Plymouth Argyle footballers swapped their training ground for an afternoon with the Royal Navy, as they were treated to a tour around HMS Albion, at her home berth in Devonport.
The talented footballers met some of their fans amongst the Ship’s company, and got a chance to look over some of the Royal Marines kit and equipment in the Amphibious Assault ship, they also got a chance to use some of the specialist firefighting equipment on board.
The visit to the Nation’s Flagship HMS Albion was in advance of Plymouth Argyle’s Armed Services Day on February 22. The day is a fun-filled celebration of the city’s military past and present, and the club’s way of saying thank you to those who serve.
On the pitch, the Pilgrims – who are currently in fourth place in Sky Bet League Two – will take on Cambridge United. A win could see them leapfrog arch rivals Exeter City, who are currently in third place – if they haven’t done so already.
Off the pitch, activities will be staged in and around Home Park from 11am, will include Royal Marines abseiling from the Lyndhurst Road Stand roof, an unarmed combat display, and live music from the HMS Drake Volunteer and Plymouth Pipe Bands.
Help for Heroes, who are Argyle’s official charity for the day, will be among the organisations at the Theatre of Greens – which includes Street Factory dancers, Royal British Legion, China Fleet Club, Veterans Bike Club, Armed Forces Careers Office, SSAFA, Aggie Weston’s and event sponsors Babcock.
A spokesperson for Argyle said:
“As a club that represents a city with a distinguished and long-standing military tradition, we are proud to host Armed Services Day XI, when club and community come together to recognise the important and valued contribution to our lives of the armed forces.”
And the Argyle squad and coaching staff got to learn a little bit more about what that contribution entails ahead of the Armed Services Day, with a visit to HMS Albion – one of the Royal Navy’s two Amphibious Assault Ships.
HMS Albion currently alongside at her Devonport home, is preparing to sail to the Arctic later this month for Exercise Cold Response, NATO’s biggest winter deployment in Northern Norway.
