THE CHILDREN’S FAMILY FOOTBALL ALLIANCE

As we sat together in Larne High school I was telling Adam Hamilton from Youth Link NI all about the Children’s Football Alliance and about our recent experience at the Global Peace Games 2024.

As I was showing Adam the CFA web site and the recent Activity in New Zealand Adam stood back in amazement at seeing the heading ‘ Southland FC peace fields project ‘

Adam actually played for Southland FC during his semi professional career in addition to playing for Crusaders FC the home of the Limestone United peace pitch.

What an incredible connection to hear about and Adam kindly shared a newspaper Article about his time in Southland FC – Southland express newspaper 2000.

Adam has recalled with fondness of his experience at Southland FC and his journey into youth work after football.

Adam had spent time recalling memories that he shared with other Northern Ireland players who headed to New Zealand from all sections of the Political divide and how they became great friends and team mates .

‘ I could not believe what I was seeing when Brian showed myself the CFA Article whilst talking about football whilst at Larne High school, so many happy memories came back to me . ‘- Adam Hamilton

Peace fields projects bring so many people together and it’s great to celebrate another connection across the world.

Peace through play our common goal

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SUNNYDOWN SCHOOL PEACE PITCH REMEMBRANCE DAY 2024

On Monday 11th November, Sunnydown School Caterham held their Act of Remembrance followed by The Global Peace Games Football Tournament which took place on the school’s Peace Pitch, twinned with the Christmas Truce Pitch at Messines, Belgium.

David Ramzan represented the Children’s Football Alliance on the day where a programme of events began outside the school building at their impressive Cherry Tree, where several students took part in carrying out readings in memory of those who gave their lives during WW1. 

School head Paul Jenson with David Ramzan of the CFA

The Remembrance ceremony was led by school head Paul Jenson, with school governors and members of the local community including the Round Table and the Caterham Town Cryer, also in attendance.

After some refreshment made by the school’s Key Stage 4 Food & Nutrition students, the football tournament, organised by sports teacher Ben Wright, began with five teams taking part:-

KS4 United and Sunnydown Spurs (students), Sunnydown Staff, currant champions The Round Table, and Monday Night footballers, a team made up from members of the local community who play regular games on the school Peace Pitch.

Each team played each other in some exiting games in front of the watching school students and staff.

Although all the games were played in a spirit of friendship, there was a winner, and again it was players from The Round Table.

The Global Peace Games Football Tournament will be played annually on the schools Peace Pitch which is also used by the local community.

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11th November 2024

Barrow Celtic Football Club twin their Peace Pitch with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Belgium, site of the 1914, First World War, Christmas truces.

The first ever Peace Tournament in Barrow in Furness was hosted by Barrow Celtic Juniors Football Club.

Through social football initiative ‘Step up and Play’, local schools playe a football fun tournament and officially twinned their pitch with the Flanders Peace Field.   

The official ceremony marked the historic occasion before the tournament for peace.  The Peace Pitch pledged to host annual peace games around 11^th November each year.

Special guest Barrow Mayor Judith McEwan unveiled the Peace Field plaque at Boyd Park, Barrow-in-Furness, on behalf of Peace Ambassador and Barrow Celtic Juniors’ coaching legend Dennis Boyd.

Representatives from St George’s C of E school lead a short ceremony at the end of the football for fun tournament and mayor of Barrow, Judith McEwan, unveiled the Peace Field plaque and Dennes Boyd’s sister, Jean, signed the Declaration for Peace Certificate.

The first ever team to win the Commemorative Peace Poppy Ball was Parkside Academy, Barrow-in-Furness. The Peace Poppy Ball will be presented to schools in the future peace tournaments for display and then pass onto the winners of future peace tournaments.

Barrow Celtic Juniors Football Club

PRESS RELEASE

CELTIC JUNIORS PITCH to be twinned with Flanders Peace Field site of The First World War 1914 Christmas truces

11 November 2024: 9.15-11.30

Through social football initiative ‘Step up and Play’, local schools will play a football tournament and officially twin their pitch with the Flanders Peace Field in Messines, Belgium; site of the 1914 First World War, Christmas Truces.   

An official ceremony will mark the historic occasion before the tournament.  The Peace Pitch will pledge to host annual peace games around 11^th November each year, each time with a different focus.

Special guest Barrow Mayor Judith McEwan will unveil the Peace Field plaque at Boyd Park, Barrow-in-Furness at 11.15am, on behalf of Peace Ambassador and Barrow Celtic Juniors’ coaching legend Dennis Boyd.

Representatives from St George’s C of E school will lead a short ceremony at the end of the football tournament and mayor of Barrow, Judith McEwan, will unveil the Peace Field plaque.

QUOTES:

Ernie Brennan, CFA CEO, added: “There are many monuments commemorating war and rightly so; the peace pitch not only commemorates war, but celebrates peace. There are currently 75 Peace Field Project Peace Pitches in 6 continents. https://www.childrensfootballalliance.com/football-and-peace/international/international-peace-field-projects/ The CFA welcome Step up and Play and Barrow Celtic Juniors  Football Club into a very special global network facilitating peace through play. 

Steve Herbert, Headteacher of St George’s and Step up and Play organiser, said, ‘This is a brilliant way for the children to enjoy themselves and also to think about war and especially peace in a respectful context they understand.’

Mayor McEwan, whose Barrow Town Council’s council provided funding support for the plaque and who attended the event said ‘we are very proud that our local juniors pitch here in Barrow is linked throughout the world for peace on such an important day.’

For Barrow Celtic Juniors, Jamie Harris said, ‘Celtic Juniors always have been a very inclusive club- it’s all about getting children to learn through play.  Schemes like this are fantastic for both the area and club.’

‘Step up and Play’ are four schools in central Barrow-in-Furness, working together outside school time, with help through the Furness Education and Skills Partnership. 

We want to make sure that all children aged 4-11 in Central Barrow (where nearly 50% of the children currently live in poverty)  get as many chances as everyone else to join a local sports club if they wish. They do this by helping children attend training, practising and competitions. Schools provide transport and escorts to the different sports clubs by picking the children up and dropping them off in the evenings and on Saturdays. In the last three years, over two hundred local children have been supported and many are playing regular competitive sport, including many at Boyd Park. 

The primary business of Barrow Celtic is  as  a junior football club; to provide opportunity for all to perform on the football field to the best of their ability. However, the Club has a wider role and the responsibility of being a major Barrow social institution promoting mental and physical health, well being and inclusion of all children and families. Barrow Celtic Juniors are a club for everyone and anyone in the Furness area who believes in the power of football to enhance the lives of our young people- giving them positive memories, values and habits as well as an appreciation of the game itself.

Our peace field, Boyd Park is named for Barrow Celtic Juniors’ legendary chairman Dennis Boyd- who we have chosen as our Peace Ambassador. A founding member of the junior sections in 1953, Dennis was involved with the club through coaching and serving on the board from then until a few years ago. Thousands of children and families have benefitted from his hard work and dedication to providing football for generations of players.

The four schools; St George’s C of E School, Sacred Heart RC Primary Academy, Ramsden Infants and Greengate Junior School’s met other schools for a friendly tournament on Boyd Park on 11^th November 2024 in the name of Peace. 

Step Up and Play