West Ham United have once again put their full support behind this year's Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
The club will honour the men and women of the armed forces past and present around the Barclays Premier League match against Blackpool at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 13 November 2010.
The first-team squad will be wearing poppies with pride on their shirts, while serving soldiers and members of the Royal British Legion will be present throughout the day. The club's remembrance will focus on a special wreath-laying on the pitch and minute's silence staged just before kick-off.
After the game, the squad's shirts will be collected and individually signed by the respective players. The club will then auction them on eBay - see whufc.com next week for more details - with proceeds after costs going to the Royal British Legion.
West Ham United players Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Carlton Cole and Jonathan Spector helped get this year's Poppy Appeal off to a good start at the club's Chadwell Heath training ground alongside members of the Royal British Legion.
Bob Stokes, Ken Hill and Kay Cunningham, all from the East Ham District branch, met the players before training to raise awareness of this year's appeal - which aims to raise £36m in 2010 to help soldiers and their families. This includes those serving in Afghanistan, as well as continuing the vital support and remembrance of those who fought in the two World Wars and conflicts before and after.
The players were only too happy to help promote the campaign and urge others to pledge their support for the cause.
Parker, the reigning Hammer of the Year, said: "On behalf of all the players, we were delighted to support the Poppy Appeal once again this year. We will all be wearing poppies with pride when we play Blackpool on 13 November and we thank all of our fans who do the same. The Royal British Legion does so much valuable work and need our support."
Team-mate Noble added: "We know how important this cause is and we know only too well of all the men and women who are currently serving all around the world. Our thoughts will be with them and their families as we honour everyone who has given up so much in service of the country."
Ken Hill thanked the club and said now more than ever it was important to raise awareness for the next generation.
He said: "We are delighted to have the personal support of West Ham United for the Legion's Poppy Appeal. It was great to meet the players and we thank them for taking the time to help us promote a very important campaign.
"While football is something that old and young enjoy, for us to promote the campaign with the players like this, helps us get across our message to the younger generation a bit more.
"Of course, the war in Afghanistan is something our young people are growing up with and they will be aware of it, but for us to have the backing of football clubs like West Ham really does help us."
"The London borough of Newham is a diverse community, but I have been delighted to see so many people of all different cultures wearing their poppies. We thank everyone for their support."