Football Battalion Explained

Unit Name:	17th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment
Dates:	12 December 1914
Country:	United Kingdom
Type:	Battalion
Role:	Infantry
Size:	600 troops
Nickname:	"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.^[3] England international Frank Buckley became the first player to join, out of thirty players who signed up at its formation. 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.

By March 1915, 122 professional footballers had signed up for the battalion, which led to press complaints as there were some 1800 eligible footballers. 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. Many football players deliberately chose to avoid the battalion by joining other regiments, causing the War Office to initially have difficulties filling the battalion.

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. 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.

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

23rd (Service Battalion)

A second football battalion, the 23rd (Service) Battalion was formed in June 1915. 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			OR	Clapton Orient	23rd		Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France	DSO, MiD	^[12]
Maj			DF	Bradford City	17th	—	—	—	^[13]
Cpt			WH	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	MC	^[14]	^[15]
Cpt			OF	South Farnborough	17th		Somme, France	MC and Bar	^[16]
Cpt			CF	Chelsea	17th	—	—	—	^[17]	^[18]
2nd Lt			IF/HB	Northampton Town	17th, 23rd		Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France	MiD	^[19]	^[20]

Senior non-commissioned officers

Rank	Name	Nationality	Position	Club prior to enlistment	Battalion(s)	Wartime death date	Wartime death place	Decorations	Notes	Ref
CSM			FB	Nottingham Forest	17th	—	—	—
CSM			FW	Clapton Orient	17th		Somme, France	MM		^[21]
CSM			HB	Chesterfield	17th		Pas-de-Calais, France	MiD
CSM	Lyndon Sandoe		FB	Cardiff City	17th	—	—	DCM and Bar, MM
CSgt			OR	Reading	17th	—	—	—		^[22]
CSgt			FW	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—		^[23]
Sgt			WH	Plymouth Argyle	17th		Somme, France	MM		^[24]
Sgt			FB	Fulham	17th	—	—	—	^[25]	^[26]
Sgt			IF	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—		^[27]
Sgt			LB	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—		^[28]
Sgt			LH	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—	^[29]	^[30]
Sgt			OL	Exeter City	17th	—	—	—	^[31] ^[32]	^[33]
Sgt			CH	Manchester City	17th	—	—	—		^[34]
Sgt			RH	Plymouth Argyle	17th	—	—	—	^[35]	^[36]
Sgt			CH	Nottingham Forest	17th	—	—	—	^[37]	^[38]
Sgt			WH	Bristol Rovers	17th	—	—	—
Sgt			IF	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—		^[39]
Sgt			WH	Manchester United	23rd	—	—	—		^[40]
Sgt			IL	Stockport County	17th		Delville Wood, France	—		^[41]
Sgt			HB/LB	Southend United	17th	—	—	—		^[42]
Act Sgt			LB	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—	^[43]	^[44]
Act Sgt			DF	Cardiff City	17th	—	—	—		^[45]
Lce Sgt			CF	Huddersfield Town	17th	—	—	—		^[46]
Lce Sgt			OR	Norwich City	17th	—	—	—

Junior non-commissioned officers

Rank	Name	Nationality	Position	Club prior to enlistment	Battalion(s)	Wartime death date	Wartime death place	Decorations	Notes	Ref
Cpl			CH	Queens Park Rangers	17th		Bruay-la-Buissière, France	—		^[47]
Cpl		Ireland	CF	Coventry City	17th	—	—	MM		^[48]
Cpl			LB	Woolwich Arsenal	17th	—	—	—	^[49]	^[50]
Cpl			FW	St Mirren	17th	—	—	—
Cpl			GK	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—	^[51]	^[52]
Cpl			CF	Newcastle United	17th	—	—	—		^[53]
Cpl			HB	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[54]
Cpl		n/a	n/a	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—		^[55]
Cpl			IF	Woolwich Arsenal	17th	—	—	—	^[56]	^[57]
Cpl			IF	Manchester United	23rd		Chérisy, France	—		^[58]
Act Cpl			GK	Chelsea	17th	—	—	—		^[59]
Lce Cpl	Joe Bailey		IF	Reading	17th	—	—	DSO, MC and Two Bars, MiD	^[60] ^[61]	^[62]
Lce Cpl			FW	Chesterfield	17th	—	—	—		^[63]
Lce Cpl			DF	Huddersfield Town	17th	—	—	—		^[64]
Lce Cpl			GK	Standard Liège (manager)	17th	—	—	—		^[65]
Lce Cpl			n/a	Croydon Common	17th	1 June 1916	Pas-de-Calais, France	—		^[66]
Lce Cpl			FW	Chelsea	17th	—	—	—	^[67]
Lce Cpl			OF	Ton Pentre	17th, 23rd	—	—	—	^[68] ^[69]	^[70]
Lce Cpl			DF	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—	^[71]	^[72]
Lce Cpl		n/a	n/a	Woolwich Arsenal	17th	—	—	—
Lce Cpl		n/a	n/a	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—	^[73]	^[74]
Lce Cpl			HB	Queens Park Rangers	17th	24 March 1918	Somme, France	—		^[75]
Lce Cpl			RB	Grimsby Town	17th		Somme, France	—		^[76]

Ranks

Rank	Name	Nationality	Position	Club prior to enlistment	Battalion(s)	Wartime death date	Wartime death place	Decorations	Notes	Ref
Pte		n/a	n/a	Norwich City	17th	—	—	—		^[77]
Pte			HB/IL	Aston Villa	17th	—	—	—		^[78]
Pte			LH	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th		Pas-de-Calais, France	—	^[79]	^[80]
Pte			CH	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—		^[81]
Pte			CH	Millwall Athletic	17th	—	—	—		^[82]
Pte			RH	Tottenham Hotspur	17th, 23rd	—	—	—		^[83]
Pte			DF	Crystal Palace	17th	—	—	—		^[84]
Pte			CF	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—
Pte			OL	Leicester Fosse	17th	—	—	—	^[85]	^[86]
Pte			FW	Nottingham Forest	17th	—	—	—		^[87]
Pte			FW	Hurst	17th	—	—	MM	^[88]	^[89]
Pte			n/a	Chelsea	17th		Guillemont, France	—		^[90]
Pte			RB	Plymouth Argyle	17th	—	—	MM	^[91]	^[92]
Pte			FB	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th		Derby, England	—	^[93]	^[94]
Pte			IR	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—	^[95]	^[96]
Pte			FW	Oldham Athletic	17th	—	—	—
Pte			GK	Queens Park Rangers	17th	—	—	—		^[97]
Pte			FB	Port Vale	17th	—	—	—		^[98]
Pte			IF	Reading	17th		Corbie, France	—		^[99]
Pte			HB	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[100]
Pte			LH	Bristol Rovers	17th	—	—	—
Pte			IF	Unattached	17th		Delville Wood, France	—		^[101]
n/a		n/a	FB	Chelsea	17th	—	—	—
Pte			RB	Millwall Athletic	17th	28 April 1917 (aged 35)	Oppy Wood, France	—		^[102]
Pte			IR	Reading	17th	—	—	—		^[103]
Pte			FW	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—		^[104]
Pte			OL	Coventry City	17th	—	—	—		^[105]
Pte			HB	Burnley	17th	—	—	—
Pte			IR	FC Basel (manager)	17th	—	—	—		^[106]
Pte		n/a	FW	Gainsborough Trinity	17th	—	—	—
Pte			GK	Nottingham Forest	17th	—	—	—		^[107]
Pte			FW	Clapton Orient	17th		Delville Wood, France	—
Pte			CF	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—		^[108]
Pte			CH	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—
—			RH	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—	^[109]	^[110]
Pte			HB	The Wednesday	17th	—	—	—
Pte			OR	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[111]
Pte			FB	Shelbourne	17th		Somme, France	—		^[112]
Pte			GK	West Ham United	17th	—	—	—		^[113]
Pte			DF	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—
Pte		Ireland	FB	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—
Pte			CF	Watford	17th	—	—	—	^[114]	^[115]
Pte			FW	Crystal Palace	17th	—	—	—		^[116]
Pte			IF	Hinckley Athletic	17th	—	—	—
Pte			U	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—		^[117]
Pte			GK	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—	^[118]	^[119]
Pte			GK	Fulham	17th	—	—	—	^[120]	^[121]
Pte			HB	Millwall Athletic	17th	—	—	—		^[122]
Pte			OL	Tottenham Hotspur	17th	—	—	—	^[123]	^[124]
Pte			GK	Millwall Athletic	17th	—	—	—
Pte			IR	West Bromwich Albion	17th	—	—	—
Pte		n/a	n/a	Woolwich Arsenal (trainer)	17th	—	—	—
Pte		n/a	FB	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—
Pte			LB	Clapton Orient	17th	—	—	—		^[125]
Pte			CF	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—
Pte			HB	Stoke City	17th		Sunderland, England	—
Pte			OR	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[126]
Pte			LH/IL	Birmingham	17th	—	—	—
Pte			RH	Retired	23rd		Somme, France	—		^[127]
Pte			FB	Southend United	17th	—	—	—		^[128]
Pte			U	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—		^[129]
Pte			GK	Bristol Rovers	17th	—	—	—	^[130]	^[131]
Pte			n/a	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—	^[132]
Pte		n/a	n/a	Chelsea	17th	—	—	—
Pte			CH	Clapton Orient	17th		Nord, France	—	^[133]	^[134]
Pte			RB	Leicester Fosse	17th	—	—	MM
Pte			OR	Liverpool	17th	—	—	—		^[135]
Pte			CF	Luton Town	17th, 23rd	—	—	—		^[136]
Pte			IL	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—	^[137]	^[138]
Pte		n/a	FB	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—
Pte		n/a	GK	Cardiff City	17th	—	—	—
Pte			RB	Wingate Albion	17th	—	—	—
Pte			FB	Watford	17th	—	—	—	^[139]	^[140]
Pte			GK	Grimsby Town	17th	—	—	—
Pte		n/a	n/a	Northampton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[141]
Pte			OR	Clapton Orient	17th, 23rd	—	—	—		^[142]
Pte			HB/IF	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—	^[143]	^[144]
Pte			OL	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—		^[145]
Pte			IL	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—		^[146]
Pte			GK	West Ham United	17th	—	—	—		^[147]
Pte			FB	Notts County	17th	—	—	—		^[148]
Pte			GK	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th		Oppy Wood, France	—	^[149]
Pte			FW	Millwall Athletic	17th	—	—	—		^[150]
Pte			CF	Northampton Town	17th	—	—	—
Pte			IR	Luton Town	17th		West Flanders, Belgium	MM		^[151]
Pte			FW	Millwall Athletic	17th		Pas-de-Calais, France	—
n/a			GK	Watford	17th	—	—	—		^[152]
Pte			GK	Croydon Common	17th	—	—	—		^[153]
Pte		n/a	HB	Luton Town	17th	—	—	—		^[154]
Pte			HB	Brighton & Hove Albion	17th	—	—	—		^[155]

See also

• McCrae's Battalion, the 16th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Scots

Notes and References

1. Web site: Baker . Chris . The Middlesex Regiment in 1914–1918 . 1 August 2015 . www.1914-1918.net.
2. News: Devine . Darren . 8 October 2010 . Book tells wartime story of the 17th Middlesex – the "Football Battalion" . 29 April 2012 . Western Mail.
3. News: Thomas . Ronan . 10 November 2010 . Final Whistle: 'Pom Pom' Whiting . 29 April 2012 . BBC News.
4. News: 5 January 1915 . Football Battalion is Formed . 29 April 2012 . The Spokesman-Review . 2 . XXXIV . 70.
5. Web site: The Story of Clapton Orient in World War One . 20 April 2024 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
6. Web site: 18 April 2014 . The Sporting Battalion . 21 April 2024 . McCraes Battalion Trust . en-US.
7. News: 13 November 2010 . The Manchester United star who died at the Somme – story of a true football hero . 29 April 2012 . Daily Mirror.
8. Web site: Lancing College War Memorial . 8 January 2016 . www.hambo.org.
9. News: Winter . Henry . 21 October 2010 . Footballers' Battalions remembered on Somme battlefield . 29 April 2012 . The Daily Telegraph.
10. News: Fletcher . Paul . 22 October 2010 . Somme ceremony puts football in perspective . 29 April 2012 . BBC Blogs.
11. News: Clements . Kate . 22 July 2011 . Memorial to the 'Football Battalion' unveiled on the Somme . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425121123/http://www.1914.org/news/memorial-to-the-%e2%80%98football-battalion%e2%80%99-unveiled-on-the-somme/ . 25 April 2012 . 29 April 2012 . First World War Centenary (Imperial War Museum).
12. Appointed commanding officer of the 23rd Battalion on 16 September 1916.
13. Transferred in from the King's Regiment (Liverpool).
14. Commissioned on 31 October 1916.
15. Web site: Biographies – Percy Barnfather . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
16. Also served as the battalion's adjutant.
17. Previously served in the London Regiment prior to being commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment on 29 December 1914.
18. Web site: Vivian Woodward . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
19. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 23rd Battalion on 4 August 1917.
20. Web site: Walter Tull . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
21. Web site: Richard McFadden Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
22. Web site: Frederick Bartholomew Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
23. Web site: Frederick William Parker Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
24. Web site: William James Baker Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
25. Later served in the Army Cyclist Corps and the Royal Engineers.
26. Web site: Ernest Coquet Service Record . 25 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
27. Web site: Robert Rodie Dalrymple Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
28. Web site: Nolan Edwin Evans Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
29. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 24 August 1918.
30. Web site: Harold Thomas Gibson Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
31. Also served as a bomb-throwing instructor.
32. Later served in the London Regiment.
33. Web site: Greer . Stuart . 5 December 2013 . Macclesfield footballer's tour of South America featured in online exhibition . 26 February 2016 . macclesfield.
34. Web site: Ted Hanney – Manchester City and the First World War . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
35. Taken prisoner of war on 8 August 1916.
36. Web site: James McCormick Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
37. Taken prisoner of war on 27 April 1917.
38. Web site: Royden . Mike . Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion . 15 May 2018.
39. Web site: Biographies – Charles Stewart . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
40. News: Arthur Whalley Service Record . 30 November 2017 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
41. Web site: Biographies – Norman Wood . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
42. Web site: City . Leicester . Leicester Fosse And The First World War: Part 21 . 27 February 2016 . www.lcfc.com.
43. Appointment, not rank.
44. Web site: Our her-O's: Introducing the Orient players and staff that saw action in WWI . 11 March 2019 . www.leytonorient.com . en-gb.
45. Web site: Frederick Charles Keenor Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
46. Web site: John Gilbert Cock Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
47. Web site: Albert Victor Butler Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
48. Web site: John Francis Doran Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
49. [Military discharge|Medically discharged]
50. Web site: George Ford – Arsenal and the First World War . 25 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
51. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry on 24 July 1916.
52. Web site: James Cockburn Hugall Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
53. Web site: George Woolston Pyke Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
54. Web site: Lance Corporal Arthur Roe Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
55. News: Jenkins . Steve . 5 August 2011 . Clapton Orient's "Brothers In Arms" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027064142/https://www.leytonorient.com/2012/08/01/clapton-orients-brothers-in-arms/ . 27 October 2021 . 26 April 2024 . Leyton Orient F.C..
56. [Military discharge|Medically discharged]
57. Web site: William Spittle Service Record . 1 October 2021 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
58. Web site: The Story of Sandy Turnbull – A Manchester Football Hero . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
59. Web site: William Alfred Krug Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
60. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 28 August 1917.
61. Decorations were won while serving with another unit.
62. News: Walter George Bailey Service Record . 28 November 2017 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
63. Web site: The Manager Issue 22 . 15 December 2015 . www.themanager-magazine.com . 17–18.
64. Web site: Riddoch . Andrew . The Story of the Footballers' Battalions in the First World War . 12 December 2015 . Football and the First World War.
65. Web site: Charlie Bunyan . 26 February 2016 . Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource.
66. Book: Harris . Clive . The Greater Game: Sporting Icons Who Fell in The Great War . Whippy . Julian . 22 September 2008 . Pen and Sword . 9781783831449 . 172 . en.
67. Appointment, not rank. Medically discharged on 16 October 1918.
68. Served as trainer of the battalion football team in June 1917.
69. Transferred to the Rifle Brigade on 27 May 1918.
70. Web site: Patrick Gallacher Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
71. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the 21st Battalion on 25 June 1918.
72. Web site: Norman Arnold Holmes Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
73. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) on 28 August 1917.
74. Web site: Thomas Henry Pearson Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
75. Web site: Henry John Pennifer Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
76. Web site: Sid Wheelhouse – Grimsby Town and the First World War . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
77. Web site: emilysarah2012 . What can service records reveal? . 26 February 2016 . Norfolk in World War One.
78. Web site: Tom Barber Aston Villa . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
79. Died while serving with another unit.
80. Web site: Jasper Matthews Batey Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
81. Web site: William Booth Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
82. Web site: John James Blacklaw Borthwick Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
83. Web site: George Bowler . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
84. Web site: James Bowler Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
85. Transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps and was medically discharged on 26 June 1918.
86. Web site: City . Leicester . Leicester Fosse and the First World War: Part 10 . 26 February 2016 . www.lcfc.com.
87. Web site: John George Coleman . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
88. Transferred to the Labour Corps.
89. Web site: George Lisle Crowther Service Record . 8 May 2023 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
90. Book: Churchill . Alexandra . Over Land and Sea: Chelsea FC in the Great War . Holmes . Andrew . 15 July 2015 . The History Press . 9780750965422 . en.
91. Served in the 17th Battalion prior to being commissioned into the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 31 October 1917.
92. Web site: Samuel George Davis Service Record . 5 October 2016 . en-US.
93. [Military discharge|Medically discharged]
94. Web site: Charles Dexter Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
95. Was released/discharged from the army before seeing active service.
96. Web site: Private John Dunn Great War Stories . 26 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
97. Book: Haynes, Graham . A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia . 1998 . Yore Publications . 1-874427-57-7 . 51–52.
98. Web site: Pitching into the battle . 15 December 2015 . www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk.
99. Web site: Allen Foster Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
100. Web site: Private Robert William Frith Great War Stories . 26 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
101. Web site: William Webber Gerrish Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
102. Web site: Bob Whiting of Brighton . 27 February 2016 . www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk.
103. Web site: Adrian Green Service Record . 25 May 2023 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
104. Web site: McIsaac . Shona . 15 March 2011 . Grimsby Town Football Club . https://web.archive.org/web/20110315235248/http://www.shonamcisaac.com/a53f092c-e248-eb94-a50d-23df9b0a06e7 . 15 March 2011 . 2 January 2017.
105. Book: Myerson, George . Fighting for Football: From Woolwich Arsenal to the Western Front . 23 July 2014 . Aurum Press . 9781781314197 . en.
106. Web site: England Players – Percy Humphreys . 27 February 2016 . www.englandfootballonline.com.
107. Web site: 16 September 2015 . Nottingham Forest at 150: Footballers called to arms for the war . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921000946/http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-forest-150-footballers-called-arms-war/story-27811506-detail/story.html . 21 September 2015 . 29 June 2016 . Nottingham Post . en-GB.
108. Web site: Lloyd . Chris . 28 April 2014 . Match fit and ready to fight for their country . 12 December 2015 . The Northern Echo.
109. Transferred to The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
110. Web site: Our her-O's: Part three of Orient's WW1 Heroes . 11 March 2019 . www.leytonorient.com . en-gb.
111. Web site: Private Frank Louis Lindley Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
112. Web site: Oscar Horace Stanley Linkson Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
113. Web site: Thomas Stewart Lonsdale Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
114. Served in the 17th Battalion before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment prior to June 1916. Medically discharged in 1917.
115. News: 1 November 2014 . The Great War 100 Years Ago 1914 – 2014 . Waford Football Club v Milllwall – First World War Commemorative Issue.
116. Web site: William Middleton Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
117. Web site: The Footballers' Battalions . 13 August 2015 . www.football-league.co.uk.
118. Taken prisoner of war on 13 November 1916.
119. Web site: Biographies – Thomas Newton . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
120. Taken prisoner of war on 28 April 1917.
121. Web site: Wilfred Nixon Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
122. Web site: Before The 'D'...Association Football around the world, 1863–1937.: 17th Middlesex (1st Football Battalion) . 15 December 2015.
123. [Military discharge|Medically discharged]
124. Web site: William Oliver . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
125. Web site: Herbert Reason Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
126. Web site: Private Hugh Pierce Roberts Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
127. Web site: Harry Robotham – Football and the First World War . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
128. Web site: Frederick Robson Service Record . 28 September 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
129. Web site: Biographies – Charles Romain . 1 January 2021 . Croydon Common Football Club.
130. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in December 1916.
131. News: Doyle . Paul . Harris . Daniel . 29 May 2015 . The Joy of Six: curtailed football careers . 29 December 2015 . The Guardian.
132. [Military discharge|Discharged]
133. Taken prisoner of war.
134. Web site: George Scott Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
135. Web site: John Sheldon Service Record . 26 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
136. Web site: Private Ernest Simms Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
137. Later transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps.
138. Web site: Cyril Smith Service Record . 19 April 2020 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
139. [Military discharge|Medically discharged]
140. Web site: Player: Alexander John Stewart . 26 April 2024 . Watford Football Club Archive . en.
141. Web site: 11 January 2014 . Footballing icons who became heroes of First World War . 15 December 2015 . Telegraph.co.uk.
142. Web site: Arthur William Tilley Service Record . 27 February 2016 . Football and the First World War . en-US.
143. Transferred to the Labour Corps in August 1918.
144. Web site: Biographies – Albert Tomkins . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
145. Web site: Albion Back Memorial . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160311024804/http://www.seagulls.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/Latest/0,,10433~2149980,00.html . 11 March 2016 . 10 March 2016 . seagulls.co.uk.
146. Web site: Biographies – Dick Upex . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
147. Web site: Player: Reginald George Williams . 26 April 2024 . Watford Football Club Archive . en.
148. Web site: kjehan . 23 February 1915 . Alf West for the Footballers Battalion . 25 February 2016 . The history of Liverpool Football Club.
149. 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.
150. News: 10 August 2014 . WW1's fighting footballers: Exeter City players go to war . 25 February 2016 . BBC News.
151. Web site: Sergeant Arthur Harold Wileman MM Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
152. Book: Riddoch . Andrew . When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War . Kemp . David . Haynes Publishing . 2010 . 978-0857330772 . Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset . 42.
153. Web site: Biographies – Ernest Williamson . 15 May 2018 . Croydon Common Football Club.
154. Web site: Private T T Wilson Great War Stories . 27 February 2016 . www.worldwar1luton.com.
155. Web site: John Woodhouse Service Record . 8 October 2019 . Football and the First World War . en.