Plans to demolish an historic prisoner of war camp to build posh million pound houses were thrown out last night.
Developers wanted to knock down Camp 116 in Hatfield Heath, Essex and build an exclusive housing estate.
But a planning inspector told them they could not proceed – describing the camp as a “remarkably rare survival from the Second World War.”
Villagers said they were celebrating "an early Christmas present" with the decision.
The camp became famous when a PoW inmates XI played the local village side in a Boxing Day football “match of peace” in 1945 and thrashed them 11-0.
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The campaign to save the camp, constructed in 1941, for future generations was spearheaded by Jim Bradley and Deb Holmes.
Their efforts were first reported by the Daily Mirror last year.
Mr Bradley said: “We are so pleased that the Prisoner of War camp has been saved from demolition.
“It would have been a tragedy if it had been knocked down for an exclusive housing estate.
“It’s part of our village history.
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“Now we need to see if the owners can help preserve the buildings which have fallen into disrepair.
“I would like to thank the council for their decision – it’s a great Christmas present for the people of Hatfield Heath.”
In making his decision to save the camp the independent Inspector, Graham Chamberlain, said: “It is a remarkably rare survival from the Second World War, particularly as the buildings were not designed to last.
"Thus, although the buildings individually may be of limited interest, Camp 116 as a whole is undoubtedly a non-designated heritage asset that is of considerable historic and archaeological interest given the rarity, association with a national event and the relatively good state of preservation."
The last surviving player from the game Ron “Pudding” Jones died several years ago.
Hatfield Heath FC are planning an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their heaviest ever defeat next year.
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