The match at Aldershot Town had been arranged as part of the ongoing Football Remembers campaign, with the Army sides seeking to commemorate the historic Christmas Day events of December 1914 in the most fitting way possible.
The special guests included FA Chairman Greg Dyke, Head of the Army, General Sir Nicholas Carter and honorary FA Vice-President Sir Bobby Charlton, along with hundreds of serving Forces personnel gathered behind one of the goals.
British Army 1-0 German Army
A century ago during the First World War, soldiers from both sides had temporarily put down their weapons to meet in ‘no-man’s land’, a gesture that stands to this day as a triumph for hope and humanity in the midst of a bloody and brutal conflict.
Accounts from the time tell of the troops exchanging gifts, sharing songs and stories and, most memorably, having informal kickabouts.
Wednesday night’s fixture was a typically competitive contest, although it had been preceded by an immaculately observed period of silence from the 2,500-strong crowd.
It was clear both sides’ thoughts had gone to those fellow soldiers from 100 years before who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Emotions were high, not least when Silent Night was sung in both English and German, and rousing renditions of the two national anthems echoed around the stadium.
Once kick-off came, the British Army were quickly on top with Wilkinson, a burly 25-year-old striker, pouncing from close range to break the deadlock in the clinical style of his footballing hero Alan Shearer.
The Newcastle United fan could have added a second late on only to hit the post, one of a number of chances that the hosts spurned on a windswept and rainy evening.
The German Bundeswehr also had their moments, and themselves hit the woodwork in the closing stages. It finished 1-0 but, in truth, the scoreline didn’t really matter.
The handshakes and smiles as the soldiers came together on a muddy field this December night told of so much more.
