AMID the furore over Fifa’s decision to prevent the national team from wearing a poppy on their shirts (Echo, Nov 11), we should remember the supreme sacrifice made by footballers, both amateur and professional.

A team from Great Britain won the gold medal in Stockholm’s 1912 Olympics. Two of the team, Thomas Burn and Joseph Dines, were killed in action in France during the First World War.

Many of their team-mates also saw fierce action.

Their goalkeeper, Ronald Brebner, was a Darlington dentist who died of injuries he sustained while playing for Leicester. He was just 33 when he died on November 11, 1914.

Britain also won gold in the 1900 Paris games and the 1908 London games.

A special place in sporting history goes to Arthur Berry and Vivian Woodward who gained gold medals for the 1908 and 1912 triumphs. They both survived the First World War.

At least two professional footballers won Victoria Crosses in the First World War. They were William Angus (Celtic) and Donald Bell (Bradford PA).

Would today’s Premiership stars accept the Queen’s shilling, plus image rights?

Allan Newman, Darlington.