Millwall’s Military Veteran Football participants got to take part in an amazing opportunity with first team manager Neil Harris at Calmont Road, the training ground of Millwall FC as part of EFL’s Week of Action.

Military Veterans as well as personnel from 265 Battery, 106 Regiment Royal Artillery overseen by Corporal Gary Thompson were also in attendance.

EFL’s Week of Action is where all 72 member Clubs unite to highlight the impact they have on their communities as a collective.

The programme in partnership with Military Veteran Football Club provide ex-forces personnel from across London an opportunity to play football on Thursday evening’s between 6pm-7pm at The Lions Centre.

The participants of the vastly popular program spearheaded by Millwall Community Trust and Military Veterans Football Club left SE16 on a cold Thursday afternoon for an experience that would be every Millwall fans dream. 

Once arriving, the Military Veterans were shown to the available dressing room and changed into Millwall’s first-team training kit for the day and started to live the dream of training as a Lions’ player. 

After participants were changed it was time to take to the grass that legends have stepped on. 

Taking to the pitch, the Military Veterans took part in warm-up drills led by first team assistant coach Adam Barrett. 

Head-Coach Neil Harris arrived and greeted the group. Harris and Barrett led one more drill and then the Military Veterans took part in a match. The game was passionate and impactful embodying the spirit of military personnel and Millwall as a whole with Harris and Barrett playing for both sides.

All participants involved in a fantastic afternoon gathered in a circle and reflected on how far the program has come and the further potential it has. 

Millwall’s Military Veteran Football side’s Captain Rob Biggs presented Neil Harris with a signed Military Veteran Football Club shirt on behalf of the team.

Sean Daly, MCT CEO said: “Thank you to Neil Harris and Adam Barrett for giving up their time to support this initiative.

“The club are very supportive of our programmes across the local community and the programmes really developed with the support and work of John Scarborough as well as Military Veteran Football Club.”

To find out more about Millwall’s Military Veteran Football Programme, visit: https://www.millwallcommunity.org.uk/military-veteran-football

Written by Reece Endicott