SPECIAL DAY TO REMEMBER FOR STONES FANS

MEMORIAL TO BE UNVEILED TO MARK ARMISTICE DAY

WEALDSTONE FC will commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice of the Great War (1918-2018) by remembering those members of the club who died in the service of their country.

In 1922, the original football club Memorial Stone was unveiled at their home ground, Lower Mead, in Wealdstone, which stood for a number of years.

It was added to after the Second World War and was eventually moved as the ground developed, finally resting in a small grassed area adjacent to the secretary’s office.

However, when the ground was vacated and demolished in 1991-92, the damaged stone was lost forever.

Now, a new memorial will be presented to the club before the match with Bath City on Saturday.

This new memorial has been kept as a well-guarded secret during 18 months of design and manufacture and will take the form of a stained and fused glass panel featuring soldiers in a field of poppies.

Made by artist Amy McCarthy to a design developed by a small band of fans, the panel has also been mounted in a back-lit frame which, made from recovered oak and corrugated iron, is a representation of a Great War trench enclosure.

It will be presented on the pitch to chairman Peter Marsden and club president Paul Rumens by Wealdstone fans Andy Gibbs (Royal Navy) and Sam Morris (Army).

The Wealdstone team, with permission from the league and GPF Lewis the club sponsors, as well as Bath City, will play in a replica of the 1919 Wealdstone kit.

Meanwhile, Wealdstone conceded a last-minute goal to Welling United to draw 1-1 in National League South after Danny Mills had put them in front.

Manager Bobby Wilkinson said: “It was disappointing not to win it given the team played their hearts out.

“My team is being ripped apart through injuries but the players will keep fighting and keep working hard.

“We worked on not breaking the shape and letting them have the ball. Maybe I’m too greedy because it’s a great point. We were immense trying to win this game of football.”

Wilkinson added: “We have battled with half a completed side but we haven’t complained.

“Glenn Wilson was a rock and one thing I’ve learned is that if we give everything, the fans will give us the support they did here. I’m very proud of the boys.”