Tributes planned for Saturday's game...
Rotherham United will pay their respects to the fallen servicemen and women, and to the victims of the tragic helicopter crash at Leicester City, with a minute's silence at this weekend's Sky Bet Championship fixture with Swansea City at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
The home game with the Swans marks the Millers' closest to Remembrance Sunday, whilst we are also showing our solidarity with our friends at Leicester City following the passing of owner and Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff and two pilots who tragically lost their lives in last Saturday's accident.
We are once again asking all fans to join us in paying our respects this weekend for our planned tributes, which include welcoming the City of Sheffield Pipe Band, who will be performing pre-match and playing the teams out onto the field.
As well as the band, we will have a bugle player at AESSEAL New York Stadium, who will follow the minute's silence with a rendition of The Last Post.
Members of the Rotherham MCVC will be in attendance outside the stadium from 2pm. The MCVC is a group that runs weekly and fortnightly meetings where the veterans of Rotherham and its surrounding areas can get together to share their stories and discuss aspects of their day to day lives.
Veterans from MCVC will be leading out the two teams, whilst we will also be laying wreaths in the centre circle, where we also have representatives from the Rotherham Sea Cadets who are holding our centre circle flag.
The Millers also have a special extra tribute thanks the hard work of our club historian Garry Bray. Garry looked back through the records to find the names of five former players and staff members who were playing/working for the previous incarnations of Rotherham United during the time of World War One, who would give the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Rotherham Town’s Arthur Revill died during the Battle of Loos in 1915, aged just 24. His teammate James Moles, a Lance Corporal, was buried in Lillers, France, aged 32. Another Town player Charles Newcombe also died in 1915 in Fleurbaix, France and is buried in a military cemetery in Bois-Grenier. Finally from Town, John Ball, Royal Naval Division, passed away in 1917 aged 22. Rotherham County second-team trainer James Hutton was another killed in action during the war in 1917
To ensure the legacy of our heroes continue to live on 100 years after the end of the Great War, we have selected five members from our Junior Millers group to wear special Rotherham United shirts, with the names of the individuals emblazoned on the back. They are Libby Mae Harris, Alfie Ferris, Sienna Ferris, Oliver Ball and Charlie Ball.
Rotherham United will also be wearing poppies on the front of their jerseys, with the shirts set to be auctioned at a later date to raise money for the Royal British Legion.
We thank everyone for showing support for our planned tributes.