A unique Duncan Edwards Peace Field Plaque is to be unveiled at the Dell Stadium when the site will be twinned with designated areas of play at the Flanders Peace Field in Mesen, Belgium.

As part of an initiative by the National Children’s Football Alliance, there are 39 peace pitches across five continents in countries including the USA, Argentina, Ghana, Israel and Australia. Here in the UK, a partnership has been formed with three other Peace Field projects - George Best (Belfast), Denis Law (Aberdeen) and Sir Tom Finney (Preston) - and football teams representing each will play in a Peace Field Tournament at the Dell Stadium every year.

Winners of the inaugural tournament to be held in May 2022 will receive the Duncan Edwards Trophy, based on the maquette of the statue in Dudley town centre which has recently been renovated by the sculptor James Butler MBE RA in support of this project. Ernie Brennan, chief executive of the National Children’s Football Alliance, said:

“Young people will connect with Duncan’s legacy and the power of the game that brings us together celebrating peace through play.”  

All profits from the annual Duncan Edwards Tribute Dinner, which will be held at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley on Thursday, September 30 will go to the Peace Field Project. 

The theme of the dinner this year will be ‘The Icon and The Prince’ and the event will mark what would have been the 85th birthday of Edwards and George Best’s 75th birthday. 

Among the guests are Alex Stepney, a team-mate of Best’s at Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion’s FA Cup winning captain Graham Williams who played against Best and Edwards.  Also paying tribute to the iconic duo will be members of Aston Villa’s European Cup winning squad of including skipper Dennis Mortimer, Tony Morley, Colin Gibson, Jimmy Rimmer and Gordon Cowans.       

A large collection of George Best memorabilia will be on display relating to Best’s glittering football career as well as his impact on the Swinging Sixties football scene. The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Anne Millward, said:

“The Duncan Edwards Peace Field is a wonderful initiative and a sobering reminder to us all of the sacrifices made for our freedoms.

“The fact that for a few brief hours, two adversaries laid down their arms and came together to share a game of football is so poignant and I am very proud that the Dell Stadium in Dudley Borough will be twinned with the historic Flanders Peace Field in Mesen, Belgium.”

For more information and to book tickets for the Dinner, contact Jim Cadman of the Duncan Edwards and Bestie75 Tributes on 07971 624627 or email jwc@duncanedwardstribute.com.