THE FIRST PEACE PITCH IN LONDON

Market Road Football Pitches in Islington have become the first Peace Pitches in London, officially twinned with the Peace Pitch in Flanders. The Peace Pitch Plaque will be displayed at the pitches as part of Arsenal in the Community’s Peace Field Project.

Children from Hungerford (Islington) and Brecknock (Camden) primary schools were the first to play on the pitches after the plaque was unveiled.

A two minute silence was respected by all that attended the Remembrance Day Twinning Ceremony. Cllr Marion Spall, Mayor of Islington, gave a heart felt speech to the children who had enjoyed football shared history for fun sessions facilitated by Arsenal in the Community’s Sports Coaches.

Arsenal Community Coach, Samir Singh, thanked the Mayor, Islington Council, GLL and the Children’s Football Alliance for their support. He said, ‘The children have enjoyed the project and creating some wonderful work, especially producing poems. The Peace Pitch Plaque will be on display at Market Road Peace Pitches. They are officially twinned with Flanders Peace Pitch, Mesen, Belgium, site of the 1914 World War One, Christmas Truces.

Armistice Day took place on Friday, November 11. Across the Better centres colleagues and customers were invited to join the National Two Minutes Silence at 11am  Armistice Day marks the day the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918 marking the end of the First World War.

The Market Road Football Pitches are situated next door to the Islington Tennis Centre and Gym in the north west Islington  There are two full-size third-generation artificial surface pitches that are marked for 11-a-side and 5-a-side football and three five-a-side pitches. The pitches are home to a comprehensive programme including leagues, clubs and block bookings.  This includes the Camden & Islington Youth Football League and the Islington Midweek Football League.