ON SATURDAY, Norwich City will be delighted to welcome as its Community Heroes Jack Griffiths, 94, and Francis 'Robbie' Burns, 91, who both served their country in World War Two.

Francis, who lives in Swaffham joined the Royal Navy at 18, receiving his training at HMS Ganges before becoming a torpedoman and being stationed in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. He then joined the submarine depot ship HMS Adamant, which saw him travel to Western Australia until the end of the war.

Jack was 17 years old when war broke out and he joined the Royal Signals Regiment, before training and passing his test to become a glider pilot in the Glider Pilot Regiment.

His first mission was D-Day before he was then involved in the Battle of Arnhem where he was taken as a prisoner of war and held in Leipzig, Germany. However, Jack managed to escape reaching Brussels on VE Day before returning to the UK to be reunited with his family. Today he lives in Mattishall, near Dereham.

Please do give both gentlemen a big warm welcome as they take to the pitch ahead of kick-off to bring out the matchball. They will also be welcomed by a guard of honour of current service personnel and locally-based cadets, who will also be taking part in a half-time pitch parade.

Between November 12 and 19 the EFL and all 72 member clubs will unite to pay tribute to fallen servicemen, women and former players as part of Remembrance Sunday commemorations and the First World War Centenary.

The match against Leeds United will see the Club mark its annual support for The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

CITY v LEEDS: COMMUNITY HERO

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