360 enthusiastic young footballers came to the Gallagher on Monday 23rd September for the annual U11 Boys football tournament for local Maidstone Primary Schools; organised by Stones in the Community.
This tournament part of the National League Trusts UK competition offers the chance for our winners to go forward representing Maidstone at the regional finals in January 2025; then onward if successful, to a national final at Wembley in May at the National League Trust “play-off” Final Day.
Tournament winners Loose Primary School.
Messines is one of the sites where, in the Great War 1914-1918 soldiers of both sides left their trenches in several local truces, joining together in ‘No-mans land’ and play impromptu games of football.
The Gallagher Stadium is built on the site of the Old Parade Ground of the First Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, who fought one of the first significant engagement of the Great War, at the battle of Mons in Belgium where nearby in Tertre a Plinth is located honouring the bravery of the men of the RWK’s.
All 36 schools taking part were allocated a country to represent each of which are signatories to the International Peace treaty and were presented with their country flag which were paraded before the tournament before the tournament was officially opened by Maidstone Mayor Cllr John Perry .
A very competitive group competition then took place, at one time, battling through a huge rainstorm, to get to the last sixteen for the knock out finals, where some impressive football and goalkeeping was seen.
At lunch surrounded by some young players, Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant on behalf of the CFA, presented Maidstone United with a commemorative plaque, replicating that already in place in the Flanders field and a peace declaration was jointly signed by CFA and Maidstone United. “Twining” the Gallagher with the Peace field in Flanders.
Helen Grant MP OBE and Bob Gouldson, Operations Director, Maidstone United sign the twining agreement.
I was absolutely delighted to attend SITC U11 Boys football tournament and proud to have been part of this special moment for our County Town by presenting a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Children's Football Alliance. This peace project means the Gallagher stadium officially became the world's 70th 'Peace Pitch' and is now twinned with Flanders Peace Field - the site of the First World War Christmas Truce football match. Every game here will now remind us of the ultimate sacrifices made during the First World War, an appropriate reminder in the current geopolitical climate with rising tensions in Europe and the Middle East This incredible initiative was first presented to me by Kings Hill resident Collin Farley, founding Sponsor of the Children's Football Alliance, and I am very grateful to him and Maidstone United for making this remarkable achievement possible as well as the local schools and 360 pupils who displayed such vast talent on the day.
On the pitch hard fought last 16 matches ensued with eventually Sandling and Loose Primary Schools reaching the final. This was an extremely competitive match with skill and quality shown by both teams. The 4-0 final winning score gave Loose Victory making them Champions of 2024.
Loose Primary School were presented with the Winners’ cup by the Mayor and individual gold medals by George Fowler, the Stones first team centre back – Sandling received a silver runners up plate and the players silver medals.
Now onward to the regional finals in March next year!
Stones in the Community especially thank Morrissons Supermarkets for the donation of 360 bottles of water to keep young players Hydrated during the event.
