This was a follow up from the successful Game of Truce that was held at Aldershot Town FC in December 2014.

The Womens match was staged at the home of the England national teams at St Georges Park.  Indeed it was played on the same pitch England trained on prior to the recent World Cup qualifier versus Scotland.  Yeovil Town’s impressive Craftswoman Kelly Aldridge (REME) netted a brace for the Army, the second a stunning 25 yard left footed strike. Corporal  Lucy Foreman (AGC) also scored in a 3-1 victory before the focus turned to the mens encounter at SkyBet Championship Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium, sponsored by CAE (UK).

Sir Bobby Charlton CBE was the Guest of Honour as 1142 spectators attended raising funds for the Royal British Legion, Burton Albion Community Trust and German military charities too. A pulsating first half full of exciting and entertaining football saw the Bundeswehr edge in front on 13 minutes through  Holger Wulff but Hinckley FC’s Lance Corporal Ryan Paddock (Royal Signals) headed home the equaliser just before the half hour. German keeper Andreas Forster made a string of stunning saves in a busy first half but the visitors imposed themselves after the break and deserved their eventual 2-1 victory courtesy of Florian Stahl who capitalised on indecision in the Army back line on 69 minutes.
   
The football was important but the event was also educational and poignant too. The British Army players and management paid their respects at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas during the visit whilst the Bundeswehr squad visited the German Military Cemetery in Cannock Chase.

There will be a return fixture in June 2017 as the British Army teams have been invited to Germany to form part of the German Armed Forces Day. It should be good. Relationships between the British and German Armies are first class and this historic event was a success all round. A further announcement will be made once the overall total for charitable donations is confirmed.

Photographs and reaction from the occasion are available on our Facebook page- ArmyFootballAssociation and Twitter: @armyfa1888