Chelsea Women Under-18s will take on UK Armed Forces Women at Kingsmeadow this evening to mark Remembrance Day 2021 and forms part of the Club’s partnership with the Royal Air Force Museum, through the ‘Hidden Heroes’ project.

The initiative, which is sponsored by club owner Roman Abramovich, raises awareness about the untold story of Jewish personnel in the RAF during the Second World War, and the vital role they played.

Between five and six thousand British Jewish Women joined the forces during WW2 and in addition, nearly 4000 women living in Palestine joined the British Services in the Middle East. The women all joined the forces to fight against tyranny, racism and antisemitism, fully aware they risked torture and execution if captured due to their heritage.

Perkins recently visited Chelsea FC Women’s Academy where she delivered a presentation on how remembrance came about, why we wear poppies as part of remembrance and what it means today and also explained to the players what an honour it should be for the squad to play on the 11th day of the 11th month and discussed how football and being part of a team is not dissimilar to being part of the military team.

Dean Steninger, Chelsea Women Under 18s coach commented on the event: ‘Firstly, I think it is a huge privilege for us, more than I think it is for UKAF, to be honest with you.

‘For our players to go and play against women who understand what it is around Remembrance Day - it just gives us that little bit of extra incentive to learn a little bit more about it.’

Leading Naval Nurse Rosie McDonnell also commented on the event: ‘I think every game that I play with the UKAF team, when the national anthem goes and you look at the players that we’ve got around us, it’s such a privilege to meet as three forces.

‘You pick out the best players that you played against at [the] Inter Services. As a collective, you look around and think 'Yeah, this is brilliant.'

‘We’ve got a great squad, so it is going to be a brilliant game and something a little bit special for everybody.'

The Remembrance Day match is dedicated to the British Jewish women who served in the UK Forces during WW2.

Tickets for today’s match, which kicks off at 7.30pm, can be purchased here. If you’re unable to make it down to the event, you can find out how to stream the match on the Armed Forces Facebook account here.