Millwall building ties with veterans by launching programme of footballing get-togethers
Millwall Community Trust (MCT) have teamed up with the Military Veteran Football Club (MVFC) to launch a programme to deliver football sessions to veterans in the area, writes Reece Endicott.
MVFC was founded in 2021 and hosts regular football sessions throughout the week in multiple parts of the country. With the help of Sky Bet and the English Football League, MCT launched its welcome session in the Lions Centre before Millwall’s recent clash with Cardiff City.
The day started off with the MVFC directors and co-ordinators being given a tour around the Lions Centre, before going pitch side at The Den for pictures and interviews.
Afterwards everyone headed back to the Lions Centre and up to the cafe area to trade stories. Royal British Legion (RBL) members were also in attendance. Then, veterans got their boots on and participated in a five-a-side match on the pitch at the Lions Centre.
The final part of the introduction launch session was complimentary breakfast buffet. Former Millwall players Les Briley and Brian Horne also attended, as did Chris Kongo, who recently won the IBO intercontinental Welterweight Championship belt at the O2. The Millwall fan had his belt on him and allowed everyone to get a picture with it.
Everyone involved with the session got the chance to watch Millwall vs Cardiff City – in a game which The Lions bolstered their survival hopes in a 3-1 win.
MCT’s education and employability manager, John Scarborough, said: “It was a wonderful launch event to celebrate both the partnership between the trust and military football club and also the launch of the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund programme, which will see weekly sessions of football dedicated specifically for military veterans and serving personnel.
“Millwall have a real affinity and commitment to supporting both serving personnel and veterans. Partnering with a nationally recognised veteran football programme like MVFC is hugely beneficial as it will enable veterans living in London and Southeast to now be part of that football network and wider veteran community.”
“Linked to the football sessions will be regular coffee mornings and informal meet ups to also support those non playing veterans, and will include information, advice and guidance drop-in sessions from veteran support charities. All veterans need to do is register online either via the MCT website link or MVFC website and come down.”
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Pictured top: A gathering of new friends at the Lions Centre (Picture: MCT)