Updated on
Herefordshire FA’s military veterans football team – for which we cover the costs – were delighted when former England striker Emile Heskey made a surprise visit to their training session last week.
The Football Association organised the visit to celebrate the club’s success in creating fun, casual and social ways for players of all abilities to turn up and get involved in football – an initiative that has made a meaningful difference to veterans within the local community.
Herefordshire FA was among the top one per cent of Just Play providers in the country, delivering over 60 sessions for military and Blue Light players since July 2024.
Heskey, who earned 62 caps for England and now works as head of women's football development at Leicester City, spent two hours with the club, playing football and chatting with players. The FA also supplied each player with a football to be personally signed by Heskey as a prize and keepsake.
Representing the FA at the event, Heskey said: “It's good fun for the for everyone involved – getting out there and getting some exercise and being inclusive … joyful and part of something. It’s great that ex-military can come together and be part of a community.”
IT BEGAN AS JUST AN IDEA - VIC
The club was created by our own veterans liaison officer, Paul Vicary, a veteran of 35 years’ service, to provide an opportunity for regular physical activity and to support positive mental wellbeing because of the area’s strong military connections.
‘Vic’ said: “This began as an idea, then a collaboration between Help for Heroes, Herefordshire FA and local charities, to deliver a weekly football programme which genuinely supports our military veteran and blue-light community. Watching it evolve is something I’m incredibly proud of as a military veteran myself.
“To be recognised by the FA as being in the top one per cent of community groups – and selected for a national prize – means a great deal to the team. It reflects not only the hard work that goes into running these sessions but also the commitment and spirit of everyone who takes part.”
Well done, Vic!