Commemorative match to mark fixture's centenary

Corinthian-Casuals are taking on the London Regiment on Saturday in a World War One commemorative match and charity fundraiser.

The match will mark the centenary of a fixture played by a team of the Ryman South club's ancestors who'd all volunteered for the services, 'Corinthians under Arms' versus 'Aldershot Command' on 27 February 1915.

It was one of three matches serving Corinthians played against the Army during the war when Corinthians was one of only a handful of clubs in the land able to field a complete team of serving soldiers.

As well as paying tribute to the thousands of members of the London Regiment who gave their lives in the first global conflict and raising funds for the London Regiment Welfare & Benevolent Fund, the 69 members of the Corinthians and Casuals, then separate clubs, will also be remembered at King George's Field by fans and the event's guest of honour, the Mayor of Kingston.

Though officials says it will be a solemn occasion for both sides - with the Last Post and a minute's silence before the 3pm kick off - Corinthian-Casuals are hoping to make the event a family day with stalls and refreshments and a number of small sided games for the club's juniors kicking before the main event.

There will also be a second game after the main match with a mixed team of Corinthian-Casuals' schools and veterans taking on the club's academy team from Glenthorne High School in Sutton. The later fixture kicks off at 6.30pm.

Admission for the whole day is £5 and subject to availability, comes with a free copy of the commemorative matchday programme, pictured.

The programme includes the original team sheet from the game against Aldershot Command and press reports of the 4-1 victory for Corinthians in which their inside forward, Flight Lt Cuthbert Brisley, scored a hat-trick. He was killed in 1918 on a training flight with the Royal Flying Corps.

The London Regiment, volunteer soldiers of the Territorial Army, fielded an incredible 88 Battalions in the First War and suffered thousands of casualties. Now, in reduced numbers, their volunteers have served in all the world's trouble spots including Iraq and Afghanistan alongside the regular army.

The London Regiment are also bringing along the actual football from the Battle of Loos in 1915 which was used by soldiers of the London Irish Rifles to kick ahead of them as they attacked the enemy lines.

Saturday's match is the first major fundraiser since Corinthian Casuals returned from their centenary tour to Brazil in January when they played against Corinthian Paulista in front of 25,000 fans at the Corinthians Arena and millions more on national TV.

The friendly should have been played 100 years ago but was shelved after the outbreak of World War I. Three previous tours in 1910, 1913 and 1914 are still credited today by the Brazilians today for the foundation of their club.

Corinthian's last sent their first team to Brazil in 1988 when Sócrates famously wore a Casuals shirt. At the start of the last campaign in August, they unveiled their new kit in Brazil at the headquarters of their Brazilian brothers and are planning many more events in the future.

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