Pride: Stuart Pearce wears at poppy at the press conference

He said: 'Whether I understand it or not, you ask the question, they give a decision and you get on with it, that is the nature of it - but whether you have anything emblazoned on your shirt at the time, it is what is in your heart which matters.

'We would have like to have done it as an organisation and a country, but the powers at be say they don't want us to do it.

'That is the end of it, but it will not diminish what is in my heart and the respect for those who have given their lives for this country.

'And it certainly won't diminish any of the thoughts of the millions of people who will respect [it] over what is a very important weekend for our country in general.

'It will not diminish anything in my mind or our players minds, or the majority of the country. The question was asked, they said no, so we move on, but it does not take away any of the respect we have for the people who have fought and died in the wars.'

« Previous1234567Next »