Commanding officer David Wilkinson said the ceremony "will be a sad occasion for all of us involved".

BBC: HMS Cornwall: Devonport ceremony marks end of frigate

The other players leaving Selhurst Park are Scott Flinders, Carl Fletcher, Ryan Carolan, James Dayton, Jamie Smith and David Wilkinson.

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CNN's Max Foster, David Wilkinson and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.

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Stein village's picturesque seafront is the setting for Loch Bay Seafood Restaurant, where David and Alison Wilkinson serve accomplished and unfussy seafood cooking.

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Anthony Wilkinson, 38, had denied murdering David Short at his Clayton home last August, but changed his plea to guilty.

BBC: Dale Cregan 'apologised for murders'

Anthony Wilkinson, 38, had denied murdering David Short, 46, at his Clayton home last August, but changed his plea at Preston Crown Court.

BBC: Dale Cregan co-accused admits murdering David Short

Anthony Wilkinson, 33, one of those accused of the murder of David Short, told police he "accidentally" fired his gun, the jury was told.

BBC: Dale Cregan 'ordered beer and cigars' before PC murders

Accused of the murder of David Short are Mr Cregan, Francis Dixon, 37, from Stalybridge, Anthony Wilkinson, 38, from Manchester, and Jermaine Ward, 24.

BBC: Dale Cregan: PCs murder trial starts

There are a host of players unavailable because of injury, including fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, wing James Simpson-Daniel, flanker Lewis Moody, wing David Strettle and full-back Nick Abendanon.

BBC: England call up uncapped quartet

Cregan and Mr Wilkinson, along with Francis Dixon, 37, from Stalybridge, all deny the murder of David Short, the attempted murder of Sharon Hark on the same day, and a single charge of causing an explosion.

BBC: Dale Cregan 'put a grenade in a man's mouth'