Newark Town Football Club are celebrating the end of the First World War in Belgium as they face FC Emmendingen in a peace game

Newark Town were among the goals in their final warm-up match ahead of travelling to Belgium for their Armistice Match next month.

The under-21 Newark side who travelled to Belgium four years ago joined this year’s travelling players for a send-off match.

Newark’s club captain Luke Parsons led his side to a 5-2 win over a side led by Lewis Poole, who was the captain four years ago.

The side, which will travel to Ypres on November 9, is made up of Newark’s Sunday league side, and also includes players from other Newark Alliance teams, such as Callum Barnes, of Rose and Crown; and Kyle Nicholson, of Coddington.

Newark’s centre-half Luke Parsons, who will captain Newark in Belgium, said: “I have heard from the lads who went last time that it is a very good life experience, so I am really looking forward to going.

“The thing I am looking forward to most is the fact that we are bringing football clubs together because, after all, the real reason for this game is to show peace, and it is two countries coming together.

“We must remember people lost their lives in the war and I am taking that into the game and playing for that.

“All the lads have mentioned how good the side is we are playing, and apparently it is a completely different type of competitiveness over there.

“There is obviously a big rivalry between England and Germany, and there will be a competitive nature to the game as both sides will want to win ­— but you have to remember why we are going.

“We will put in a strong performance and then shake hands with our opponents afterwards.”

The Armistice Match marks the centenary of the end of the first world war and Newark will face the same side they lost to four years ago, FC Emmendingen, from Newark’s German twin town.

The match is also a tribute to the Peace Game played between British and German troops in no-man’s land on Christmas Day in 1914.

The game will take place at 11:02am in Crackstadion, the home of KVK Westhoek, and both squads will attend a service at the Menin Gate, Ypres, a memorial that bears the names of more than 54,000 soldiers who died and have no known graves.

Captain Luke Parsons, former captain Lewis Poole and Newark Town Saturday team captain Kyle Nicholson will pay their respects by laying a wreath at the Friday service.

As well as commemorating the end of the war, the game will be played in memory of Newark sportsman, teacher and councillor Mr Chris Grant.

Lewis Poole travelled with Mr Grant last time and is looking forward to getting one over his German counterparts. He said: “We are going in to this as a side who have played together on a regular basis.

“We have had a few extras who have been brought in to the side, but for the majority of us, this is our fourth season together and we are going into this match confident,” he said.

“Last time, we went as an under-21s side and they were a men’s team. The first ten minutes were tough. We knew we were in a game.

“But besides the football, it was good to see all of the war graves.

“There was a very peaceful vibe among each other and it was good trip.

“The set-up of the trip is the same and I know the lads going for the first time are going to enjoy it.”

Kyle Nicholson, who captains both the Newark Town Saturday side and Coddington’s Sunday team said: “I am looking forward to the whole experience.

“I didn’t get the option to go a few years back, but now that I can go, I am looking forward to it.

“We have a brilliant squad of Newark lads. The opposition won’t matter too much when the lads get out there and start playing like we know how to. Yes, they (Emmendingen) have played against professional sides, but that won’t count for anything once the event takes place.

“It is an amazing thing to be part of.”