Stars of future honour WW1 heroes

THE heartwarming tale of a football match played on a First World War battlefield during a Christmas truce in 1914 will be honoured by young players from four of Europe’s top clubs this week in the Belgian town of Ypres.

The Christmas Truce tournament, which starts today, features junior sides from Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Genk from Belgium and France’s Lens. Former United and Scotland striker Brian McClair, now the director of the club’s Youth Academy, is leading the United contingent to the tournament. “It’s important to understand that football has a wonderful power to build bridges,” said McClair, who won four league titles with United.

“The visit to the Menin Gate will be very thought-provoking and will be a point in their life where they will look back and say: ‘I’m glad I did that’. I’m sure it will be humbling.”

United’s players will leave footballs on the site of the Christmas Truce and lay a wreath at the Menin Gate – the memorial to the 56,000 British and Empire soldiers who died on the battlefields of Ypres but have no known grave.