I wear the poppy to salute my World War II hero grandad – it makes me proud, says Gareth Southgate

ENGLAND footie boss Gareth Southgate says he is proud to wear a poppy — to salute his World War Two hero grandad.

He explained Arthur Toll, who served with the Royal Marines, instilled in him the importance of remembering those who serve.

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Gareth, who will lead the Three Lions in this month’s World Cup, said: “The poppy is a symbol that leads people to remember.

“It keeps humility in the group because it means you’re not just thinking about yourselves.

“The freedoms that we have are because of the commitment and sacrifice the people that came before us made.

“My grandad was in the Royal Marines so since I was a kid there’s been that connection and appreciation of what people went through.”

Gareth, 52, was launching this year’s football shirt auction in which fans can bid for stars’ kit embroidered with the poppy to raise money for the annual British Legion appeal.

His grandad Arthur was a meat wholesaler in 1939 when war broke out.

He died in Watford, Herts, in 1994, age 87.

To bid in the auction go to matchwornshirt.co.uk/poppy