PETERSFIELD Town will be holding the Darren Chant Memorial Luncheon at their Love Lane clubhouse on Saturday, November 7.

This will take place before the Evo-Stik League Southern Division 1 Central match that afternoon against Potters Bar Town.

Tickets will cost £10, with half of the ticket price being donated to the Help for Heroes charity. The ticket price includes a buffet luncheon and entry to that afternoon’s league match.

Doors will open at noon, with a special remembrance ceremony taking place, conducted by St Peter’s Church vicar, Rev Will Hughes, at 1pm. Shortly before kick-off a minute’s silence will be held to remember Darren and all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country on what is Remembrance weekend.

Warrant Officer Darren Chant was killed on November 3, 2009, along with four other British soldiers after being shot by an Afghan gunman who he had been mentoring for police work. WO1 Chant was the most senior of the five who were caught in the ambush as they rested in a compound close to the town of Nad E’Ali in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Around 700 mourners attended his funeral, including the Duke of Edinburgh. Sean Bate, best man at Darren’s wedding, summed up the popularity of his friend in his address at the funeral. He said: “The size of the turnout is testament to the character of the man that we lay to rest and he will live on in our hearts forever.”

Darren played for the Rams between 1997 and 2005 and he was a popular figure around the club. In 2010, a special memorial to Darren was unveiled in the Love Lane clubhouse by his son Connor. The memorial is a framed shirt with Darren’s name and old number on it and it can be found on the wall to the right of the entrance to the boardroom.

It will be a busy weekend of Remembrance events for the football club as on Sunday, November 8, the Rams will be taking part in Petersfield’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony by laying a wreath at the war memorial in the High Street.

For more details about the event or to book tickets contact chairman Graeme Moir by e-mailing: [email protected] or purchase your tickets for the event at the bar in the Love Lane clubhouse on matchdays.