion is encouraging communities to join together to remember the wide-ranging contributions people from all cultures and backgrounds have made through their service.

County Director Jon Keighren, who is also a spokesman for the Royal British Legion in the North of England, said: “2019 marks 100 years since the first two-minute silence was observed on Armistice Day, 11 November 1919, so today is the perfect opportunity for County supporters and staff to pay our respects to our Armed Forces community, past and present.

“This year we have marked a number of commemorative dates that remind us of the close relationships the British Armed Forces has with partners from around the world including the Commonwealth, intelligence agencies, and allied countries. We have a significant Armed Forces community here in the borough of Stockport who make a huge contribution to our area and they deserve to be recognised for that contribution.

“As ever, we are grateful to all the fans who donate to the Poppy Appeal, and who wear their poppy as a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.”

As supporters arrive inside Edgeley Park, the club’s Community Foundation team will be assisting the volunteers with a bucket collection prior to kick-off and during the half time interval, with poppies available from various locations inside the stadium.

Outside the Cheadle End, supporters are encouraged to look at the names of the former County players who lost their lives serving their country during World War One.

In total, 13 former players were killed between June 1915 and November 1918 and they are remembered on the club’s commemorative plaque: Joe Beswick, Frank Booth, James Greechan, Richard Hegarty, John Hodgkinson, Fred Houghton, William McRailt, Christopher Porter, Robert Suart, Wilfred Toman, George Warren, Norman Wood and Jack Yuill.

The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading service charity, providing practical care, advice and support to serving the members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families.