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'A brilliant book' - Kevin Day
'An extraordinary story' - David Williamson, Chief Political Commentator at the Daily Express
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 recounts the wartime exploits of the 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.
Drawing on archival material, this is a captivating exploration of the elite footballers who went to war.
Contents
Introduction
1. Pressure! The world tries to shame football
2. Formation: Football does its bit
3. Hearts: Scottish football responds to the war
4. Vivian Woodward: The journey of a polymath
5. Steve Bloomer: A superstar goes to Germany
6. Cup Final!: A subdued event
7. Fix!: A Lancashire betting scandal
8. Orders: The battalion make their way to France
9. Winners: Morale-boosting games
10. Walter Tull: Leaving the field
11. Evelyn Lintott: A teacher on the Somme
12. Brothers: Jonas and McFadden
13. Frank Buckley: The Major
14. Munitionettes: The war on the home front
15. John McCartney: Forever Hearts
16. Joe Mercer: The hard man did not break
17. Alaistair McReady-Drew: Conspicuous Bravery
18. Bookends: The different worlds of Alan Haig-Brown and Walter Tull
19. Reunion: All that is left behind
Afterword: Why We Remember
Acknowledgements
