{"id":6582,"date":"2023-06-13T18:58:45","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T18:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/?p=6582"},"modified":"2023-07-04T10:18:51","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T10:18:51","slug":"the-first-peace-pitch-in-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/uncategorized\/the-first-peace-pitch-in-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"THE FIRST PEACE PITCH IN NEW ZEALAND"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"339\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo-1024x339.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo-1024x339.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo-300x99.png 300w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo-768x255.png 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo-1536x509.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Southland-Football-Logo.png 1605w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.southlandfootball.org.nz\/home-1\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.southlandfootball.org.nz\/home-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL LINK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3NHZWpFbv1U\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Colin Farley, CFA sponsor and Founder Member of The CFA, presented Mick Gale, The CFA&#8217;s International Projects Director and Peace Fields Project Ambassador, with a Peace Poppy Ball which Mick will take with him to Turnbull Thomson Park , Peace Pitch, Invercargill, New Zealand.  Mick will also present Southland Football with their Peace Field Project Plaque which will officially twin their designated are of play with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Belgium.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-1024x954.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6604\" width=\"-332\" height=\"-309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-1024x954.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-768x715.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-1536x1431.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/SOUTHLAND-FOOTBALL-PFP-Plaque.pptx-2048x1907.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>International Peace Field Project Plaque.  A duplicate plaque will be displayed at the Peace Pitch, Mesen, Belgium.  <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Colin Farley, said, &#8216;<strong>This is truly a ground breaking event that brings the 66th peace pitch into a growing International community&#8217;.  &#8216;New Zealand&#8217;s contribution to the First World War was astonishing and will never be forgotten&#8217;<\/strong>.  Mick Gale, added, <strong>&#8216;The first ever peace pitch in New Zealand commemorates all wars and celebrates peace through play&#8217;.  &#8216;There is a tremendous sense of pride at Southland Football for their peace pitch.&#8217;  &#8216; I know that the CFA are delighted that New Zealand will have a plaque displayed at the Peace Pitch, Mesen, under the shadow of the New Zealand War Memorial.  &#8216;There&#8217;s plenty of scope for schools and clubs across New Zealand, to now connect with the Peace Pitch in Invercargill and the ICFA&#8217;s online resources.&#8217;<\/strong>  There are now currently 66 <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/international\/international-peace-field-projects\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/international\/international-peace-field-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\">Interantional Peace Field Projects<\/a><\/strong> in 5 continents.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Colin-presents-ball-to-Mick-1-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>(Left to right) Colin Farley, CFA Sponsor and Founder Member and Mick Gale, <strong>International Projects Director and Peace Fields Project Ambassador<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Turnbull Thomson Park , Peace Pitch, 199 Islington Street, Invercargill, 9810, New Zealand<\/strong> <strong>is twinned with Flanders Peace Field, Mesen, Belgium, site of the First World War 1914 Christmas Truces.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"6570\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/southland-football\/attachment\/new-zealand-monument-1\/\" class=\"wp-image-6570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/NEW-ZEALAND-MONUMENT-1-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"6572\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/southland-football\/attachment\/s1690044\/\" class=\"wp-image-6572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690044-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>New Zealand&#8217;s first ever peace pitch is twinned the Peace, Flanders, Mesen, Belgium, site of the First World War, 1914, Christmas truces.  Next door to the Peace Pitch, Mesen, you will find the New Zealand War Memorial.  The total number of New Zealand troops and nurses to serve overseas in 1914\u201318, excluding those in British and other&nbsp;forces, was 100,444, from a population of just over a million. Forty-two percent of men of military age served in the&nbsp;New Zealand Expeditionary Force, fighting in the&nbsp;Gallipoli campaign&nbsp;and on the&nbsp;Western Front. 16,697 New Zealanders were&nbsp;killed&nbsp;and 41,317 were&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wounded_in_action\">wounded<\/a>&nbsp;during the war \u2013 a 58 percent&nbsp;casualty rate. Approximately a further thousand men died within five years of the war&#8217;s end, as a result of injuries sustained, and 507 died while training in New Zealand between 1914 and 1918.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/S1690053-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The Flanders Peace Pitch is sandwiched between the New Zealand Memorial and the Island fo Ireland Peace Tower, <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL LINK Colin Farley, CFA sponsor and Founder Member of The CFA, presented Mick Gale, The CFA&#8217;s International Projects Director and Peace Fields Project Ambassador, with a Peace Poppy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6582"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6582"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6622,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6582\/revisions\/6622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.childrensfootballalliance.com\/football-and-peace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}