City of York Council is joining partners across the city and the UK to celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces this summer.
Here in York, the Council and partner organisations will be showing their support for currently serving personnel and their families, plus veterans and cadets with a free, vibrant football festival, and discounts from organisations across the city.
In this, the year of the World Cup, a day-long family Armed Forces Football Festival will be held. This will kick off on Sunday 12 July at the LNER Community Stadium, when two football matches can be cheered on with a variety of family-friendly activities.
The festival features two football matches with turnstiles open from 10.30am:
- 11.30am to 1.30pm - veterans’ and over 35s match. The trophy is sponsored by the Combined Authority
- 2.00pm to 4.15pm - 2 Royal Signal Regiment vs 21 Multi-Medical Role Regiment. The trophy is sponsored by York College.
A service children’s choir will perform, and a film screened between the matches.
Throughout the day, a dedicated family area will offer a wide range of free, fun activities. The children’s activities will include:
- Circus skills
- Face painting
- Magic performances
- Badge making
- Friendship bracelet crafting.
Festival tickets are free for all. There is an optional booking fee, options to donate to charities, and an additional choice to pay £5 for all‑day parking.
Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council and Armed Forces Champion, said:
We join communities across the city in thanking all in the Armed Forces and recognise the sacrifice they and their families make. This celebration forms part of our commitment to them under the Armed Forces Covenant. In their honour, we will proudly fly the Armed Forces Day flag above the Mansion House as part of the celebrations here in York.
“The Armed Forces Day Football Festival is a fantastic way for everyone to get involved in celebrating sport and service. Don’t hesitate to book your free tickets and join in what promises to be a fun, action-packed community event.”
Tickets for the Football Festival are free. People who book can choose to pay a £1 booking fee, and can choose to make a donation to Combat Stress and York Against Cancer.
Find out more and book your free tickets.
Regular support for serving Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans, includes:
- A weekly Armed Forces Drop-in Centre at the Spurriergate Centre (YO1 9QR) provides social and welfare support.
- The Council publishes an Armed Forces Community Information and Directory of Support, with details of help and support available from a wide range of organisations locally and nationally. Collect a copy from the Football Festival on 12 July.
- Find out more about Armed Forces Covenant in York.