On Friday 12th December 2014, ESFA Chairman, Mike Spinks represented the English Schools Football Association at the Christmas Truce Service for the British Council's 'Football Remembers' campaign, which The FA organised at the National Arboretum near Lichfield in Staffordshire. He was honoured to be among a very small handful of guests at the service which was attended by Prince William and England Manager, Roy Hodgson.
Mike Spinks with Roy Hodgson
During the service Prince William unveiled a sculpture designed by 10 year old Spencer Turner from Farne Primary School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It depicts an English soldier shaking hands with a German soldier. He will be presenting an ESFA award to Spencer at a School Assembly some time next term.
The National Arboretum is an important place for Mike, personally as one of his pupils, when he was a Headteacher in the London Borough of Redbridge, was killed in 2007 in Afghanistan. His name is now inscribed along with many thousands of others on a huge memorial wall at the National Arboretum. Mike took the opportunity to re-visit the wall and look for Tom's name on his way back to the Reception.
At the Reception later in the day, Mike was able to take the opportunity to outline the current strength of schools football in this country to England Manager Roy Hodgson, as pictured above.
