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Everton defenders Michael Keane and Jonjoe Kenny planted trees as part of a moving tribute to the Club’s fallen players who lost their lives fighting for their country in the First World War.
Ahead of the Club’s Remembrance Day fixture against Brighton, and to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, Keane and Kenny joined a number of veterans, and members of the Everton Heritage Society, at Everton in the Community’s Blue Base near Goodison Park for a tree-planting ceremony to honour the fallen WWI players.
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This was part of a national programme administered by the Premier League, where each club would be supplied with the equivalent number of trees corresponding to the players lost by each club in the First World War. Everton FC contacted EFC Heritage Society to ensure accurate information was supplied to the League. So far research has revealed 11 names, a poignant number, which was communicated to the Premier League. Initial ideas suggested the trees could be planted at Finch Farm, in front of the main building, but it was felt that as there was restricted access to the site, the Everton in the Community site would be much better, where they could be viewed by the public at large.
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Once the trees had been supplied by the Woodland Trust, a Living Legacy event day was organised where Forces veterans associated with Everton in the Community were invited to attend the ceremony and help with the planting, after which there would be a talk about the Everton players lost in the conflict. Prior to the planting we were joined by Michael Keane and Jonjoe Kenny, and Everton FC Ambassador Graeme Stuart, who would also help with planting. Before giving the talk, I was asked to spend a few minutes with the two Everton defenders, to give them an insight into the players that the club had lost in the conflict, and the purpose of the ceremony.
Both Michael and Jonjoe spent time chatting to the veterans about their own experiences, after which they were interviewed by the media. The event was also filmed for Everton TV.
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Jonjoe Kenny, Graeme Stuart and Michael Keane, and EITC veterans with all eleven trees
One for the family album - Jonjoe Kenny and Michael Keane with Mike Royden (EFC Heritage Society) and his two sons Liam (left) and photographer Lewis (right) who took the pics.
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Liverpool Echo article on the tree planting ceremony |
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Everton Unseen #28 (from 0.40 sec)
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Lest We Forget
- Private James Brannick – Lancashire Fusiliers
- Private Frederick Collinson – Lancashire Fusiliers
- Corporal Thomas Gracie – Royal Scots
- Private David Bruce Murray – Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
- Corporal Harry Fitzroy Norris – The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
- Private Thomas Norse – East Lancashire
- Lance-Corporal Leigh Richmond Roose MM – Royal Fusiliers
- Private James Roy – Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
- Private Donald Sloan - Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
- Lance-Corporal Wilfred Toman – The King's (Liverpool) Regiment
- Sergeant Richard C Wynn – Yorkshire Regiment
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Return to Everton FC Heritage Pages |
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