A PLAQUE has been unveiled the Dell Stadium in honour of Dudley's own Duncan Edwards, ahead of a prestigious tournament in his honour.

The football pitch at the Bryce Road site was officially declared The Duncan Edwards Peace Field as civic dignitaries, former team-mates of Duncan, and ex-Aston Villa European Cup winner Tony Morley attended the officially unveiling on Wednesday.

In a moving tribute, the field is to be twinned with designated play areas at Flanders Peace Field, in Messine, Belgium, the site of the Christmas truces in 1914 during the First World War.

During Christmas 1914, Allied and German soldiers stopped fighting to sing carols and play football.

The plaque reads: “All games and sports on this Peace Field will be played in the spirit of the Christmas truces. Lest we forget.”

Duncan Edwards' pitch joins three other Peace Field projects in the UK in honour of footballing icons – George Best in Belfast, Denis Law in Aberdeen and Sir Tom Finney in Preston.

Football teams representing each will play in the inaugural Peace Field tournament at the Dell in May next year, where they will compete for the Duncan Edwards Trophy modelled on the statue of the star in Dudley town centre.

Jim Cadman, of the Duncan Edwards Tribute, said: "The positive response to our plans for the Duncan Edwards Peace Field project has been quite remarkable.

"It will now provide a strong platform to promote the football heritage of Duncan Edwards – and link his birthplace of Dudley with some of the greatest cities in the world."

Councillor Steve Clark, cabinet member for finance and legal services, said: "The Duncan Edwards Peace Field is a wonderful initiative and a sobering reminder to us all of the sacrifices made for our freedoms, as well as another tribute to Dudley’s most famous footballing son.

"We are looking to put Dudley borough firmly on the map with our bid for city status. Hosting prestigious events like next May’s competition for the inaugural Duncan Edwards Trophy can only help us with that bid."

The dedication has been organised and funded by the Duncan Edwards Tribute in conjunction with Dudley Council.