Grantham Town will be paying tribute to servicemen and women ahead of Remembrance Sunday in their United Counties League match against Sherwood Colliery
Grantham Town will be paying tribute to servicemen and women ahead of Remembrance Sunday in their United Counties League match on Saturday.
The Gingerbreads host Sherwood Colliery in a clash between two of the leading lights in the Premier Division North.
The club will host a number of serving soldiers and veterans as guests for the afternoon with a pre-match minute silence to remember those who gave everything.
And Grantham chairman Nick Johnston is calling on the whole town to turn out in force to get behind his club in a crucial clash.
He explained: "With Remembrance Sunday approaching, we wanted to dedicate this game to honour the incredible courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country.
"Their bravery has safeguarded the freedoms we all enjoy, including simple pleasures like standing together on a Saturday afternoon watching football."
Johnston added that the theme of respect runs deep at Grantham Town, reflecting one of the club's new core values - to give it and to earn it.
He added: "Respect underpins everything we do, how we treat our opponents, team-mates, fans, officials, and volunteers.
"But it’s also about recognising those who have given so much for the greater good.
"Football at its best brings people together and that sense of community spirit is what we're building here."
The Gingerbreads have been working hard behind the scenes to grow into a true community club, opening its doors to families, schools, volunteers, and local businesses.
From walking football and youth teams to themed matchdays and local partnerships, the club’s ambition is to make the Meres a place where everyone feels welcome.
Johnston commented: "We're encouraging people from across Grantham to come along, bring their families, and be part of it.
"The more support we get, the stronger the club, and the town becomes."
Kick-off is at 3pm at the Meres Stadium. Tickets are available on the gate.
Grantham go into the clash in a strong vein of form after keeping their fourth successive clean sheet on Tuesday night in a three-goal away win at Retford in the Sports Development League Cup.
They took the lead midway through the first half with a Sean Wright header following a set piece before Will Langford doubled the advantage before the interval after latching onto a through ball and sliding his finish past the advancing goalkeeper.
The win was sealed eight minutes into the second half when Sean Wright headed home his second goal of the game following Andy Wright's delivery into the penalty area from a free-kick.
The victory moved the Gingerbreads into the last eight of the competition after their run of clean sheets also brought a fourth consecutive win.
Manager Mitch Griffiths said: "It was a good away day.
"We've kept another clean sheet which is really pleasing against a good side.
"I've said ever since I came into the club, and all through my playing career, that you should want to win every game in every competition.
"It is massive to get a trophy at the end of the year in any competition and we want to try and win everything that we're in."
Grantham still have interest in both the FA Vase and Lincolnshire Senior Trophy competition and remain in the hunt for promotion back to step four of the non-league pyramid.