A football-themed army exhibition has opened at The Fusiliers Museum in Bury as England prepare to play France in their World Cup quarter final match tonight, Saturday.
The touring exhibition, Tactics and Teamwork: Football in the British Army, explores the important connection between football and the armed forces.
It includes fascinating imagery and archival material from the museum and its North West partner museums, illustrating the popularity of football in the army.
It also shows how football helps keep soldiers fit and morale high, how it prepares for combat, with a focus on both the First World War and the Second World War.
The exhibition is is part of a wider nationwide project and is a collaborative venture between North-West partners Cumbria's Museum of Military Life, Lancashire Infantry Museum in Preston, and the Fusilier Museum in Bury, with support from the National Football Museum and Cumbria Archive Service.
It has been funded by Army Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT), in partnership with Sporting Heritage CIC.
The project was set up to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between sport and the armed forces.
Chairman of The Fusilier Museum, Colonel Brian Gorski, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting Tactics and Teamwork here at the Fusilier Museum and there is no better time to open it then a day before England plays in a major World Cup Game.
"Football and sport have always been and continues to be an important part of army life so it’s great we can share these stories as well as display items from our collection which aren’t included in our core displays.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors old and new and we are sending our best wishes to the England team.”
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The exhibition, which opened yesterday, Friday, and runs until the end of February, is included in standard admission fees.
Documenting over 300 years of history and heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum tells the rich and fascinating stories of the people who have served and continue to service in the Regiments.
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