The Peace Field Programme delivers peace education through play projects. Pending funding, the CFA invites Peace Field Project Peace Pitches to apply to attend the 2025 Global Peace Games scheduled 15th to 21st September 2025. Email your 500 word Letter of Interest explaining why your PFP would like to participate at the next games. info@thecfa.co.uk CLICK HERE
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
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.
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 11th 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
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 11th 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 11th November 2024 in the name of Peace.
Marist Brothers High School is a Roman Catholic all-boys’ high school situated in Suva, the capital of Fiji. It is a school in the Marist tradition, founded in 1946 by the order of Marist Brothers, which has had a presence in Fiji since 1844.
The first Fijian Contingent left for Britain in January 1915. After further training in Britain they fought in the battles of Flanders. Nine Fijian soldiers lost their lives and 31 were wounded. A second Fijian Contingent left for Britain in July of that same year.
The first Peace Field Project Peace Pitch in Fiji is twinned with The Peace Pitch, Flanders, Mesen, Belgium, site of the 1914, First World War, Christmas truces.
The Marist Brothers High School, Suva, Fiji welcome the Children’s Football Alliance’s Ernie Brennan and Paul Cooper to their Peace Field Project Peace Pitch twinning event, Monday 28th October 2024.
‘Marist Brothers High School share the values of The Peace Field Project. We are very proud to be the first ever peace pitch in Fiji. The First World War historical connections with Fiji help educate our boys in many ways. We are a school that prides itself on sport and inclusion. We look forward to annual events celebrating peace through play‘. Master Asish Dayal, Principal, Marist Brothers High School, Suva.
Paul Cooper, Director, CFA (left) and Master Asish Dayal, Principal, Marist Brothers High School (right) signing The Peace Field Project Declaration of Peace Certificates.
‘The Peace Field Project continues to grow and it is schools like the Marist Brothers High School, Fiji that indentify with the value of peace education through play. The Children’s Football Alliance welcomes the first ever Fiji peace pitch too the International Peace Field Project.’ Ernie Brennan, CEO, CFA.
Ernie Brennan, CEO, CFA, talks to the Marist Brothers High School boys about the significance of their peace pitch twinned with Flanders Peace Field, site of the 1914 First World War, Christmas truces.
The twinning event witnessed the hoisting of the Commonwealth Flag of Peace for the first time in Fiji at the Marist Brothers High School. On behalf of the Commonwealth Trust the CFA presented Master Asish Dayal, Principal with the Commonwealth Flag of Peace. The Marist Brother’s pupils sang their school anthem to celebrate the event.
The Marist Brothers High School boys would like to thank Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club for the kind donation of Premier League football kits.
Throughout 1914, many Samoan-born men enlisted in their homelands and went on to fight at Gallipoli, the Western Front, and various places in France and Belgium. They were employed in the munitions depots with the Rarotongans, doing extremely dangerous work.
The first Peace Field Project Peace Pitch in Samoa will be twinned with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Belgium, site of the 1914 First World War, Christmas truces.
UPDATE 23/10/2024
In the week of the Commowealth Heads Of Goverment Meeting 2024, Samoa; St Joseph College, Lotopa became the first peace pitch in the Pacific to twin its designated area of play with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Flanders, site of the 1914 First World War Christmas Truces.
The signing of the Peace Field Project Peace Declaration Certificate. Celebrating peace education through play.
‘This is truly a wonderful event for the young people of St Joseph College. The shared values of peace education through play is in tune with our school and Samoan culture‘, Kevin O’Malley, Principal.
The event was in the memory of Joe Chan Ting (Nuuleleiuamatagofie). Joe, connected St Joeseph College’s peace pitch with Flanders Peace Field. His wife, Vanda and their three sons, Oliver Junior Cepha Chan Ting, Faasoa Aniseto Leonidas Chan Ting and Fainuulelei Trevino Chan Ting, attended the historic event. Lenalei Daijimara Chan Ting, Joe and Vanda’s daughter, currently attends Auckland Unversity of Technology and she was there in spirit. Joe’s family signed the Peace Field Project Peace Declaration Certificate which officially twins Samoa’s peace pitch with Flanders Peace Field Peace Pitch, Mesen, Flanders, Belgium.
Joe Chan Ting (Nuuleleiuamatagofie)
‘These are tears of joy by the way. Anybody who met Joe knew he would do anything to support young people. This is a special day for St Joseph’s College and it will be remembered for many years to come.‘ Vanda Chan Ting
Vanda Chan Ting
Young people from the College and surrounding communities were presented with an English Premier League football kit kindly donated by Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.
‘The children from Samoa, about as far as you can go across the world, loved their Brighton & Hove Albion football kits‘. Paul Cooper, Co Founder, Director, CFA.
Together with the Commonwealth Bond Trust the CFA helped hoist the Commonwealth Flag of Peace for the first time in Samoa at St Joseph’s College.
‘I was truly moved to hear the wonderful Samoan voices sing traditional songs at the ceremony. It was an honour to meet Joe’s family. I will remember Vanda’s words about Joe for ever‘. Ernie Brennan. Founder, CEO, CFA.
Football United invited The Children’s Football Alliance to the first ever Peace Field Project Peace Pitch in Australia. The children and staff of Miller Technology High School, Sydney, welcomed the CFA’s Ernie Brennan and Paul Cooper. The guys facilitated games that are played at the Global Peace Games, Peace Village, Mesen, Belgium. Football United’s Pru, Noor, Natashia and Anne Bunde-Birouste, founder of Football United, joined in the activities which were described by football player Mohamed as fun fun fun.
‘There is a great sense of community through play on the peace pitch and there is a lot of self-learning with children from diverse back grounds‘ Pru
‘The kids enjoyed it and the staff enjoyed it too. Our Peace Pitch brings young and old together through play. We celebrate diversity and the Peace Pitch lends itself to sportsmanship and friendship‘ Natasha.
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‘Everytime the kids come here to play they are reminded why we are here together. We are a special football club that values peace and harmony’ Anne Bunde-Birouste, founder of Football United
UPDATE 09/10/24
The Children’s Football Alliance were special guests at Southland Football, Turnbull Thomson, Park, Invercargill, New Zealand.
‘The first Peace Field Project peace pitch in New Zealand has been a huge success,’ Iain Walker, Football Development & Operations Manager.
‘A lot of people, young and old, connect with the Peace Pitch. It is an added dimension for football coaches and facilitators. The peace pitch promotes sportsmanship and friendship in a way that gets people talking‘. Alexander, Volunteer Football Coach.
The Children’s Football Alliance delivered Peace Field Project workshops for 6 to 10 yr olds and 11 to 13 yr olds. ‘The story of the Christmas truces is amazing‘. Findlay, Footballer.
The Children’s Football Alliacne’s Paul Cooper (left) presented Southland Football’s Iain Walker (right) with a CFA shirt. ‘The work Southland Football do for all communities is examplary. It is testament to them that the Peace Field Project’s peace pitch is at the heart of their feel good factor‘.
For more information about Southland Football’s Peace Field Project READ HERE
Peace kaupapa: Bringing the Peace Pitch project to Invercargill last week are Children’s Football Alliance Charitable Trust founder Ernie Brennan (left) and co-founder Paul Cooper near the Troopers’ Memorial monument.
PHOTO: NINA TAPU
PEACE education through play is at the heart of an international children’s charity that has left its mark on a Southland football pitch.
Founders of the Children’s Football Alliance (CFA) placed a plaque at the Southland football pitch as part of the Peace Field Project last week.
CFA co-founder Paul Cooper said the aim of the project was to teach children peace education through sport, music and the arts.
There are 75 peace pitches in six continents and the idea was based around the Christmas truce in Belgium.
During World War 1, on Christmas Eve, there were several Christmas truces where the fighting stopped for a time.
In 1914, Allied soldiers met German soldiers in no-man’s land.
They buried their dead, exchanged gifts, showed pictures of their loved ones and, in some cases, took their jackets and helmets off, and had a game of football, Cooper said.
Last week, Cooper and fellow cofounder Ernie Brennan, along with Iain Walker from Football Southland, placed a plaque at the football pitch at Turnbull Thompson Park, acknowledging the International Day of Peace which was on September 21.
‘‘If you can have a game of football against your enemy during a world war, maybe anything is possible,’’ Brennan said.
‘‘So what we do is that when a pitch is twinned, a plaque goes on to their pitch, like what we’ve just done with Southland Football.
‘‘The other plaque goes on the Peace Pitch in Flanders, Belgium, which is the most important football pitch in the world, in terms of its significance.
‘‘Once you’ve twinned a pitch, children from your community can go to the Flanders Peace Pitch for a week in September,’’ Brennan said.
Last month, about 60 children from 20 countries. including Northern Ireland, Scotland, Croatia and India, attended the Peace Field Project for a week of peace education through play in Belgium.
Among them were tamariki who were from war-torn countries and refugees.
‘‘There were children who came from Delhi in India who lived in the slums and who’d never been out of Delhi, let alone a different continent.
‘‘And then there were refugee children that were based in Belgium from a number of different countries who had come for a week of peace,’’ he said.
The charitable trust encouraged equity and diversity and ensured there were an equal share of genders, abilities and backgrounds playing all types of sports and taking part in the programme.
‘‘They come from different communities, and that’s how they connect. so they can contextualise today with the historic of what happened over a hundred years ago.
‘‘It’s pretty hard to turn against different communities when you’ve grown up playing together.’’
The trust’s founders hope the placing of plaques at peace pitches in Aotearoa, Australia, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga will spur children to ask the question: ‘‘What is a peace pitch?’’
Marist Brothers High School is a Roman Catholic all-boys’ high school situated in Suva, the capital of Fiji. It is a school in the Marist tradition, founded in 1946 by the order of Marist Brothers, which has had a presence in Fiji since 1844.
The first Fijian Contingent left for Britain in January 1915. After further training in Britain they fought in the battles of Flanders. Nine Fijian soldiers lost their lives and 31 were wounded. A second Fijian Contingent left for Britain in July of that same year.
The first Peace Field Project Peace Pitch in Fiji is twinned with The Peace Pitch, Flanders, Mesen, Belgium, site of the 1914, First World War, Christmas truces.
