The Football Battalions
The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War
The Football Battalions The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War
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'A brilliant book' - Kevin Day
'An extraordinary story' - David Williamson, Chief Political Commentator at the Daily Mail
THE POIGNANT STORY OF HOW PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS WENT TO WAR
1914. Britain is slowly becoming football-obsessed: players are becoming household names, attendance is increasing and George V attends the FA Cup Final in May. Then the war breaks out.
In this fascinating work, equal parts footballing and military history, Christopher Evans explores how, once the war began, footballers were put under immense pressure to sign up, resulting in the formation of Football Battalions in England and Scotland. He tells the story of World War I, particularly what happened in the trenches of Northern France, through the eyes of leading footballers of the day. Some would return to leave their mark on the game; some would fade into obscurity; and some would never make it back.
Among them are Vivian Woodward, an Olympic gold medallist and football's first superstar; Frank Buckley, who would emerge from the war a hero and go on to redefine the role of a football manager; and Walter Tull, Tottenham and Northampton hero, who faced racism both on the football field and battlefield before becoming the first Black man to win a commission and command a unit in the British Army.
Deeply researched and drawing on archival material, this is a captivating exploration of this remarkable army battalion.
Table of Contents
Prologue – Tim Coleman: The man who lived twice
Introduction
1. Pressure! The world tries to shame football
2. Hearts: Scottish football responds to the war
3. Vivian Woodward: The journey of a polymath
4. Steve Bloomer: A superstar goes to Germany
5. Final!: A subdued event
6. Fix!: A Lancashire betting scandal
7. Orders: The battalion make their way to France
8. Winners: Morale-boosting games
9. Walter Tull: Leaving the field
10. Evelyn Lintott: A teacher on the Somme
11. Brothers: Jonas and McFadden
12. Frank Buckley: The Major
13. Munitionettes: The war on the home front
14. John McCartney: Forever Hearts
15. Joe Mercer: The hard man did not break
16. Alaistair McReady Drew: Conspicuous Bravery
17. Bookends: The different worlds of Alan Haig-Brown and Walter Tull
18. Reunion: All that is left behind
Afterword: Why We Remember
Product details
| Published | Oct 23 2025 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 256 |
| ISBN | 9781399413497 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Sport |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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