A FOOTBALL team paid their respects to fallen First World War servicemen by placing a poppy cross on the top of Mount Snowdon.
Players from Oxford City Blues under-10s team climbed 1085m up the highest mountain in Wales to raise cash for the Royal British Legion.
The boys meeting Marston RBL members.
Players, coaches and parents laid a wreath at the top of the mountain to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.
Manager Chris Chesterman said: “We were all very tired but incredibly proud of seeing the lads achieve their aim of walking to the summit of Mt Snowdon.
“It was physically very demanding but the sun shone all weekend and the views were breathtaking.
“Seeing the team walk in single file all wearing their red poppy T-shirts was quite a sight and we had a lot of remarks on how great they looked.
“We laid the red poppy cross on the side of the summit and took a few moments.
“The group were bursting with pride that they had finally done it after over three-and-a-half hours of hard walking, and it was done with a lot of team work.”
Mr Chesterman organised the climb to complete a weekend of football in Snowdonia last month.
Chris Chesterman.
The team took part in a Welsh tournament and did Oxford proud by winning Llewod Llanrug Football Festival Fair Play medals.
Mr Chesterman said: “Before we left on the Friday, we spent an hour with three gentlemen from the Marston British Legion who were fantastic and told the lads their stories about the war.
“The team hung on to their every word and then travelled to Snowdon.
“On Saturday we were the only English team in a Welsh football tournament and did Oxford proud by winning our group with three wins and one draw conceding just one goal.
“Then the English curse struck as we lost the semi-final on a golden goal after the match ended 0-0.
“We were awarded the Llewod Llanrug Football Festival Fair Play medals for being the friendliest and most respectable football team. ”
Then on the Sunday morning the group tackled the 1,085m high mountain.
The team says, in total, the climb will have raised about £1,000 for the legion.
This season, the team won their first league contest, the Oxford Mail Youth League Spring E League.
- Anyone who wants to sponsor the team should visit justgiving.com/OxfordCityBlues
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