http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1324698/A-simple-message-Manchester-United-Why-wont-wear-poppy-pride.html
Duhhh, it's cuz we can't afford the extra shirts
Liverpool players will wear poppies on their kit this November after the personal intervention of manager Roy Hodgson.
The Anfield club were one of only two sides to ignore last year’s Sportsmail call for Premier League teams to have commemorative strips over the Remembrance weekend.
Manchester United, the only other side who refused, have so far not said whether or not they have had a change of heart.
Blackpool and Manchester City, who both wore the poppy with pride last year, were last night unable to confirm they would do so again.
Backing: United defender Rio Ferdinand has told his Twitter followers to wear their poppies but at present he cannot do this with his club
All other 17 clubs have told the Premier League they will be wearing the symbol on their kits.
Last year’s campaign saw six clubs change their minds and rally to the Sportsmail cause.
Hodgson has been the moving force behind Liverpool’s change of mind. A club spokesman said: ‘Roy Hodgson wore a poppy at the last game against Blackburn and he feels it is very important. We will be wearing shirts with poppies against Stoke on November 13.’
The club will donate the commemorative shirts to the Royal British Legion for them to use to raise funds, and Liverpool will hold a collection when they entertain Chelsea on November 7.
Sadly, United are maintaining their stance in defiance of public opinion. Last year, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side faced Chelsea on Remembrance Sunday at Stamford Bridge in poppyless shirts, upsetting Chelsea Pensioners in the stands.
The club refused to discuss the matter last night, but last year said: ‘We are proud of the work we do with the armed forces and we do not feel a poppy on the shirt would add to our contribution. Our staff and officials will be wearing them as usual and we are confident we are doing the right thing.’
High-profile individuals at the club are known supporters of the poppy appeal.
Ferguson sported one at press conferences last year and this week United defender Rio Ferdinand has repeated a message sent by one of his 140,000 followers on Twitter.
The message read: ‘Can you please use your Twitfam to remind everyone to wear their poppy with pride. I salute you’. Ferdinand’s reply was: ‘Great shout.’
When Sportsmail launched the campaign last year — in response to an investigation by Charles Sale’s Sports Agenda — only 12 top-flight clubs had informed the Premier League of their intention to have a poppy sewn on the kit. By the end of our campaign six further clubs — Portsmouth, Fulham, Bolton, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Stoke — had been persuaded to produce special kits.
United and Liverpool said the flower symbol would not show up on their red shirts, but that excuse was made to look absurd by Arsenal’s poppy display and subsequent auction.
A Premier League spokesman said last night: ‘Football has a proud tradition of honouring the nation’s troops and all of our clubs maintain close links with the armed services throughout the year. It is down to each individual club to decide how best to do this, and we are sure all 20 will mark Remembrance Day appropriately.’
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Sportsmail’s campaign last year spread to rugby as both the All Blacks and Wales wore poppies on their shirts for their Test in Cardiff.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said: ‘I’m in favour of everybody wearing poppies. We keep seeing young lads in Afghanistan getting killed. It’s horrific. They are so brave. You look back over the years and the people we’ve lost. I’ll wear the poppy with pride.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1324698/A-simple-message-Manchester-United-Why-wont-wear-poppy-pride.html#ixzz13jsKCr5W
Duhhh, it's cuz we can't afford the extra shirts
