The Abbey School has made history this week as it became one of the first schools in the UK to twin its games pitches with Flanders Peace Field – the site of the First World War truces.

The National Children’s Football Alliance asked the school in London Road to be one of five across Kent to be involved.

The event commemorates the link between football, war and peace after the Christmas Day truce above the trenches in 1914.

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PE teacher Jack Long has been working tirelessly over the last year but his efforts paid off on Tuesday as hundreds gathered for the Peace Fields Project ceremony and the pupils’ exhibition on the truce was showcased.

More than 500 people gathered on the school’s playing fields, including pupils and staff from eight primary schools, members of the Royal British Legion and Faversham MP Helen Whately.

The ceremony was followed by a number of football games, involving pupils from primary schools.

Paul Cooper from the National Children’s Football Alliance said: “The Abbey School pupils and staff have clearly embraced the essence of the Peace Fields Project.

“I was very impressed with the school’s exhibition and the staff’s enthusiasm for supporting their pupils’ project work.”

The Peace Fields Project

Mrs Whately said: “The Peace Fields Project twinned the Abbey School’s playing fields with one of the most famous areas of peace in history.

“It is great that Faversham has a Peace Pitch that we can all be proud of.

“A First World War centenary legacy produced by young people in memory of all the war dead.”

Head teacher Catrin Woodend said: “The Abbey School was selected last year to be part of this prestigious programme as we have had a previous successful track record with the Olympic’s Pride and Inspire projects which we have also delivered here at school.

“We are proud as a school to officially twin our 3G pitch and playing fields with the Flanders field in Messines, Belgium, and to officially re-name them the Peace Fields of Faversham.

“It has affected the hearts and minds of our young people both at the Abbey and the eight feeder primary schools that attended the ceremony and the tournament.”