David Powell, Club Chaplain, led a remembrance service at the stadium on Saturday morning as supporters and Board members gathered to pay their respects.

"As we gather, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, to share in

the Act of Remembrance for all who have suffered in the cause of freedom, both

military and civilian, in wars past and present.

We especially remember the Merthyr Town players, who fought and sadly died

in that catastrophic war – William Kirby, Jabez Cartwright, Frank Costello and

Stanley Reed.

A memorial dedicated to those and all who fell is displayed here this morning.

During the First World War a poem was penned by Lieutenant-Colonel John

McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the

funeral of a fellow soldier and friend, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres.

According to legend, fellow soldiers retrieved the poem after McCrae, initially

dissatisfied with his work, discarded it. "In Flanders Fields" was first published on

December 8 of that year and the title relates to a common name of the World

War I battlefields in Belgium and France."

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.