Association football during World War I
Encyclopedia
When World War I
was declared in 1914, it had a negative effect on association football; in some countries competitions were suspended and players signed up to fight, resulting in the deaths of many players. Frederick Wall
, Secretary of the Football Association
, famously implied Jimmy Hogan
was a traitor for spending the duration of World War I in Europe.
were suspended and in their place regional league competitions were set up; appearances in these tournaments do not count in players' official records.
Even though the Swiss Football League
was not suspended, some 5,800 footballers – out of a total of 8,500 – signed up to fight. However, most of the pitches were destroyed – 420000 square feet (39,019.3 m²) out of a total of 920000 square feet (85,470.8 m²) had been turned into potato fields.
After the outbreak of war in 1914, the Swiss national side
did not compete again until 1920.
or Christmas Day between German
and British
or French
troops in World War I
, particularly that between British and German troops stationed along the Western Front
during Christmas 1914. During the truce, a game of football was played between the British and German soldiers.
made a direct appeal for footballers to volunteer for service. Many players heeded the calls, and a special Football Battalion was formed, as part of the Middlesex Regiment
. The regiment was led by Frank Buckley
, who later estimated that over 500 of the battalion's original 600 men had died. There were over 5,000 men playing professional football in Great Britain 1914, and of those, 2,000 joined the military services. Many football players, both amateur and professional, lost their lives. Scottish side Celtic
was badly affected
, and lost seven players. Another Scottish side, Brechin City
, lost six players.
, Hibernian
, Falkirk
and Raith Rovers
, and managed to raise 1300 men in six days.
(MC
and VC
), Donald Simpson Bell
(VC
), William Angus
(VC
), Jimmy Speirs (MM
), Tim Coleman
(MM
) and David Glen (MM
).
Others to receive decoration include Leigh Richmond Roose
(MM
) and Philip F. Fullard
MC
and AFC
). Other players who were not awarded medals have also been honoured, such as Walter Tull
, who is honoured on both the Arras Memorial
and at Northampton Town's
Sixfields Stadium
.
, for example, lost nine players - first-team players Bob Torrance
, Jimmy Speirs, Evelyn Lintott
, James Conlin
, James Comrie
, Gerald Kirk
, and reserve players George Draycott, Ernest Goodwin, and Harry Potter. William Baker
, a member of the Plymouth Argyle
team that won the Southern League
in 1913, was killed in Serre during the Battle of the Somme.
, France, near Delville Wood
, to commemorate those from the Footballers' Batallions who had fought and died in the Great War.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was declared in 1914, it had a negative effect on association football; in some countries competitions were suspended and players signed up to fight, resulting in the deaths of many players. Frederick Wall
Frederick Wall
Sir Frederick Joseph Wall was an English football player and administrator. Wall played for the Royal Engineers, and after retiring became Secretary of the Football Association, a position he held from 1895 to 1934. He was knighted in 1930, and famously called Jimmy Hogan a traitor after the latter...
, Secretary of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, famously implied Jimmy Hogan
Jimmy Hogan
James "Jimmy" Hogan was an English football player and coach of Irish descent...
was a traitor for spending the duration of World War I in Europe.
Competition
Between 1915 and 1919 competitive football was suspended in England. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead. The Football League and FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
were suspended and in their place regional league competitions were set up; appearances in these tournaments do not count in players' official records.
Even though the Swiss Football League
Swiss Football League
The Swiss Football League is organised in several leagues.-Proposed system from 2012-13 season onwards:-External links:* * * * *...
was not suspended, some 5,800 footballers – out of a total of 8,500 – signed up to fight. However, most of the pitches were destroyed – 420000 square feet (39,019.3 m²) out of a total of 920000 square feet (85,470.8 m²) had been turned into potato fields.
After the outbreak of war in 1914, the Swiss national side
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
did not compete again until 1920.
Christmas truce
The "Christmas truce" is a term used to describe several brief unofficial cessations of hostilities that occurred on Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
or Christmas Day between German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
or French
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
troops in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, particularly that between British and German troops stationed along the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
during Christmas 1914. During the truce, a game of football was played between the British and German soldiers.
The Football Battalion
On 6 February 1914, author Arthur Conan DoyleArthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
made a direct appeal for footballers to volunteer for service. Many players heeded the calls, and a special Football Battalion was formed, as part of the Middlesex Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
. The regiment was led by Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
, who later estimated that over 500 of the battalion's original 600 men had died. There were over 5,000 men playing professional football in Great Britain 1914, and of those, 2,000 joined the military services. Many football players, both amateur and professional, lost their lives. Scottish side Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
was badly affected
Celtic F.C. and World War I
Many Celtic F.C. players fought in World War I. Seven former Celtic players died.- Background :In the early 20th Century Celtic F.C. was already a successful club having won 10 Scottish League Championships and 8 Scottish Cups in their 26 year history...
, and lost seven players. Another Scottish side, Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
, lost six players.
Edinburgh City Pals
Although not an official battalion, the Edinburgh City Pals was populated with players and fans from HeartsHeart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
and Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
, and managed to raise 1300 men in six days.
Decorated footballers
A number of British soldiers received medals for bravery during World War I, including Bernard VannBernard Vann
Lieutenant Colonel Bernard William Vann VC MC & Bar) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:Vann was born in Rushden, Northamptonshire and...
(MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
), Donald Simpson Bell
Donald Simpson Bell
Donald Simpson Bell VC was an English school teacher and professional footballer. During the First World War he was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions in the Somme.-Football:...
(VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
), William Angus
William Angus
William Angus VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
(VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
), Jimmy Speirs (MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
), Tim Coleman
Tim Coleman
John George "Tim" Coleman was an English footballer.Coleman was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and first played for local non-league sides, Kettering Town and then Northampton Town in 1901...
(MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
) and David Glen (MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
).
Others to receive decoration include Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond "Dick" Roose, MM, was a Welsh international footballer who kept goal for a number of professional clubs in the Football League between 1901 and 1912. A celebrated amateur at a time when the game was played largely by professionals, Roose was renowned as one of the best players in...
(MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
) and Philip F. Fullard
Philip F. Fullard
Air Commodore Philip Fletcher Fullard CBE, DSO, MC and Bar, AFC was an English First World War flying ace, and was one of the most successful fighter pilots of the Royal Flying Corps...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
). Other players who were not awarded medals have also been honoured, such as Walter Tull
Walter Tull
Walter Daniel John Tull was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town...
, who is honoured on both the Arras Memorial
Arras Memorial
The Arras Memorial is a World War I memorial in France, located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, in the western part of the town of Arras...
and at Northampton Town's
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
Sixfields Stadium
Sixfields Stadium
Sixfields Stadium is a 7,653-capacity all-seater sports stadium in Northampton, England. It has been the home ground of Northampton Town Football Club following their move from the County Ground in October 1994....
.
Players killed in action
Teams lost a number of players during the conflict. English team Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, for example, lost nine players - first-team players Bob Torrance
Bob Torrance
Robert "Bob" Torrance was a Scottish footballer who played in defence for hometown team Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Bradford City....
, Jimmy Speirs, Evelyn Lintott
Evelyn Lintott
Evelyn Henry Lintott was an English international footballer, who joined the British Army and died in the First World War....
, James Conlin
James Conlin
James Conlin was an English footballer who played club football for Bradford City between 1904 and 1906. He represented the English national side once, in 1906, in a match against Scotland. He was killed in June 1917 in Flanders, during the First World War.-External links:***...
, James Comrie
James Comrie
James Comrie was a Scottish football player who played in both Scotland and England, for Third Lanark, Reading, Glossop North End, Bradford City, Lincoln City, Grantham Town and Stenhousemuir....
, Gerald Kirk
Gerald Kirk
Gerald Kirk was an English football player who played for Bradford City and Leeds United. He served in the Great War with the King's Own Lancaster Regiment, rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. He died in battle on 24 April 1915 at Poperinge.-External links:*...
, and reserve players George Draycott, Ernest Goodwin, and Harry Potter. William Baker
William Baker (footballer)
William James Baker was an English professional footballer who played 202 games in the Southern League and FA Cup for Plymouth Argyle between 1909 and 1915. He played as a wing half....
, a member of the Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
team that won the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
in 1913, was killed in Serre during the Battle of the Somme.
Memorials
On 21 October 2010, the Footballers' Battalions Memorial was unveiled at LonguevalLongueval
Longueval is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Longueval is located 24 miles northwest of Amiens on the D919 road, at the junction with the D8....
, France, near Delville Wood
Delville Wood
The Battle of Delville Wood was one of the early engagements in the 1916 Battle of the Somme in the First World War. It took place between 14 July and 3 September, between the armies of the German Empire and allied British and South African forces...
, to commemorate those from the Footballers' Batallions who had fought and died in the Great War.