Football Battalion

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17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Recruitment poster featuring the Football Battalion
Active12 December 1914
CountryFile:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
BranchFile:Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
TypeBattalion
RoleInfantry
Size600 troops
Nickname(s)"The Football Battalion"
"1st Football"

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.

History

17th (Service Battalion)

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)

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

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

  • Players listed in bold won full international caps.

Playing positions

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

Officers

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
Lt Col Alan Haig-Brown File:Flag of England.svg 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 File:Flag of England.svg England DF Bradford City 17th [nb 2]
Cpt Percy Barnfather File:Flag of England.svg England WH Croydon Common 17th MC [nb 3] [12]
Cpt Edward Bell File:Flag of England.svg 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 File:Flag of England.svg England CF Chelsea 17th [nb 5] [13]
2nd Lt Walter Tull File:Flag of England.svg 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

Rank Name Nationality Position Club prior to enlistment Battalion(s) Wartime death date Wartime death place Decorations Notes Ref
CSM Tommy Gibson File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland FB Nottingham Forest 17th [15]
CSM Richard McFadden File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland FW Clapton Orient 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 26–27) Somme, France MM [16]
CSM Joe Smith File:Flag of England.svg England HB Chesterfield 17th 13 November 1916(1916-11-13) (aged 26–27) Pas-de-Calais, France MiD [17]
CSM Lyndon Sandoe File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales FB Cardiff City 17th DCM and Bar, MM [2]
CSgt Fred Bartholomew File:Flag of England.svg England OR Reading 17th [18]
CSgt Fred Parker File:Flag of England.svg England FW Clapton Orient 17th [19]
Sgt William Baker File:Flag of England.svg England WH Plymouth Argyle 17th 22 October 1916(1916-10-22) (aged 32–33) Somme, France MM [20]
Sgt Ernie Coquet File:Flag of England.svg England FB Fulham 17th [nb 7] [21]
Sgt Robert Dalrymple File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland IF Clapton Orient 17th [22]
Sgt Nolan Evans File:Flag of England.svg England LB Clapton Orient 17th [23]
Sgt Harry Gibson File:Flag of England.svg England LH Clapton Orient 17th [nb 8] [24]
Sgt Fred Goodwin File:Flag of England.svg England OL Exeter City 17th [nb 9]
[nb 10]
[25]
[26]
Sgt Ted Hanney File:Flag of England.svg England CH Manchester City 17th [27]
Sgt Jimmy McCormick File:Flag of England.svg England RH Plymouth Argyle 17th [nb 11] [28]
Sgt Joe Mercer File:Flag of England.svg England CH Nottingham Forest 17th [nb 12] [29]
Sgt Sam Morris File:Flag of England.svg England WH Bristol Rovers 17th [30]
Sgt Charles Stewart File:Flag of England.svg England IF Croydon Common 17th [31]
Sgt Arthur Whalley File:Flag of England.svg England WH Manchester United 23rd [32]
Sgt Norman Wood File:Flag of England.svg England IL Stockport County 17th 28 July 1916(1916-07-28) (aged 26–27) Delville Wood, France [33]
Sgt Maurice Woodward File:Flag of England.svg England HB/LB Southend United 17th [34]
Act Sgt George Beech File:Flag of England.svg England LB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [nb 13] [35]
Act Sgt Fred Keenor File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales DF Cardiff City 17th [nb 13] [36]
Lce Sgt Jack Cock File:Flag of England.svg England CF Huddersfield Town 17th [nb 13] [37]
Lce Sgt George McDonald File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland OR Norwich City 17th [38]

Junior non-commissioned officers

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

Ranks

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 File:Flag of England.svg England HB/IL Aston Villa 17th [61]
Pte Jasper Batey File:Flag of England.svg England LH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 23 October 1916(1916-10-23) (aged 25) Pas-de-Calais, France [nb 17] [62]
Pte Billy Booth File:Flag of England.svg England CH Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [63]
Pte Jack Borthwick File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland CH Millwall Athletic 17th [64]
Pte George Bowler File:Flag of England.svg England RH Tottenham Hotspur 17th, 23rd [65]
Pte James Bowler File:Flag of England.svg England DF Crystal Palace 17th [66]
Pte David Chalmers File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland CF Grimsby Town 17th [67]
Pte Tommy Codd File:Flag of England.svg England OL Leicester Fosse 17th [nb 25] [68]
Pte Tim Coleman File:Flag of England.svg England FW Nottingham Forest 17th [69]
Pte George Crowther File:Flag of England.svg England FW Hurst 17th MM [nb 26] [70]
Pte William Daley File:Flag of England.svg England n/a Chelsea 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 30–31) Guillemont, France [71]
Pte Sam Davis File:Flag of England.svg England RB Plymouth Argyle 17th MM [nb 27] [72]
Pte Charles Dexter File:Flag of England.svg England FB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 27 June 1917(1917-06-27) (aged 26–27) Derby, England [nb 28] [73]
Pte John Dunn File:Flag of England.svg England IR Luton Town 17th [nb 29] [74]
Pte Jack Dodds File:Flag of England.svg England FW Oldham Athletic 17th [51]
Pte Jack Durston File:Flag of England.svg England GK Queens Park Rangers 17th [75]
Pte Joe Fidler File:Flag of England.svg England FB Port Vale 17th [76]
Pte Allen Foster File:Flag of England.svg England IF Reading 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28–29) Corbie, France [77]
Pte Robert Frith File:Flag of England.svg England HB Luton Town 17th [nb 29] [78]
Pte Hugh Gallacher File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland LH Bristol Rovers 17th [30]
Pte Billy Gerrish File:Flag of England.svg 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 File:Flag of England.svg England RB Millwall Athletic 17th 28 April 1917 (aged 35) Oppy Wood, France [80]
Pte Haydn Green File:Flag of England.svg England IR Reading 17th [81]
Pte Alf Gregson File:Flag of England.svg England FW Grimsby Town 17th [82]
Pte Albert Holmes File:Flag of England.svg England OL Coventry City 17th [83]
Pte Henry Hogarth File:Flag of England.svg England HB Burnley 17th [30]
Pte Percy Humphreys File:Flag of England.svg England IR FC Basel (manager) 17th [nb 29] [84]
Pte Hunter n/a FW Gainsborough Trinity 17th [85]
Pte Harry Iremonger File:Flag of England.svg England GK Nottingham Forest 17th [86]
Pte William Jonas File:Flag of England.svg England FW Clapton Orient 17th 27 July 1916(1916-07-27) (aged 25) Delville Wood, France [45]
Pte Billy Jones File:Flag of England.svg England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [87]
Pte David Kenny File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland CH Grimsby Town 17th [82]
Eddie King File:Flag of England.svg England RH Clapton Orient 17th [nb 30] [88]
Pte John Lamb File:Flag of England.svg England HB The Wednesday 17th [76]
Pte Frank Lindley File:Flag of England.svg England OR Luton Town 17th [89]
Pte Oscar Linkson File:Flag of England.svg England FB Shelbourne 17th 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 28) Somme, France [90]
Pte Tommy Lonsdale File:Flag of England.svg England GK West Ham United 17th [91]
Pte Frank Martin File:Flag of England.svg England DF Grimsby Town 17th [82]
Pte Tom McKenna Ireland Ireland FB Grimsby Town 17th [67]
Pte Joe McLauchlan File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland CF Watford 17th [nb 31] [92]
Pte Billy Middleton File:Flag of England.svg England FW Crystal Palace 17th [93]
Pte Arthur Mounteney File:Flag of England.svg England IF Hinckley Athletic 17th [68]
Pte Archie Needham File:Flag of England.svg England U Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [94]
Pte Thomas Newton File:Flag of England.svg England GK Croydon Common 17th [nb 32] [95]
Pte Wilf Nixon File:Flag of England.svg England GK Fulham 17th [nb 33] [96]
Pte John Nuttall File:Flag of England.svg England HB Millwall Athletic 17th [97]
Pte William Oliver File:Flag of England.svg England OL Tottenham Hotspur 17th [nb 34] [98]
Pte Joseph Orme File:Flag of England.svg England GK Millwall Athletic 17th [99]
Pte Alonzo Poulton File:Flag of England.svg 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 File:Flag of England.svg England LB Clapton Orient 17th [102]
Pte William Reed File:Flag of England.svg England CF Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [103]
Pte Stan Ripley File:Flag of England.svg England HB Stoke City 17th 10 March 1917(1917-03-10) (aged 23–24) Sunderland, England [nb 17] [30]
Pte Hugh Roberts File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales OR Luton Town 17th [104]
Pte George Robertson File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland LH/IL Birmingham 17th [30]
Pte Harry Robotham File:Flag of England.svg England RH Retired 23rd 12 September 1916(1916-09-12) (aged 37) Somme, France [105]
Pte Fred Robson File:Flag of England.svg England FB Southend United 17th [106]
Pte Charles Romain File:Flag of England.svg England U Croydon Common 17th [107]
Pte Peter Roney File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland GK Bristol Rovers 17th [nb 35] [108]
Pte Ralph Routledge File:Flag of England.svg England n/a Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [nb 36] [51]
Pte Ernest Russ n/a n/a Chelsea 17th [109]
Pte George Scott File:Flag of England.svg England CH Clapton Orient 17th 16 August 1916(1916-08-16) (aged 30) Nord, France [nb 37] [110]
Pte Angus Seed File:Flag of England.svg England RB Leicester Fosse 17th MM [68]
Pte Jackie Sheldon File:Flag of England.svg England OR Liverpool 17th [111]
Pte Ernie Simms File:Flag of England.svg England CF Luton Town 17th, 23rd [112]
Pte Cyril Smith File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg 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 File:Flag of England.svg England RB Wingate Albion 17th [114]
Pte Alexander Stewart File:Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland FB Watford 17th [nb 39] [115]
Pte Percy Summers File:Flag of England.svg England GK Grimsby Town 17th [67]
Pte Frank Taylor n/a n/a Northampton Town 17th [116]
Pte Arthur Tilley File:Flag of England.svg England OR Clapton Orient 17th, 23rd [nb 29] [117]
Pte Albert Tomkins File:Flag of England.svg England HB/IF Croydon Common 17th [nb 40] [118]
Pte Alfred Tyler File:Flag of England.svg England OL Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [119]
Pte Dick Upex File:Flag of England.svg England IL Croydon Common 17th [120]
Pte Joe Webster File:Flag of England.svg England GK West Ham United 17th [121]
Pte Alf West File:Flag of England.svg England FB Notts County 17th [122]
Pte Bob Whiting File:Flag of England.svg England GK Brighton & Hove Albion 17th 28 April 1917(1917-04-28) (aged 34) Oppy Wood, France [nb 41] [80]
Pte Fred Whittaker File:Flag of England.svg England FW Millwall Athletic 17th [26]
Pte George Whitworth File:Flag of England.svg England CF Northampton Town 17th [123]
Pte Arthur Wileman File:Flag of England.svg 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 File:Flag of Wales (1959–present).svg Wales FW Millwall Athletic 17th 5 June 1916(1916-06-05) (aged 32) Pas-de-Calais, France [2]
n/a Skilly Williams File:Flag of England.svg England GK Watford 17th [125]
Pte Ernest Williamson File:Flag of England.svg England GK Croydon Common 17th [nb 29] [126]
Pte T. T. Wilson n/a HB Luton Town 17th [127]
Pte Jack Woodhouse File:Flag of England.svg England HB Brighton & Hove Albion 17th [128]

See also

Notes

  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. 12.0 12.1 Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 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. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 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. 19.0 19.1 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. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 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

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Baker, Chris. "The Middlesex Regiment in 1914–1918". www.1914-1918.net. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Devine, Darren (8 October 2010). "Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex – the "Football Battalion"". Western Mail. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 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. 8.0 8.1 "Lancing College War Memorial". www.hambo.org. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. 9.0 9.1 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. 26.0 26.1 "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. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 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.
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