Perhaps from left of centre this one, though at the outbreak of the Great War (1914-1918), more commonly known as World War 1, arguments sparked in newspapers about whether professional football should continue.
It for sure, is hard for many, if not all of us to fathom. Living in a world with, essentially ‘total war’, before technology advanced and day-to-day things we all take for granted are heavily affected.
Obviously, this was the case in the war, with the whole country needing to pull together. Millions of men went to the front – a place where social barriers and class divides went out the window.
Formation Of The Footballers’ Battalion
Unknown, under Crown Copyright, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
With opinions being exchanged in newspapers and the government coming under increasing pressure one way or another, tensions mounted and reached boiling point.
Many major personalities of the day, including W.G Grace and FM Roberts were inclined to voice their opinion, while there were suggestions that King George V should withdraw his patronage of the Football Association
It got to the point where the press were criticising players for not signing up and being ‘unpatriotic’, despite still not knowing where they stood, with no ‘official’ order or clarity on what they were and were not allowed to do. Eventually, FM Kitchener and the FA realised that something had to be done.
Following months of debate in the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon Joyson Hicks ordered the formation of the Footballers’ Battalion (17th Middlesex) at the Fulham Town Hall, with 35 professional footballers immediately signing up.
Though, as part of their ‘contract’ professionals were allowed to be excused from the front every week to play for their professional clubs, which, in a way, was probably an effective morale boosting technique.
In the three months that followed, it led to 300 more professional footballers signing up, with amateurs and even supporters following suit – eager to serve alongside their favourite players.
It led to the formation of a second Footballers’ Battalion, such was the interest in professional footballers serving their country. By the time the war ended in November 2018, over 1,500 men who had served with the Footballers’ Battalion had lost their lives.
High Profile Footballers Lost Their Lives
Un-named photographer, Holloway Collection State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Australia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Most of the Footballers’ Battalion fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 – indeed, one of the bloodiest battles of the war and numerous lost their lives, with many others badly wounded.
Of those who were killed in action, there was Walter Tull (Tottenham and Northampton), Evelyn Lintott (Queen’s Park Rangers, Bradford City and Leeds City) and Richard McFadden (Clapton Orient) who had been awarded the Military Medal.
Other high profile players that were wounded included Frank Buckley and Vivian Woodward, who was an England international.
It is indeed a sombre thought that there were many players who didn’t have any experience of the sport in a world without war and died fighting for their country, while still playing to keep up morale on the home front. We will remember them.
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