England pay their respects in remembrance visit to cemetery in Burton
Tuesday 8 November 2016 20:37, UK
England captain Wayne Rooney and interim boss Gareth Southgate were among a small group to take part in a remembrance visit to Stapenhill Cemetery in Burton-upon-Trent.
Joe Hart and Daniel Sturridge were also present as the Three Lions stars took a break from their preparations ahead of the World Cup qualifying clash against Scotland on Friday.
The visit was part of the 'Living Memory Project' and is part of the FA marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
England's representatives placed red roses at the graves of two fallen heroes who lost their lives as a result of injuries sustained at the Somme before taking part in a short ceremony at a Cross of Sacrifice, including a reading of 'For The Fallen' and a performance of The Last Post, before all parties laid remembrance wreaths.
"I think it's important for us to get a sense of perspective," said Southgate.
"We're so held up in our own sport yet there are people that have given a lot more and they should be remembered for more significant acts than what we carry out on a football field.
England and Scotland will wear armbands bearing poppies at Wembley,
"We heard a remarkable story of somebody who came from Burton-upon-Trent and went to the Battle of the Somme as a stretcher-bearer and carried some of his colleagues back off the battle field."
Rooney added: "It's important that stories from the war get passed down and the next generation realise what these people did for our country.
"It has been really humbling to be a part of this visit and it's important for people to know that there are forgotten war graves in cemeteries across the UK. "
There are people that have given a lot and they should be remembered for more significant acts than what we carry out on a football field.
The FA announced last week that England and Scotland players would wear black armbands bearing poppies in the clash at Wembley, despite FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura having insisted that no exceptions would be made by the world governing body, despite the game being played on Armistice Day.
The game's laws state that players' equipment should not carry any commercial, political or religious messages and FIFA has refused to allow any exceptions to that rule.
