Oxford United will host our annual Remembrance Day fixture against Millwall on Saturday 1 November, as we come together to honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in armed conflict and to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Our Men’s Team will wear special-edition Poppy shirts for the fixtures against Millwall, Stoke City, and West Bromwich Albion. Following the matches, all shirts will be signed and auctioned, with proceeds going directly to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Pre-Match Ceremony
Before kick-off against Millwall, we will be joined pitch side by Oxford United’s CEO Tim Williams, Millwall’s Managing Director Mark Fairbrother, Oxford United supporter James Drury, and Millwall supporter Danny O’Callaghan.
Tim, Mark, James, and Danny will lay Poppy wreaths on the pitch in remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces.
James Drury will lay a wreath on behalf of Oxford United supporters. James served 22 years in the Army, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant based in Abingdon, and completed deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Poland. The first decade of his military career was spent in Germany, where he was proud to participate in, organise, and lead Remembrance Day parades throughout his service.
James now serves as a Troop SSgt in the Army Reserve based at Marlow.
Laying a wreath on behalf of Millwall supporters is Danny O’Callaghan, brother of Private Lee O’Callaghan, who tragically lost his life in Basra, Iraq, on 9 August 2004, aged just 20.
Private Lee O’Callaghan served with the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, based in Tidworth, from December 2003 until his death during an insurgent attack in Basra.
To honour Lee’s sacrifice, O’Callaghan Way was named after him in Elephant and Castle in 2017, near where he grew up. In 2019, a memorial bench dedicated to Lee was unveiled at The Den. Today, his brother Danny joins us to lay a wreath in Lee’s memory on behalf of his family and Millwall Football Club.
We’re also honoured to be joined by members of the Oxfordshire County Branch of The Royal British Legion, who will also be part of the on-pitch ceremony:
- Mrs Fiona Lovesey - Oxfordshire County RBL, County Chair
- Mr Peter Clarke - Oxfordshire County RBL, County Parade Marshal
- Mr Tjark Andrews -Oxfordshire County RBL, County Standard Bearer
- Mr Chris Grisbrooke - Littlemore Branch RBL, Branch Standard Bearer
- Mrs Jacqui Graves - Stanton Harcourt Branch RBL, Branch Standard bearer
- Miss Natalie Buxton - Bampton Branch RBL, Branch Standard Bearer
A period of silence will follow, during which the Last Post will be performed by Andrew Crowley, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed group London Brass.
Supporters are reminded that the silence will begin and end on the referee’s whistle, and we kindly ask those entering the stadium close to the 3:00pm kick-off to do so respectfully.
At half-time, we are honoured to welcome The Royal Air Force Air Cadets from 1460 (Banbury) Squadron marching band, who will perform a medley of military pieces to mark the occasion.
To learn more about the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal or to make a donation, please visit www.britishlegion.org.uk
Tickets for the fixture are selling fast.
Buy online HERE or call the Ticket Office on 01865 337 533.
