A man who lost his younger brother in the Iraq war will hold a football match to mark 20 years since his death.
Jon Miller lost younger brother Simon Miller on June 24, 2003 while he serving in Iraq in the Royal Military Police.
Simon, a 21-year-old corporal, was one of six military police officers known as redcaps killed in an ambush at Al Majar, 120 miles north of Basra, in June 2003 in one of the most high-profile incidents of the time.
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Jon is now planning to hold a commemorative football match in memory of his footy-loving brother to mark 20 years since his brother’s death.
Jon told The Northern Echo: “I wanted to find a way to remember Simon that wasn’t too linked to the military and more about celebrating his life.
“He was a huge football fan, so I thought it’d be a fitting way to commemorate him.”
The commemorative game will be played at the ground of Washington AFC, whose home stands on the pitches where Simon played football as a child.
“It’s about bringing everyone together 20 years on. His old friends and army lads and my friends will be there, either playing or taking part somehow,” Jon said.
“I think about him every day – he was what drove me to go into the military myself even though he was my younger brother so that acts as a constant reminder, but we have pictures of him everywhere too.”
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The match will be held on June 17, a week before the 20th anniversary of Simon’s tragic death.
A fundraiser to cover the costs of the game and raise funds for charity has so far raised more than £1,700, smashing the £500 target Jon initially set in just four days.
He added: “I can’t thank people enough for donating.
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“Even in these tough times it tells you how generous people are – it’s quite humbling.
“We knew it would cost a bit to hold and give it all the bells and whistles we wanted. We wanted to try and make it cost neutral and anything else will go to charity.”
You can donate to the cause through GoFundMe and details of how you can watch the remembrance game will be released closer to the time.
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