Source: Daily_Mail
Poppy power! Now only three Premier clubs are refusing to back campaign
Sportsmail comment: Liverpool, Manchester United and Bolton - it's still not too late to wear the poppy with prideTwo more Premier League clubs bowed to Poppy pressure yesterday, making a total of 17 top-flight teams who will embroider the British Legion emblem on their match-day shirts to mark Remembrance Sunday.[LNB]Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers are the latest big clubs opting to wear poppy branded shirts with both admitting the Sportsmail campaign highlighting the poppy issue this week had been a major factor in their decision.[LNB] Setting an example: Arsenal defender William Gallas wears his poppy with pride[LNB] More from Charles Sale... Charles Sale: Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is charged (only four years on)04/11/09 Charles Sale: Poppies growing on Premier League clubs03/11/09 CHARLES SALE: A dozen Premier League clubs are proud of poppies02/11/09 CHARLES SALE: Olympic naming at Her Majesty's pleasure02/11/09 Charles Sale: Dennis Wise and sidekick Tony Jimenez on the prowl again30/10/09 Charles Sale: Peter Harrison the football agent at the centre of BBC Panorama bungs documentary set for date with Liverpool civil court 29/10/09 CHARLES SALE: £1m sponsorship boost for England's 2018 World Cup bid28/10/09 CHARLES SALE: FA desperate to bring in cup cash27/10/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE That leaves only three in the Premier League Manchester United,Liverpool and Bolton who will play at the weekend without a poppy ontheir shirts in stubborn defiance of public opinion.[LNB]Last Monday only 12 clubs had informed the Premier League of their intention to have a poppy on the kit to mark the Remembrance period.[LNB]The strength of football fans' reaction to Sportsmail naming the poppy 12 Arsenal,Birmingham City, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Hull City, Manchester City, Sunderland, Spurs, West Ham, Wigan and Wolves immediately led to Portsmouth, Fulham and Aston Villa ordering their poppy embroidery that day.[LNB]Arsenal will even auction their shirts to raise more money. In the Football League, Middlesbrough and Barnet have been added to the list. [LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Should all Premier League clubs wear the poppy with pride on their shirts? Charles Sale's Sports Agenda has named and shamed those Premier League clubs whose shirts did not carry the Royal British Legion's poppy emblem this weekend. There were 12 sides sporting poppies. Do you want your team to honour Britain's soldiers? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Meanwhile, the fact that Championship title contenders West Bromwich are sowing a poppy on their red away kit for their game against Leicester makes something of a mockery of Manchester United and Liverpool's excuse that the flower doesn't show up on their red shirts.[LNB]United's intransigent and will be all the more exposed by Chelsea, their live TV match opponents on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, always making a great play of theirconnection with the Chelsea Pensioners on the Remembrance Sunday weekend.[LNB]But a United spokesman reiterated yesterday: 'We are very 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.'[LNB]Liverpool said: 'We have worked with the British Legion to helppublicise and support the Poppy Appeal. There will be a minute'ssilence before our game against Birmingham on Monday, a ceremonialpoppy placed on the centre circle, a ground collection and advertisingmade available to raise awareness.'[LNB]Despite frequent requests, Bolton made no comment.[LNB] Proud work: Sir Bobby Charlton is pictured with injured members of the services before the match with Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford[LNB] Enlarge Sportsmail comment: Liverpool, Manchester United and Bolton - it's still not too late to wear the poppy with prideCHARLES SALE: Poppies growing on Premier League clubs CHARLES SALE: A dozen Premier League clubs are proud of poppies [LNB] Explore more:People:WILLIAM GALLASPlaces:Fulham, LiverpoolOrganisations:Football League
