During last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion wore shirts specially embroidered with the poppy - the symbol of remembrance in this country for service men and women who have been effected from conflicts from World War One to the present day.  The shirts are being auctioned, and so far have raised over £4,400 for the Royal British Legion's 2008 Poppy Appeal.

I was saddened at school this week to see the lack of poppies on show.  Even more so by the lack of understanding about what the poppy symbolises.  Surely as a history teacher it is my job to get this message across?

Upon quizzing some of the kids, I actually realised that there is one big misconception about the poppy.  That it honours only those who served during the conflict of World War One from 1914-1918.

I wish I had the funds to get my hands on one of those Baggies shirts, not to antagonise a classroom full of kids in a central Wolverhampton school, but to make a valid point.  In my eyes it carries an important message - that the poppy is as current today as it was 90 years ago.

On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month 1918 - exactly 90 years ago, over 4 years of horrific fighting were brought to an end by the very governments that had initiated it in 1914.  The death toll was some 18 million men.  Labelled the 'Great War' ever since, the conflict pioneered modern day warfare.  It displayed for the first time ever the use of khaki uniforms, chemical warfare, the use of air power, tanks, and the deadly machine gun.

On a recent visit to Belgium I couldn't help but be touched by the scenes at Essex Farm.  Home to the grave of a Private Studgwick - killed in action at Ypres at the age of 15.  Also the site where John MaCrae penned his famous words 'In Flanders Fields'.  I was especially moved by a visit to the Menin Gate, a British War Memorial which from head to toe on all faces houses the names of British Empire troops who lost their lives on the Ypres Salient with no known grave.  Here, everyday at 8pm since 1919 the local fire service hold a Last Post ceremony in honour of the British troops who sacrificed their lives fighting to protect Belgian neutrality during the years of conflict - it's only years of respite coming during the heaviest fighting of World War Two.  Why do we not honour our own men in the same way?

The poppy was adopted as the symbol of remembrance shortly after the conflict ended in 1918, in respect of it being the only living thing to take root in the torn up landscape of trench warfare on the Flanders Fields. 

West Bromwich Albion have done a great thing in my eyes.  Arsenal are doing the same this afternoon against Manchester United.  After all, football was not left untouched by World War One, or the many conflicts which have involved British men since.

During the Great War West Brom had formed a special company attached to the Fifth South Staffordshire Territorials.  Joined mostly by supporters, some 8 first teamers also joined.  Others had already joined of their own will, and in 1916 one of Albions players Harold Bache, who had also won 7 caps for England at Amateur level, was killed in action amongst other men in his regiment, the Lancashire Fusiliers.

During the Second World War mostly all English and Scottish clubs were touched by the conflict raging against Hitler's forces in Central Europe.  Albions neighbours, Wolverhampton Wanderers sent some 91 players and staff to war after their manager at the time, Major Frank Buckley - a veteran of WWI encouraged his men to join the cause.

For more information on West Brom's 2008 poppy appeal visit:

http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1447205,00.html

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