Club News
Armed Services Day - 2016-17
18th November 2016
WE’RE proud of our city.
We’re proud of our Armed Servicemen and women.
We’re proud of our club.
This weekend, all that comes together when the Green Army has the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the service personnel of the city of Plymouth and the Westcountry.
The Pilgrims’ home Sky Bet League Two game against Grimsby Town, on Saturday, November 19, is the club’s ninth annual Armed Services Day, when the club pays tribute to our forces and their families.
There are many activities taking place in and around Home Park on match-day, including: a Field Gun Association Junior Team Display; HMS Heroes Military Kids Choir; a TS Golden Hind Sea Cadet Unit Semaphore Display; and the Devonport Royal Navy Volunteer Band, who play a live version of Semper Fidelis to welcome Derek Adams and the Argyle team on to the pitch.
See at the foot of the page for a full list of timings.
With the Pilgrims unbeaten in 14 league matches, and seven points clear at the top of division, it promises to be quite an atmosphere.
So let’s get a full stadium to create a day to remember and show full support for, not only the important job the Armed Services do, but for Derek and the Argyle players, too.
Match-day tickets can be brought from the Argyle ticket office or online and are £2 cheaper if brought prior to the day of the game, so don’t delay, get your match day tickets now for what is set to be a thrilling encounter in an important match for the Pilgrims.
All veterans of the second world war will be admitted free to the game, as they are to all Argyle games at Home Park.
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2pm Field Gun Association Junior Team Display
In 1999, the closure of the Royal Tournament, held at Earls Court on an annual basis, forced the demise of the Inter Command Field Gun Tournament. As a result, Devonport Command’s future changed and it became a charity, raising funds for Help for Heroes and Royal Navy and Royal Marine charitable organisations.
To do this, a scaled-down version of a field gun was developed that enabled children to enjoy a new sport. The small profit gained from this contributes to maintaining the field gun museum at Crownhill Fort and charities.
2.12pm HMS Heroes Military Kids Choir
The Military Kids Choir is part of the Military Kids Club Heroes, a national service and veterans’ pupil voice group of more than 9,000 young people. The choir meets on Wednesdays, in Plymouth Guildhall, from 5-6pm, to sing together and have fun as a team. They perform at events all over Plymouth and help charities, especially the Royal British Legion, to raise money. The choir is free to join for the children or young people of serving members of the Armed Forces or Veterans.
On Saturday, they will be singing three songs:
1 No Wars
2 Sing
3 Hope for a Better Tomorrow
2.24pm TS Golden Hind Sea Cadet Unit Semaphore Display
The TS Golden Hind Sea Cadets' Semaphore Display team specialises in one of the oldest forms of communication used by navies across the world. The cadets will perform a semaphore routine going through all letters of the alphabet, an exercise which demonstrates teamwork and discipline among the cadets.
The use of flags to communicate has existed for hundreds of years, with Admiral Lord Nelson's most famous message broadcast using semaphore flags.
2.36pm Devonport Royal Navy Volunteer Band
The Devonport RNVB is an enthusiastic mix of serving, retired and civilian musicians. The players are all amateur musicians and give their time freely to represent and support the Royal Navy at military and non military functions and events.
The Devonport RNVB is an enthusiastic mix of serving, retired and civilian musicians. The players are all amateur musicians and give their time freely to represent and support the Royal Navy at military and non military functions and events.
The band plays a wide variety of music from military marches to modern popular numbers and songs from stage and screen, and is led by BdCSgt “Eddie” Neighbour, a serving RM Bandsman. They currently have 54 members, including the Corps of Drums who, in addition to being an integral part of the full band, also perform independently at many events throughout the city.”
The band will end up facing the Grandstand, and take a salute from Captain Phillip Waterhouse, Captain of HM Devonport.
2.52pm Players emerge to Semper Fidelis played by Devonport RNVB
Dedication from Argyle chaplain Arthur Goode and Army padre John Richards
Last Post
Minute’s silence
Reveille
National Anthem, played by Devonport RNVB
Players break for kick-in; Band disperses
3pm - COME ON YOU GREENS!