Players to wear poppy during play

All players in the Scottish Premier League will wear poppies

Players from every team in the Scottish Premier League are to wear poppies during match play to mark this year's appeal.

Hearts player Michael Stewart and the SPL's Lex Gold announced the move to promote the Scottish Poppy Appeal at Falkirk stadium.

Matches due to be held on 8 and 9 of November will see all players wearing the emblem in support of Poppyscotland.

The charity said it hoped the move would help it raise £2m.

Clubs will also support the appeal, which raises money for veterans and their dependants in Scotland, by holding poppy collections at their grounds or by selling limited edition poppy shirts.

'Greatly appreciated'

Mr Stewart, who also serves as a Poppyscotland ambassador, said: "For a lot of Scots, footballers are their heroes but for me the real heroes are those who risk their lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Many servicemen and women come home with physical and mental scars and Poppyscotland helps them readjust to civilian life."

Chief executive of Poppyscotland, Jim Panton, said the charity was aiming to raise £2m from this year's appeal.

He added: "This is the first time that every club in the Scottish Premier League will wear poppies as they play during the Poppy Day fixtures and their support is greatly appreciated.

"I would like to thank the SPL and I hope that everyone in Scotland will follow the lead of our footballers by wearing their poppies with pride."