Sports stars back Forces tributes

STARS from Leicester City Football Club and Leicester Riders have joined in a campaign to pay tribute to the nation’s armed forces.

Foxes favourites Harvey

Barnes, Demarai Gray,

James Justin and James Maddison, as well as Leicester Riders head coach Rob Paternostro and captain Andy Thomson, added their faces to a growing gallery of people who took part in the #SaluteOurForces campaign, ahead of the national Armed Forces

Day last month.

Leicestershire County and Leicester City Councils, in partnership with the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, and local armed forces units, supported the national

Armed Forces Day

#SaluteOurForces campaign, which encourages people from across the county and city communities to pay tribute to the armed forces community including serving personnel, veterans, reservists and cadets.

Leicester City Ambassador, Alan Birchenall, said: “This football club is proud to celebrate the wonderful members of our armed forces community, whose sacrifices are appreciated and applauded by everybody at Leicester City.

“It’s impossible to find words that accurately convey how grateful we all are for the bravery of our service personnel past and present, but we’re delighted to be able to support Armed Forces

Day as a way of recognising them and thanking those who have, and still do, protect us.”

The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur, said: “It’s important for us to take a moment to recognise our armed forces, their service to the country, and the sacrifices that they make to keep us safe.

“This year in particular we can take this opportunity to thank them all for their contribution to the

COVID-19 response.

We’re proud to support the #SaluteOurForces campaign and delighted with the response we have already had from people across the city and county.”

Chairman of Leicestershire County Council, Pam Posnett, said: “I am delighted to be supporting the #SaluteOurForces campaign.

“It is important that we show our appreciation to our armed forces personnel and veterans.”