Club pays respect to Yorkshire Regiment casualties
Huddersfield Town has today paid tribute to the two soldiers who tragically lost their lives serving their country in Afghanistan on Saturday.
Sergeant Gareth Thursby, 29, and Private Thomas Wroe, 18, were of the 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment; also known as the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, it is based in Wiltshire but recruits heavily in the Huddersfield and Halifax areas and remains at the heart of the local community.
Sergeant Thursby was born in Skipton, whereas Private Wroe was from Huddersfield, lived in Meltham near Holmfirth and has been referenced as having ‘a love of Huddersfield Town Football Club’ in the Ministry of Defence’s press release – click HERE to view it online.
Huddersfield Town Chairman Dean Hoyle commented:
"This is really tragic news, sadly familiar from when the six brave soldiers lost their lives back in March.
“Any loss of life from people serving our country is sad, but the two deaths on Saturday are particularly poignant given that they are from the Yorkshire Regiment and one, Private Wroe, lived in Holmfirth and we understand is a Huddersfield Town supporter.
"The deepest condolences of everyone connected with Huddersfield Town are with the family, friends and colleagues of the soldiers at this time."
Huddersfield Town is very proud of its long-standing links with the Armed Forces; during the npower League 1 game at home to Walsall in November 2011 the first team wore special 'Help for Heroes' shirts, which then raised money for the forces charity.
Town fan and serving soldier Donnie Robertson flew in from Camp Bastian in Afghanistan to watch his two sons be the team's mascots for our home win over Exeter City too.
In previous seasons the Club has also welcomed the Yorkshire Regiment to the Stadium; in November 2009 50 soldiers from the Regiment formed a guard of honour for the players before performing a fantastic 10 minute drum presentation during the half-time interval.
Most recently the Club invited the families of six fallen soldiers from the Yorkshire Regiment to the npower League 1 game against Rochdale in March 2012 to stand at pitch-side for a minute’s silence.
Huddersfield Town is going to support the Mayor of Kirklees’ Charity Appeal, supporting the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Trust, at the upcoming home game against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday 6 November.
