Watch: Midlands footballers replay truce match on Christmas Day

Before tucking into their Christmas dinners, the troop of 22 fathers and sons from Sedgley held a 30-minute game as a mark of respect for those who fought and died in the First World War.

And before kicking-off at the Tenscore Recreation Ground they held a minutes applause and played the 'Last Post' bugle call.

Mark Davies, aged 50, was of the those taking part.

"We were having our annual Christmas buffet when one of the guys said what about replicating the Christmas truce match on Christmas Day," he said.

"He said 'How do you fancy recreating history?'

"I had a ring around the lads and there was plenty of interest. Even those who couldn't play because they have young families have said what a fantastic idea it is," he said.

The story of the Christmas Truce between men from the Allied and Central Powers has long captured people's imaginations.

It is thought several matches were played in no-man's land up and down the trenches with soldiers leaving their weapons behind and playing the beautiful game.

Mr Davies said the group of friends, who usually play together at Coseley Leisure Centre on a Thursday night, had tried to make the game true to the original where possible. They used jumpers for goalposts and they exchanged gifts before the game, as is reported to have happened in 1914.

And there was a reading of the poem "They Shall Not Grow Old".

Mr Davies added: "We were just doing it as a group of friends as a mark of respect for those soldiers who fought and for those who lost their lives.

"I had a look on the internet and I have seen other commemorative matches taking place - but I have not seen any others taking place on Christmas Day itself."

"The First World War can get over shadowed compared to the Second.

"That was a more modern conflict and there are more images and footage which have survived.

"The First World War was quite static - it was trench warfare - and that can mean it hasn't been as remembered."