Watford chief executive Julian Winter has thanked the Hornets’ fans who helped raise more than £10,000 to fund a memorial for the two Footballers’ Battalions on the Somme.

The 17th and 23rd Middlesex battalions consisted of football players, management and administrators during World War One and the Football League arranged for a memorial to be made in memory of those who lost their lives.

Watford staff and Academy players took part in a bucket collection before the 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough in September and a 1.75m stone monument in Longueval, northern France, was unveiled by Football League chairman Greg Clarke on October 21.

Winter said: “The club is honoured to have contributed to such an important cause.

“The men who died now have a permanent memorial for their bravery and sacrifice. We would like to thank our fans who gave so generously to help make this possible.”

Clarke said: “Walking around the graves was truly humbling. It was the most rewarding day I’ve had in the job.

“I’d support the idea of young players being taken out to give them a sense of perspective on what true sacrifice is all about.”

Football League Trust Youth Development manager Phil Stant served in the Falklands and co-ordinated the bucket collections across the country.

He said: “The memorial and the members of the Footballers’ Battalions can now be properly remembered. That’s down to the supporters of Football League clubs who contributed.”