Armed Services Day 2015-16

The Pilgrims’ next home Sky Bet League 2 game against AFC Wimbledon, on Saturday, April 9, is the club’s annual Armed Services Day, held in honour of the Westcountry’s service personnel.

Armed Services Day is now in its eighth season of the club paying tribute to the work of the forces and recognising the essential support that their families provide.

Armed services personnel and their families will be guests of the club, while a host of pre-match activities will take place in and around Home Park.

The main build-up inside the Theatre of Greens begins at 2pm, an hour before the game kicks off, with a Field Gun Association Junior Team Challenge – two teams of youngsters staging their version of the famous Royal Navy obstacle race.

That will be followed by musical displays from the TS Golden Hind Horn Pipe Display team; HMS Heroes Military Kids Choir; and the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps of Drums.

The teams will emerge to a guard of honour from Royal British Legion standard-bearers, following which the match-ball will be presented to the referee and club chaplain Arthur Goode and Navy chaplain Michael Pons will dedicate the match.   

The final part of the preliminaries will see Home Park stand to sing the National Anthem.

The events continue at half-time with a Navy v Army Cadets penalty shoot-out.

A collection will also be taken at the match on behalf of the Plymouth branch of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, the armed forces charity which helps serving and retired servicemen and their families in their times of need.

Argyle Chief Executive Martyn Starnes said: “We look forward to welcoming local servicemen and women to our game against Wimbledon.

“Argyle is proud to represent a service city with a long-standing military tradition, and our Armed Services Day, when we can pay due tribute to our armed servicemen and women, is always an important highlight of any season.”

The Royal Navy and the Pilgrims have a history of working together. Most recently, the club was invited to Devonport Naval Base to see the work of the Royal Marines of 1 Assault Group, the small-boat experts who serve worldwide in peacekeeping and conflicts, ranging from the Ebola crisis in Africa to Iraq and Falklands campaigns. 

Argyle manager Derek Adams said: “It’s important the players and all at the club recognise what an important job the armed services do, especially as they are such a valuable part of the country and Plymouth community.”