Millwall’s Military Veteran Football Team were crowned champions of the inaugural EFL Royal British Legion (RBL) Cup Tournament at Lilleshall on Sunday.
The tournament was a two-day event at Lilleshall with a group stage system with every team playing each other once before a semi-final and final took place to determine the winners.
The purpose of the tournament was to showcase sport supporting physical and mental well-being in the military veteran community and highlighted existing services provided by local EFL Clubs and the RBL, including the Battle Back Centre Lilleshall which was established by the Royal British Legion in 2011 to support wounded and injured service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The centre at Lilleshall helps ensure the best possible recovery for the Armed Forces community, whether it’s returning to duty or successfully transitioning to civilian life, as well as continuing to support wounded, injured and sick service personnel, more recently they have expanded their service with the introduction of wellbeing courses for veterans.
Over 70 members of the Armed Forces community from 9 Clubs participated in round robin matches over the weekend on the Lilleshall pitches.
Millwall’s Military Veteran Football Team arrived at Millwall Community Trust (MCT) at 7am on Saturday morning for a team briefing and surprise videos from first-team players Danny McNamara and George Honeyman wishing them all the best for the upcoming days. Rob Biggs was presented as captain of the side before a four-hour journey to Lilleshall.
Arriving at Lilleshall around midday Millwall military veterans were provided a tour of the Royal British Legion Battle Back centre before heading to the football pitches.
Millwall first took on Accrington Stanley in their first match - winning 3-0 in what was a superb win.
Following on from this, Millwall took on Sunderland who were favourites for the competition.
The Lions were one-nil up with three minutes to go but unfortunately defeated by two rapid fire goals. The team were disappointed but took courage from their performance which showed in their next match, winning 3-0 against a strong Sheffield Wednesday Military Veteran side.
That concluded the games for the first day with the team heading for dinner before going to the organised quiz which everyone involved enjoyed.
Sunday morning started off at 9am with a briefing ahead of the day, before Millwall’s first match against unbeaten league leaders Fleetwood - took place at 10am.
Millwall fell to a narrow one goal defeat.
The Lions were able to shake the disappointment of this by beating a stubborn Stockport County side 1-0 in the following game before beating Leeds United 6-1 in what was a full squad performance.
Millwall’s final game of the group stages took place against Blackburn with The Lions coming out 2-0 victors and meaning Millwall had qualified for the final
With the group stages done it was time to find out who Millwall had in the semi-finals with Sunderland being the opponents.
Having lost to Sunderland in the group games, Millwall were determined to right the wrongs and progress into the final.
The match was a cagey affair with both sides showing great resilience and the outcome of penalties was not of a surprise once it came.
The format was three penalties each and sudden death if it was needed. Big moments are when big players shine and that was the case for Alex Vandyke - Millwall’s goalkeeper - producing an incredible showing, saving the first two of the Sunderland penalties with both Millwall’s converted, Millwall progressed through to the final against Fleetwood after their win against Sheffield Wednesday.
With emotions high and the team delighted it was important that Millwall regrouped and focused on the job in hand.
This worked with The Lions leading 4-0 in the first ten minutes - with some brilliant finishing from Rob Biggs, midfield and defensive industry from Vice captain Lee Thomas, Pete Tagg, Andy Curley and Levi Scarlett in particular .
The final whistle went and the team celebrated, lifting the trophy and having photographs taken with the silverware.
Rob Biggs, Millwall’s Military Veteran Football Captain said: “I think the tournament was a massive success, the best thing about it was the banter that started from the Saturday morning all the way to Sunday evening, I’ve not laughed so much in ages and with people I’ve never even met before this event.
"The impact it has on veterans will be massive and so many will be talking about this tournament for weeks if not months to come. The sad thing is so many won’t be able to do things like this again for months.
“To do it where England trained for 1966 was incredible as well and it was the perfect setting for the veterans.
“It was really lovely to see nearly 100 ex-servicemen together having an understanding without having an understanding knowing you all have that same thing in common no matter where you come from.
“The only way this can continue is through funding which I think there should be more on offer for clubs to do more for ex veterans.”
Goalkeeper and penalty hero for Millwall, Andy Vandyke said: “The tournament as a whole win or lose was a great success, it felt like I was with family although the opposition were complete strangers. We all had military experience, stories to tell and felt good to be around so many like-minded people.
“The semi-final went to penalties after a 0-0 draw, and I made some good saves in the game to keep Millwall in it.
“Once penalty came, it was all about watching the attackers' eyes, be ready on my toes ready to make a move. I dived to my right but the ball was flying down the centre, so I lifted my left hand and got a solid hand to it to push it over the bar.
"The second the attacker went side footed to the left and I dived to the bottom left and block the shot with my knees. Millwall stepped up and slotted the second penalty into the bottom left - 2-0 Millwall and were through to the final!"
John Scarborough, Millwall Community Trust’s Education and Employability Manager said: “The trip was a great occasion and was brilliant to see the group come together to represent Millwall at the event. We spoke at team briefing about winning but that trophies can be as hollow or as full as the experiences and challenges along the way. The team were passionate, committed and fantastic role models for Millwall throughout both on and off the pitch and in the end were worthy winners.
“The programme has come so far and was great to see them come together today to play against a Millwall all star team at the Lion Centre and for the Sheffield Wednesday game see them presented to crowd for their well deserved achievement is fantastic.”
Millwall Community Trust were recently successfully awarded via the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund support to set up and run a free Saturday 5-aside football session for ex-military service men and women.
The programme in partnership with Military Veteran Football Club will provide ex-forces personnel from across London an opportunity to play football via access to Millwall Community Trust’s indoor Lions Centre 3G. The programme is a weekly session 6-7pmsession on a Thursday at the Lion centre with IAG session before and after delivered in partnership with Military Veteran football club which is a national veteran 5 aside league network. So if your a military veteran or serving personnel in the London area, you are more than welcome even if non playing and would like to support the group and programme
The programme also intends to work with ex Forces Charities and support agencies and provide wrap around education, employability, and health and well being support to attendees and Millwall ex forces volunteer ambassadors through CPD and workshops from armed forces charities and organisations and Millwall Community Trust’s Employability support team.
To find out more, contact jscarborough@millwallcommunity.org.uk
Or to book on to the session, click here: https://www.militaryveteranfootball.co.uk/product/london-weekly-session/646?cs=true&cst=custom
To find out more about the tournament, visit: https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/news/1136-the-royal-british-legion-and-efl-in-the-community-join-forces-to-launch-football-recovery-programme
Photo - RBL
