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Football Battalion

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The 17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was an infantry battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, part of the British Army, which was formed as a Pals battalion during the Great War. The core of the battalion was a group of professional footballers, which was the reason for its most commonly used name, The Football Battalion (also the footballers' or players' battalion). The 23rd (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment was formed in June 1915 and became known as the 2nd Football Battalion.[1] The battalions fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 among others. Soldiers who fought in the 17th and 23rd Battalions included Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, who was possibly the first black infantry officer in the British Army.

17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
Active12 December 1914
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeBattalion
RoleInfantry
Size600 troops
Nickname(s)"The Football Battalion"
"1st Football"

History

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17th (Service Battalion)

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During the First World War there had been an initial push by clubs for professional football to continue, in order to keep the public's spirits up. This stance was not widely agreed with and public opinion turned against professional footballers. One soldier, serving in France, wrote to a British newspaper to complain that "hundreds of thousands of able-bodied young roughs were watching hirelings playing football" while others were serving their country. The suggestion was even made that King George V should cease being a patron of The Football Association.[2]

William Joynson-Hicks formed the battalion on 12 December 1914 at Fulham Town Hall after Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, suggested it as part of the Pals battalion scheme.[2][3] England international Frank Buckley became the first player to join, out of thirty players who signed up at its formation.[2] The formation was announced to the general public on 1 January 1915.[4]

During training, the players were allowed leave on a Saturday to return to their clubs to take part in games. However, the clubs found themselves having to subsidise the train fares as the Army did not pay for them.[2]

By March 1915, 122 professional footballers had signed up for the battalion, which led to press complaints as there were some 1800 eligible footballers.[3] These recruits included 41 players, staff and supporters of Clapton Orient (later to be known as Leyton Orient) and 16 Heart of Midlothian players signed up for the 16th Royal Scots ('McCrae's Battalion').[5][6] In addition to footballers, officials and referees also joined the 17th, along with football fans themselves.[2] Many football players deliberately chose to avoid the battalion by joining other regiments, causing the War Office to initially have difficulties filling the battalion.[2]

A number of decorations were issued to the soldiers with the battalion. Lyndon Sandoe, of Cardiff City, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal with bar, and the Military Medal.[2] The battalion suffered heavy losses, including at the Battle of Delville Wood and the Battle of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme.[7] During the First World War, the battalion lost more than a thousand men, including 462 in one battle alone at the Battle of Arras in 1917.[3]

The 17th was assigned to the 6th Infantry Brigade, part of the 2nd Infantry Division.[1]

23rd (Service Battalion)

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A second football battalion, the 23rd (Service) Battalion was formed in June 1915.[1] Former Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton Orient footballer Alan Haig-Brown was appointed commanding officer in September 1916.[8]

The 23rd was assigned to the 123rd Brigade, part of the 41st Division.

Legacy

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A memorial to the Football Battalion was unveiled in 2010 in Longueval, France. It was attended by members of the Football Supporters' Federation and representatives of more than 20 clubs. It had been paid for through donations received from football supporters having been promoted by former professional footballer and SAS soldier Phil Stant.[9] The ceremony was conducted by Father Owen Beament of Millwall and a two-minute silence was initiated by Gareth Ainsworth.[10]

A granite memorial to the three Clapton Orient players who died in the Battle of the Somme whilst members of the battalion was unveiled in 2011, located in the village of Flers, Northern France. Over 200 Leyton Orient supporters travelled for the unveiling, which commemorated the lives of Richard McFadden, William Jonas and George Scott.[11] A second memorial to commemorate the Clapton Orient side that served on the Somme, was installed and dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday, 23 October 2022. The memorial was unveiled by former O's captain Dean Smith and Stephen Jenkins, chairman of the O's Somme Memorial Fund.

Key

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  • Players listed in bold won full international caps.

Playing positions

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GK Goalkeeper RB Right back RW Right winger DF Defender HB Half back IF Inside forward DM Defensive midfielder
OL Outside left LB Left back LW Left winger CB Centre back FW Forward FB Full back RM Right midfielder
W Winger MF Midfielder ST Striker WH Wing half AM Attacking midfielder CM Central midfielder LM Left midfielder
U Utility player OR Outside right SW Sweeper LH Left half RH Right half

Soldiers

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Officers

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Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Lt Col Alan Haig-Brown   England OR Clapton Orient 23rd 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 40) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France DSO, MiD [nb 1] [8]
Maj Frank Buckley   England DF Bradford City 17th — — — [nb 2]
Cpt Percy Barnfather   England WH Croydon Common 17th — — MC [nb 3] [12]
Cpt Edward Bell   England OF South Farnborough 17th 24 March 1918(1918-03-24) (aged 31–32) Somme, France MC and Bar [nb 4] [9]
Cpt Vivian Woodward   England CF Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 5] [13]
2nd Lt Walter Tull   England IF/HB Northampton Town 17th, 23rd 25 March 1918(1918-03-25) (aged 29) Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [nb 6] [14]

Senior non-commissioned officers

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Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
CSM Tommy Gibson   Scotland FB Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [15]
CSM Richard McFadden   Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 26–27) Somme, France MM [16]
CSM Joe Smith   England HB Chesterfield 17th 13 November 1916(1916-11-13) (aged 26–27) Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [17]
CSM Lyndon Sandoe   Wales FB Cardiff City 17th — — DCM and Bar, MM [2]
CSgt Fred Bartholomew   England OR Reading 17th — — — [18]
CSgt Fred Parker   England FW Clapton Orient 17th — — — [19]
Sgt William Baker   England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th 22 October 1916(1916-10-22) (aged 32–33) Somme, France MM [20]
Sgt Ernie Coquet   England FB Fulham 17th — — — [nb 7] [21]
Sgt Robert Dalrymple   Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [22]
Sgt Nolan Evans   England LB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [23]
Sgt Harry Gibson   England LH Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 8] [24]
Sgt Fred Goodwin   England OL Exeter City 17th — — — [nb 9]
[nb 10] 		[25]
[26]
Sgt Ted Hanney   England CH Manchester City 17th — — — [27]
Sgt Jimmy McCormick   England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th — — — [nb 11] [28]
Sgt Joe Mercer   England CH Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [nb 12] [29]
Sgt Sam Morris   England WH Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [30]
Sgt Charles Stewart   England IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [31]
Sgt Arthur Whalley   England WH Manchester United 23rd — — — [32]
Sgt Norman Wood   England IL Stockport County 17th 28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged 26–27) Delville Wood, France — [33]
Sgt Maurice Woodward   England HB/LB Southend United 17th — — — [34]
Act Sgt George Beech   England LB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [nb 13] [35]
Act Sgt Fred Keenor   Wales DF Cardiff City 17th — — — [nb 13] [36]
Lce Sgt Jack Cock   England CF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [nb 13] [37]
Lce Sgt George McDonald   Scotland OR Norwich City 17th — — — [38]

Junior non-commissioned officers

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Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Cpl Ben Butler   England CH Queens Park Rangers 17th 13 May 1916(1916-05-13) (aged 27–28) Bruay-la-Buissière, France — [39]
Cpl Jack Doran   Ireland CF Coventry City 17th — — MM [40]
Cpl George Ford   England LB Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [nb 14] [41]
Cpl David Gray   Scotland FW St Mirren 17th — — — [30]
Cpl Jimmy Hugall   England GK Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 15] [42]
Cpl George Pyke   England CF Newcastle United 17th — — — [43]
Cpl Arthur Roe   England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [44]
Cpl George Saunders n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [45]
Cpl Billy Spittle   England IF Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [nb 16] [46]
Cpl Sandy Turnbull   Scotland IF Manchester United 23rd 3 May 1917(1917-05-03) (aged 32) Chérisy, France — [nb 17] [47]
Act Cpl William Krug   England GK Chelsea 17th — — — [48]
Lce Cpl Joe Bailey   England IF Reading 17th — — DSO, MC and Two Bars, MiD [nb 18]
[nb 19] 		[49]
Lce Cpl Charlie Bell   Scotland FW Chesterfield 17th — — — [50]
Lce Cpl Fred Bullock   England DF Huddersfield Town 17th — — — [51]
Lce Cpl Charles Bunyan, Sr.   England GK Standard Liège (manager) 17th — — — [52]
Lce Cpl Herbert Dersley   England n/a Croydon Common 17th 1 June 1916 Pas-de-Calais, France — [53]
Lce Cpl Edward Foord   England FW Chelsea 17th — — — [nb 20] [51]
Lce Cpl Pat Gallacher   Scotland OF Ton Pentre 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 13]
[nb 21]
[nb 22] 		[54]
Lce Cpl Norman Holmes   England DF Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 23] [55]
Lce Cpl Robert Houston n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal 17th — — — [56]
Lce Cpl Tom Pearson n/a n/a Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 24] [57]
Lce Cpl Henry Pennifer   England HB Queens Park Rangers 17th 24 March 1918 Somme, France — [nb 13]
[nb 17] 		[58]
Lce Cpl Sidney Wheelhouse   England RB Grimsby Town 17th 19 September 1916(1916-09-19) (aged 27–28) Somme, France — [59]

Ranks

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Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Pte Charles Abbs n/a n/a Norwich City 17th — — — [nb 12] [60]
Pte Tommy Barber   England HB/IL Aston Villa 17th — — — [61]
Pte Jasper Batey   England LH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25) Pas-de-Calais, France — [nb 17] [62]
Pte Billy Booth   England CH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [63]
Pte Jack Borthwick   Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [64]
Pte George Bowler   England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th, 23rd — — — [65]
Pte James Bowler   England DF Crystal Palace 17th — — — [66]
Pte David Chalmers   Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [67]
Pte Tommy Codd   England OL Leicester Fosse 17th — — — [nb 25] [68]
Pte Tim Coleman   England FW Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [69]
Pte George Crowther   England FW Hurst 17th — — MM [nb 26] [70]
Pte William Daley   England n/a Chelsea 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 30–31) Guillemont, France — [71]
Pte Sam Davis   England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th — — MM [nb 27] [72]
Pte Charles Dexter   England FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 26–27) Derby, England — [nb 28] [73]
Pte John Dunn   England IR Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 29] [74]
Pte Jack Dodds   England FW Oldham Athletic 17th — — — [51]
Pte Jack Durston   England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th — — — [75]
Pte Joe Fidler   England FB Port Vale 17th — — — [76]
Pte Allen Foster   England IF Reading 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28–29) Corbie, France — [77]
Pte Robert Frith   England HB Luton Town 17th — — — [nb 29] [78]
Pte Hugh Gallacher   Scotland LH Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [30]
Pte Billy Gerrish   England IF Unattached 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 31) Delville Wood, France — [79]
n/a David Girdwood n/a FB Chelsea 17th — — — [51]
Pte Charles Green   England RB Millwall Athletic 17th 28 April 1917 (aged 35) Oppy Wood, France — [80]
Pte Haydn Green   England IR Reading 17th — — — [81]
Pte Alf Gregson   England FW Grimsby Town 17th — — — [82]
Pte Albert Holmes   England OL Coventry City 17th — — — [83]
Pte Henry Hogarth   England HB Burnley 17th — — — [30]
Pte Percy Humphreys   England IR FC Basel (manager) 17th — — — [nb 29] [84]
Pte Hunter n/a FW Gainsborough Trinity 17th — — — [85]
Pte Harry Iremonger   England GK Nottingham Forest 17th — — — [86]
Pte William Jonas   England FW Clapton Orient 17th 27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 25) Delville Wood, France — [45]
Pte Billy Jones   England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [87]
Pte David Kenny   Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th — — — [82]
— Eddie King   England RH Clapton Orient 17th — — — [nb 30] [88]
Pte John Lamb   England HB The Wednesday 17th — — — [76]
Pte Frank Lindley   England OR Luton Town 17th — — — [89]
Pte Oscar Linkson   England FB Shelbourne 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28) Somme, France — [90]
Pte Tommy Lonsdale   England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [91]
Pte Frank Martin   England DF Grimsby Town 17th — — — [82]
Pte Tom McKenna   Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th — — — [67]
Pte Joe McLauchlan   Scotland CF Watford 17th — — — [nb 31] [92]
Pte Billy Middleton   England FW Crystal Palace 17th — — — [93]
Pte Arthur Mounteney   England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th — — — [68]
Pte Archie Needham   England U Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [94]
Pte Thomas Newton   England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 32] [95]
Pte Wilf Nixon   England GK Fulham 17th — — — [nb 33] [96]
Pte John Nuttall   England HB Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [97]
Pte William Oliver   England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th — — — [nb 34] [98]
Pte Joseph Orme   England GK Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [99]
Pte Alonzo Poulton   England IR West Bromwich Albion 17th — — — [100]
Pte Thomas Ratcliff n/a n/a Woolwich Arsenal (trainer) 17th — — — [51]
Pte Joseph Raw n/a FB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [101]
Pte Jumbo Reason   England LB Clapton Orient 17th — — — [102]
Pte William Reed   England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [103]
Pte Stan Ripley   England HB Stoke City 17th 10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged 23–24) Sunderland, England — [nb 17] [30]
Pte Hugh Roberts   Wales OR Luton Town 17th — — — [104]
Pte George Robertson   Scotland LH/IL Birmingham 17th — — — [30]
Pte Harry Robotham   England RH Retired 23rd 12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged 37) Somme, France — [105]
Pte Fred Robson   England FB Southend United 17th — — — [106]
Pte Charles Romain   England U Croydon Common 17th — — — [107]
Pte Peter Roney   Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th — — — [nb 35] [108]
Pte Ralph Routledge   England n/a Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [nb 36] [51]
Pte Ernest Russ n/a n/a Chelsea 17th — — — [109]
Pte George Scott   England CH Clapton Orient 17th 16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30) Nord, France — [nb 37] [110]
Pte Angus Seed   England RB Leicester Fosse 17th — — MM [68]
Pte Jackie Sheldon   England OR Liverpool 17th — — — [111]
Pte Ernie Simms   England CF Luton Town 17th, 23rd — — — [112]
Pte Cyril Smith   Wales IL Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 38] [113]
Pte Frank Spencer n/a FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [51]
Pte John Stephenson n/a GK Cardiff City 17th — — — [85]
Pte William Stephenson   England RB Wingate Albion 17th — — — [114]
Pte Alexander Stewart   Scotland FB Watford 17th — — — [nb 39] [115]
Pte Percy Summers   England GK Grimsby Town 17th — — — [67]
Pte Frank Taylor n/a n/a Northampton Town 17th — — — [116]
Pte Arthur Tilley   England OR Clapton Orient 17th, 23rd — — — [nb 29] [117]
Pte Albert Tomkins   England HB/IF Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 40] [118]
Pte Alfred Tyler   England OL Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [119]
Pte Dick Upex   England IL Croydon Common 17th — — — [120]
Pte Joe Webster   England GK West Ham United 17th — — — [121]
Pte Alf West   England FB Notts County 17th — — — [122]
Pte Bob Whiting   England GK Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34) Oppy Wood, France — [nb 41] [80]
Pte Fred Whittaker   England FW Millwall Athletic 17th — — — [26]
Pte George Whitworth   England CF Northampton Town 17th — — — [123]
Pte Arthur Wileman   England IR Luton Town 17th 28 April 1918(1918-04-28) (aged 31–32) West Flanders, Belgium MM [nb 17]
[nb 19] 		[124]
Pte James Williams   Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th 5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged 32) Pas-de-Calais, France — [2]
n/a Skilly Williams   England GK Watford 17th — — — [125]
Pte Ernest Williamson   England GK Croydon Common 17th — — — [nb 29] [126]
Pte T. T. Wilson n/a HB Luton Town 17th — — — [127]
Pte Jack Woodhouse   England HB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th — — — [128]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Appointed commanding officer of the 23rd Battalion on 16 September 1916.
  2. ^ Transferred in from the King's Regiment (Liverpool).
  3. ^ Commissioned on 31 October 1916.
  4. ^ Also served as the battalion's adjutant.
  5. ^ Previously served in the London Regiment prior to being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment on 29 December 1914.
  6. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 23rd Battalion on 4 August 1917.
  7. ^ Later served in the Army Cyclist Corps and the Royal Engineers.
  8. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 24 August 1918.
  9. ^ Also served as a bomb-throwing instructor.
  10. ^ Later served in the London Regiment.
  11. ^ Taken prisoner of war on 8 August 1916.
  12. ^ a b Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
  13. ^ a b c d e Appointment, not rank.
  14. ^ Medically discharged on 10 October 1917.
  15. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry on 24 July 1916.
  16. ^ Medically discharged on 3 May 1918.
  17. ^ a b c d e Died while serving with another unit.
  18. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 28 August 1917.
  19. ^ a b Decorations were won while serving with another unit.
  20. ^ Appointment, not rank. Medically discharged on 16 October 1918.
  21. ^ Served as trainer of the battalion football team in June 1917.
  22. ^ Transferred to the Rifle Brigade on 27 May 1918.
  23. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 21st Battalion on 25 June 1918.
  24. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 28 August 1917.
  25. ^ Transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps and was medically discharged on 26 June 1918.
  26. ^ Transferred to the Labour Corps.
  27. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 31 October 1917.
  28. ^ Medically discharged on 10 April 1916 and later died of septic poisoning.
  29. ^ a b c d e Was released/discharged from the army before seeing active service.
  30. ^ Transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
  31. ^ Served in the 17th Battalion before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment prior to June 1916. Medically discharged in 1917.
  32. ^ Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916.
  33. ^ Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917.
  34. ^ Medically discharged on 15 September 1916.
  35. ^ Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916.
  36. ^ Discharged on 18 August 1916.
  37. ^ Taken prisoner of war.
  38. ^ Later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps.
  39. ^ Medically discharged on 29 December 1916.
  40. ^ Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918.
  41. ^ Whiting attained the rank of lance sergeant prior to being demoted to private in December 1916 after a court-martial. He was serving as a private at the time of his death.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Baker, Chris. "The Middlesex Regiment in 1914–1918". www.1914-1918.net. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Devine, Darren (8 October 2010). "Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex – the "Football Battalion"". Western Mail. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Thomas, Ronan (10 November 2010). "Final Whistle: 'Pom Pom' Whiting". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Football Battalion is Formed". The Spokesman-Review. Vol. XXXIV, no. 70. 5 January 1915. p. 2. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  5. ^ "The Story of Clapton Orient in World War One". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "The Sporting Battalion". McCraes Battalion Trust. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  7. ^ "The Manchester United star who died at the Somme – story of a true football hero". Daily Mirror. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Lancing College War Memorial". www.hambo.org. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. ^ a b Winter, Henry (21 October 2010). "Footballers' Battalions remembered on Somme battlefield". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  10. ^ Fletcher, Paul (22 October 2010). "Somme ceremony puts football in perspective". BBC Blogs. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  11. ^ Clements, Kate (22 July 2011). "Memorial to the 'Football Battalion' unveiled on the Somme". First World War Centenary (Imperial War Museum). Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Biographies – Percy Barnfather" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Vivian Woodward". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Walter Tull". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  15. ^ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 78.
  16. ^ "Richard McFadden | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Casualty Details: Joe Smith". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Frederick Bartholomew | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Frederick William Parker | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  20. ^ "William James Baker | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Ernest Coquet | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Robert Rodie Dalrymple | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Nolan Edwin Evans | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Harold Thomas Gibson | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  25. ^ Greer, Stuart (5 December 2013). "Macclesfield footballer's tour of South America featured in online exhibition". macclesfield. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  26. ^ a b "WW1's fighting footballers: Exeter City players go to war". BBC News. 10 August 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Ted Hanney – Manchester City and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  28. ^ "James McCormick | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  29. ^ Royden, Mike. "Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 53.
  31. ^ "Biographies – Charles Stewart" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  32. ^ "Arthur Whalley | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  33. ^ "Biographies – Norman Wood" (PDF). Croydon Common Football Club. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  34. ^ City, Leicester. "Leicester Fosse And The First World War: Part 21". www.lcfc.com. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  35. ^ "Our her-O's: Introducing the Orient players and staff that saw action in WWI". www.leytonorient.com. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  36. ^ "Frederick Charles Keenor | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  37. ^ "John Gilbert Cock | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  38. ^ Riddoch & Kemp 2010, p. 302.
  39. ^ "Albert Victor Butler | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  40. ^ "John Francis Doran | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  41. ^ "George Ford – Arsenal and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  42. ^ "James Cockburn Hugall | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  43. ^ "George Woolston Pyke | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  44. ^ "Lance Corporal Arthur Roe | Great War Stories". www.worldwar1luton.com. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  45. ^ a b Jenkins, Steve (5 August 2011). "Clapton Orient's "Brothers In Arms"". Leyton Orient F.C. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  46. ^ "William Spittle | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  47. ^ "The Story of Sandy Turnbull – A Manchester Football Hero". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  48. ^ "William Alfred Krug | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  49. ^ "Walter George Bailey | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  50. ^ "The Manager Issue 22". www.themanager-magazine.com. pp. 17–18. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  51. ^ a b c d e f g Riddoch, Andrew. "The Story of the Footballers' Battalions in the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  52. ^ "Charlie Bunyan". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  53. ^ Harris, Clive; Whippy, Julian (22 September 2008). The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell in The Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 172. ISBN 9781783831449.
  54. ^ "Patrick Gallacher | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  55. ^ "Norman Arnold Holmes | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
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