Today is the UN International Day for Peace. What may seem like a bureaucratic marker, is well grounded in societal needs. Last summer, I felt privileged to attend the tenth anniversary of the National Children’s Football Alliance (CFA) in Messine (Belgium), where the Christmas Truce in 1914 occurred, as the opposing armies silenced the guns to have a laugh, a drink and a bit of football together. This sobering and historic region was the perfect place to highlight the importance of football in facilitating peace. Exploring the different cemeteries and visiting Ypres was a lifelong dream and a central reference to the topic of my master’s thesis surrounding the role of remembrance in football.
The Children’s Football Alliance
The CFA has been doing impactful work through their peace field project that provides an opportunity to twin their designated pitches, fields, or areas of play with the Flanders Peace Field, which we were lucky enough to visit in Messines. Commemorating the First World War and the Christmas Truces promotes a celebration of peace by reflecting on a moment of history that inspires humanitarianism. Football is for everyone of all ages, and through this link between peace, history and remembrance, football becomes a central tool to encourage remembrance of those who sought to break down societal differences.
Marking the 10th anniversary
It was an honour to attend this event with a variety of people representing differing businesses and institutions. Anti-corruption businesses, Museums, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the UEFA Foundation for Children and representatives from European football clubs, including Club Brugge and Slavia Prague, were represented. It was an inspiration to see people come together to celebrate the great work of the CFA. Hearing the voice of each representative demonstrated the importance of inspiring the next generation to bridge football and youth development.
Hearing the stories and experiences of Mohammed, himself an alumnus of the CFA programme, who has become an ambassador for the CFA, was a memorable and illuminating experience. His journey and participation in the Global Peace Games showcased the importance of the charities’ humanitarian and cross-cultural message and its value to victims of conflict.
From research to networking and action
This event felt destined after the previous eight months of researching the politicisation of the Royal British Legions (RBL) Red Poppy. My thesis at the Erasmus University Rotterdam public history Masters programme historicised the contestation of the symbolism of the Legion’s red poppy and its growing polarisation in British society. Stemming from the vast slaughter witnessed in World War One, visiting the fields where the poppies first gained their remembrance iconography was incredibly special on a personal and academic level. It made me aware of the significance of the chosen topic of my thesis as I was surrounded by people who recognised the necessity for remembrance and peace. The red poppy has symbolised this region for over a hundred years, and its symbolism must not be taken for granted or manipulated in aggressive ways or forms of political or national ideology.
It was an honour to represent the Football Makes History platform alongside Jonathan Even-Zohar and Academic Advisor and Gijsbert Oonk. It allowed me to discuss my thesis and the connection between football and peace with people from differing institutions, organisations and businesses. The peace field initiative was particularly close to my heart as their most recent member was my hometown football club, Cirencester Town FC. It was a surreal and surprising experience catching up with my old football coach and co-founder of the Children’s Football Alliance in Belgium to recognise the charity’s impactful work over the past ten years and discuss the importance of peace, football and the need for change.
This conference and celebration felt almost meant to be as a young historian. Visiting the rolling countryside that became the theatre for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of souls that bore the inception of my thesis topic. Connecting my new life in Rotterdam with old footballing memories of my small childhood town of Cirencester. Not to mention meeting inspiring individuals who have dedicated their careers to sustaining vital morals that protect the virtues of those we chose to commemorate. It was an honour and a privilege to be included at such an inspirational event and to support a stimulative charity.
Zoom out
Getting children from all over the world to engage with peace is not a straightforward thing. Often it is approached through cognition. Where the CFA approach stands out, is that it connects sport, art and historical and social spaces to provide children with the environment where they can connect to one another and identify the values connected to peace within themselves and each other.
Find out more
The National Children’s Football Alliance is always looking to expand its global initiative. Hence, if you would like your sports club, local team, or designated playing field or team to join the piece field project please reach out to the CFA. There you can find all the information you need to get into contact and spread the message of peace within sports for children.
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