The Leeds United Academy have been taking part in the Premier League Truce Challenge 2022, with some of our young stars learning the story behind the poppy along with its significance to Remembrance and to Ypres.

The players who are part of the Under-12s team have been exploring a number of different inspiring stories and discussing the courage and selflessness of all the service men and women, past and present.

As part of their work around the annual Truce Challenge, the youngsters have paid visits to the Leeds United Foundation and Royal Armouries, as well as working with local veterans to learn about the famous poem, Flanders Field, and the author, John McCrae (please see below). They have also taken part in educational workshops and designed their own wreaths, incorporating the club values and their own personal reflection of what the poppy means to them.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies grow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place. While in the Sky

The larks still bravely singing, fly

Unheard, amid the guns below.

We are the dead, Short days ago

We lived, felt dawns, saw sunsets glow;

Loved and were loved – but now we lie

In Flanders Field

Take up our quarrel with the foe!

To you from falling hands we throw

The torch, be yours to bear it high!

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep tho’ poppies blow

In Flanders Field.