By Jonathan White, photos by Staci Hocknell
A moving Remembrance ceremony was held at the Swansway Stadium on Saturday 1st November 2025, ahead of Nantwich Town FC’s Pitching In Northern Premier League – West Division fixture against Lower Breck FC.
The ceremony was organised by the Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion in partnership with Nantwich Town Football Club, to honour the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth military and civilian personnel in the two World Wars and in later conflicts.
Standard Bearer Jim Atherton, a veteran of the Blues and Royals and member of the Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion, led the players and match officials onto the pitch.
A poppy wreath from Nantwich Town FC was then laid in the centre circle by John Morris, veteran submariner and Club Trustee. The wreath will later be placed at the Nantwich War Memorial on the town square during the town’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
Bugler Peter Jeeves performed The Last Post and Reveille, with a perfectly observed one-minute silence held in between by players, officials, and supporters.
Nantwich Town players marked the occasion by wearing shirts featuring a special “Lest We Forget” poppy emblem.
Crewe Sea Cadets kindly assisted with a bucket collection in support of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
David Hulse, of the Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion and a Nantwich Town FC steward, said:
“We were delighted to witness a very appropriate act of remembrance. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Royal British Legion collection, to Crewe Sea Cadets for their help, and to Nantwich Town Football Club for their continued support.”
The Royal British Legion supports the Armed Forces community and runs the annual Poppy Appeal. For more information, visit https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/.
The Nantwich & District Branch meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Willaston Social Club, and works closely with local ex-service personnel and veterans’ groups, including the Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club, which meets monthly at the café inside Nantwich Market.
The branch, together with Nantwich Town Council, also organises the town’s annual Remembrance Parades and Services, and maintains strong links with local cadet organisations including 100 Squadron (Nantwich) Air Training Corps and Nantwich Army Cadet Force (1 Mercian).
For more information about the Nantwich & District Branch of the Royal British Legion, visit: https://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/nantwich-district/.