Poet and BBC presenter Ian McMillan has been commissioned by the Poetry Society and Barclays Premier League to write a poem, centring on an international tournament to commemorate the famous Christmas football matches in the first world war, with the help of 280 young footballers. Since 2011, the Premier League has held the under-12s Christmas Truce International Tournament in Ypres, Belgium, to honour the impromptu football games between British and German soldiers that took place on the western front on December during a brief, unofficial truce at Christmas 1914. This year, to mark the centenary of the first world war, five British poets will accompany the young footballers to Ypres, going with them on a tour of battlefield sites, and helping them to capture their experiences in poetry. The poets will coach the young footballers in their wordplay and observation skills, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of the historical events that inspired the tournament.

Each of the 280 under-12s will produce their own poem inspired by their visit, exploring their feelings about the first world war and the original Christmas truce football matches in 1914.

Poets Simon Barraclough, Steve Ely, Chris McCabe, Nick Makoha and Deanna Rodger will be with the young people for two days in Ypres, travelling with them to battlefields and war graves and delivering writing sessions to help the young footballers explore their experiences and get their poems down on paper.

Poet and football fan Ian McMillan, pictured at his beloved Barnsley FC, has been commissioned to  write a poem about the Christmas truce, taking inspiration from the tournament and young footballers who take part. His poem will reflect the images, observations and experiences the young players shared in their own writing. 

The Christmas Truce International Tournament qualifiers and education weekend takes place this weekend, 14-16 November, in Ypres, featuring all 20 English Premier League under-12 teams and young teams from Germany, Belgium and France.

PHOTOGRAPH: WWW.TURNINGIMAGES.CO.UK