Oxhey Jets general manager John Elliott was taken aback by the community spirit shown during the club’s Remembrance Day match against Icarus FC on Saturday.

Despite the game, which saw Jets keep up their annual tradition of raising money for the Royal British Legion, taking place in foul conditions, a record crowd of 396 people turned out and raised £2,100.

For Elliott, the show of support for a cause he holds close to his heart was moving and he was full of praise for those who turned out.

“The RAF were over the moon with how it was handled and everything was done to the book with the ceremony and piper before the game,” Elliott said.

“The effort from people around the area to come out was brilliant and to break our record attendance in what was a monsoon was fantastic.

“To raise £2,100 is just a remarkable effort. It proves that it is worth it and personally I am a massive believer in remembrance.”

Saturday’s game, which ended in a 2-1 win for Jets, saw the club become part of the RAF 100’s remembrance celebrations.

Jets have worked closely with the RAF over the past few years and Elliott was proud to be included in the day.

“In the last couple of years we have been very close to the Royal Airforce and, so to be invited by the RAF 100 anyway was fantastic,” he said.

“That was a real honour in itself. When you think they played the New Zealand Defence Force, a team coming across the world, and then on Saturday they are playing us. That is how big it is.”

The subject of remembrance is one which of course hits home for Jets after the death of their former player Tom Lake.

Tom lost his life while serving in Afghanistan and Jets have always used Remembrance weekend as a chance to pay tribute to his life.

Saturday’s game was no different and Tom was once again at the centre of the ceremony put on before kick-off, with his friend Lisa Hodges laying a special white and blue wreath.

Elliott says remembering both Tom the player and person every year is an important part of the year for everyone associated with Oxhey Jets.

“Tom’s situation is massive to us and always will be,” he said. “Not one of the current first-team players knew Tom, but so many of them were asking about him.

“The next generation got a chance to know about who he was and what his personality was and that is so important.

“The final wreath which goes down is a blue and white one which says Our Tom on it.

“His mum thinks the world of that and the fact that Jets always separate Tom the soldier and Tom the player.

“It is our way of saying that is the Tom we remember here at Oxhey Jets.”