World War I

Leicestershire Football In World War I

English Football In World War I

The 1913-14 football season was a huge success, with Blackburn Rovers dominating the First Division by a seven-point margin over Aston Villa. Both the First and Second Divisions saw record-high attendance figures, with average attendances up 17% from the previous season. The 1914 FA Cup final, contested by Burnley and Liverpool, was considered less prestigious than the previous year’s final. Despite a 60% drop in attendance, the event gained a significant attendee in King George V, whose presence signalled the growing acceptance of professional football by the political and cultural elite.

Anticipation was high for the 1914-15 season, following a pleasant summer. However, the assassination of a crown prince in a Balkan city dramatically altered the landscape.

The Outbreak of War and Initial Responses

On Tuesday, August 4, 1914, Great Britain declared war on the German Empire. Just four days later, renowned cricketer Dr. W.G. Grace publicly called for the cancellation of the upcoming football season and the abandonment of the ongoing county cricket championship. While most cricket clubs ignored his plea, the Football League Management Committee, meeting on August 6, made only a passing reference to the war. They believed that despite some grounds being used for army mobilization, the conflict wouldn’t impact the opening league games.

The Football League was set to begin its traditional season on September 1, a Tuesday, with two First Division and three Second Division matches scheduled. By the first Saturday, most clubs would have played two games.

As August concluded and the conflict in Europe escalated, the Football League felt compelled to proceed with the season. They were in a difficult position, as clubs had to honor approximately 1,800 existing player contracts, and the government had advised that all legal business contracts should be upheld. The Northern Rugby League adopted a similar stance, though they later implemented emergency rules for the duration of the war. In contrast, Rugby Union virtually ceased operations, with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) urging clubs to stop playing and encourage players to enlist. This was feasible for Rugby Union, being an amateur sport with no contracts to honor.

Public Scrutiny and Adapting to Wartime

Frederick Nicholas Charrington, a social reformer and temperance advocate, publicly condemned the Football League’s decision to continue play. In a letter to the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on September 4, he called it “unpatriotic” and a source of “shame and indignation,” suggesting that football matches should instead be used for military recruitment. Charrington put his words into action on September 5, appearing at the opening match between Fulham and Clapton Orient at Craven Cottage. He was initially allowed to advocate for enlistment at halftime, but his address quickly devolved into a diatribe against wartime football, leading to his ejection from the stadium by Fulham officials.

By September 14, facing public pressure, the Football Association (FA) agreed to make their grounds available to the War Office for drill purposes on non-match days. They also arranged for prominent public figures to address spectators and players to encourage recruitment.

Opening week attendances in the Football League dropped by 50%, and as the season progressed, they fell by 63% compared to the previous season. This significant loss of revenue prompted the Football League to establish a committee to assist struggling clubs with financial aid for commitments and wages. By October, a 2.5% levy on gross net receipts was introduced for a League relief fund to support financially distressed clubs.

Maintaining the league schedule became increasingly challenging due to the strain on the railway system from wartime demands. While away teams and officials occasionally arrived late, the league generally managed to carry on. Player wages also came under pressure, leading the Football League to reduce the maximum player wage from £206 to £156 per year. It became clear that summer wages would be eliminated, and players faced significant pay cuts, with their future prospects being military service or lower-paying munitions factory work.

The FA Cup commenced on Saturday, September 12, with the Extra Preliminary Round, initially drawing little criticism as it involved only non-league clubs. As the war intensified, the FA adjusted its rules. In December 1915, ahead of the first round proper, the FA ruled that from the second round onwards, ties level after 90 minutes would go to extra time. Replays would also feature extra time, and if still tied, a second replay would be played. All cup games were moved to Saturdays to avoid disrupting the war effort, potentially leading to postponed league matches.

A third-round tie between Bradford City and Norwich City highlighted the new challenges. After two draws, including extra time, the FA faced a scheduling dilemma. With public and parliamentary criticism mounting, the second replay was controversially held on a Wednesday afternoon, behind closed doors, at the neutral venue of Sincil Bank, Lincoln, to avoid distracting men from war work.

The FA also extended the season by a week to accommodate a potential FA Cup final replay and moved the final away from Crystal Palace for the first time in 20 years. They decided against using Crystal Palace to avoid perceived conflict with the Admiralty, opting to likely move the final north, though Stamford Bridge remained an option.

Scandal, “The Khaki Final,” and a Damaged Reputation

Further criticism of professional football emerged on March 26, when Colonel C.F. Grantham of the 17th (Service) Battalion, the Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regiment (Footballers’ Battalion), revealed that only 122 professional footballers had enlisted out of 1,800 active players. He labeled this a “public scandal” and alleged that many managers and directors actively hindered players from enlisting.

Before the Football League and FA could respond, F.N. Charrington struck again, writing to the Manchester Courier. He falsely claimed the FA abandoned a Southern final due to public opinion, when in reality, Old Trafford was chosen because Stamford Bridge, the only other viable London venue, was ruled out if Chelsea reached the final (which they did). Charrington further quoted Tory politician Stanley Salvidge, who in 1914 stated the 1915 Cup Final host city would bear “a mark of shame.” Despite this, Everton offered Goodison Park for a potential replay, an offer the FA accepted. Charrington’s suggestion of Kaiser Wilhelm II presenting the trophy was declined, with the Earl of Derby ultimately doing the honors.

The Easter weekend brought more issues. While Good Friday passed without major controversy, the Saturday match between Middlesbrough and Oldham Athletic garnered negative publicity. With Middlesbrough leading 4-1, Oldham defender Billy Cook was sent off but refused to leave the pitch, forcing the referee to abandon the match. The Football League ruled the result would stand and banned Cook for a year.

Then came the bombshell: suspicions of a fixed match on Good Friday began to circulate. On April 19, a Football League commission interviewed Liverpool players and officials, followed by Manchester United players and officials the next day. The Liverpool Echo reported on April 21 that a Manchester bookmaker was offering £50 for information about the fixed match, which could only be Manchester United vs. Liverpool.

Many observers drew parallels to the infamous 1898 Stoke vs. Burnley “match without a shot” where a draw benefited both teams. While the 1898 report clearly suggested foul play, the Manchester Courier‘s account of the Manchester United vs. Liverpool match was less obvious. It described a game dominated by United, with a strong Liverpool defense and excellent goalkeeping by Elisha Scott. United led 1-0 at halftime, and despite a “scrappy” second half and a missed penalty by O’Connell, United secured a 2-0 win.

The Liverpool Daily Post echoed a similar narrative, noting a “one-sided” first half and a “ridiculously wide” penalty. The Daily Post praised several Liverpool players. The Football League launched an inquiry into this match, which dragged on for months, further damaging football’s reputation.

The 1914-15 season concluded without much fanfare. Everton won the league by one point over Oldham Athletic, while Chelsea and Sheffield United contested the FA Cup final at Old Trafford. This match became known as the “Khaki Final” due to the large number of soldiers in attendance. Wartime travel restrictions and military service limited the crowd to just under 49,000, with Sheffield United winning a one-sided final 3-0.

Losing finalists Chelsea also faced relegation to the Second Division, narrowly missing out by one point to Manchester United. The inquiry into the Good Friday match had the potential to reverse final league positions, but its resolution was postponed until after the war.

The 1914-15 season concluded on Thursday, April 29, 1915, with the final league match, a Humberside derby between Hull City and Grimsby Town, attracting only 3,000 spectators. Few in attendance would have imagined it would be over four years before the next Football League match. Playing the season to its conclusion severely damaged the reputation of organized football. While the Football League maintained they had no choice due to contractual obligations, the public largely disregarded this. This decision led many English public schools to drop football from their curriculum, signaling a loss of regard for the sport from the elite.

Wartime Football: Regional Leagues and Enduring Challenges (1915-1919)

By the 1915-16 season, with many players having enlisted or working in munitions factories, and strong public pressure, a regular season was impossible. The Football League Management Committee, meeting on July 2, 1915, in Blackpool, recognized the war would not end before September. With heavy British casualties in France, the committee decided to organize regional competitions to keep the sport alive. Forty clubs expressed interest in a system of three geographically based leagues: a primary and a secondary league. Clubs would only cover player expenses and retain registrations. Matches would be played on Saturdays or holidays, though ultimately most occurred on Saturdays, with exceptions for Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the Tuesday after Easter.

The issue of relegation was deferred due to the ongoing Good Friday match inquiry. However, the Football League did decide on future league composition, re-electing Leicester Fosse and replacing Glossop with Stoke. South Shields, Chesterfield Town, Darlington, and Coventry City missed out.

At a second meeting on August 2, 1915, at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, details for the new season were finalized. The three sections would be centered on Lancashire, the Midlands, and London.

The Lancashire Section comprised 14 clubs, including First Division teams like Manchester City and Liverpool, Second Division teams like Blackpool, and non-league clubs. The Midland Section, also with 14 clubs, included First Division teams such as Bradford City and Sheffield United, and Second Division teams like Barnsley and Leeds City. These sections were served by major railway companies.

The London clubs broke away from Football League jurisdiction, forming their own London Combination with the London FA and Southern League. This wartime league included Football League clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, and Southern League clubs such as Brentford and West Ham United. This move by London clubs raised concerns for the Football League regarding the post-war landscape. Tottenham Hotspur, whose White Hart Lane ground was taken over by the Ministry of Munitions, played all home games at Highbury. Other Football League clubs like Aston Villa and Birmingham opted to play in local leagues, while Bristol City, isolated in the southwest, was left out.

All three regional leagues commenced on Saturday, September 4, 1915, without incident, with match admission set at 6d. The Lancashire and Midland sections were deemed successful, as was the start of the London Combination. The end of 1915 saw continued success, save for two abandoned games (whose results stood) and Hull City and Croydon Common sometimes fielding depleted teams. Bristol City finally joined a league in January 1916 with the formation of the South West Combination, alongside Southern League clubs like Cardiff City and Portsmouth.

The London Combination concluded in January 1916, replaced by a 14-club secondary league that included Southern League clubs Luton Town and Reading. The Lancashire and Midland leagues also ended, replaced by secondary leagues, with Stoke and Rochdale switching sections and new members Chesterfield Town and Rotherham County joining the Midlands.

The inquiry into the 1915 Good Friday match concluded in December 1915, with the Football League finding seven players guilty of match-fixing: four from Liverpool (Jackie Sheldon, Bob Pursell, Tom Fairfoul, Tom Miller) and three from Manchester United (Enoch West, Sandy Turnbull, Arthur Whalley). An eighth player, L. Cook from Chester, was also found guilty. Jackie Sheldon initially protested his innocence from the Western Front but later admitted guilt in 1917. All players received lifetime bans, though these were later set aside in recognition of their war service.

Average attendances for wartime matches were around 5,615, with over 1,000,000 spectators across all four leagues. A tragic event occurred on February 19, 1916, when former Arsenal and England player Bob Benson collapsed and died during a home match against Reading. Having worked a 17-hour munitions factory shift, a tired and unfit Benson filled in for an absent Arsenal player, succumbing to a burst blood vessel from a pre-existing medical condition.

The 1916-17 season mirrored the previous one. The Football League Management Committee, meeting on July 17, 1916, in Manchester, acknowledged the war would enter its third year. Blackburn Rovers and Port Vale joined the Lancashire Section, Luton Town, Reading, and Southampton joined the London Combination, and Birmingham joined the Midland Section. Bristol City was once again excluded as there was no South West League. The season continued similarly, with Reading resigning from the London Combination in October and Portsmouth taking their place. Average attendance for the season was 4,707, with a total of over 3,000,000 spectators. This figure, while substantial for wartime, was significantly lower than the nearly 12,500,000 spectators in the last pre-war season and 7,500,000 in 1914-15.

The 1917-18 season saw little change. The Football League meeting on July 17, 1917, in Manchester, again concluded the war showed no signs of ending. The London Combination slimmed down to only London-based clubs. On October 1, 1917, admission prices rose from 6d to 9d due to an extended Amusement and Entertainment Tax. Despite this, average attendance for the season was 5,616, with a total of over 3,000,000 spectators. A new feature was a two-leg play-off final between the Lancashire and Midland section winners. Midland champions Leeds City beat Lancashire champions Stoke 2-0 in the first leg, with Stoke winning the second leg 1-0, but Leeds City winning 2-1 on aggregate. This was a notable achievement for Leeds City manager Herbert Chapman.

The 1918-19 season, the fourth wartime season, began on September 7, 1918. The Football League Management Committee, meeting on July 15, 1918, in Manchester, still saw no end in sight for the war, and at that point, a German victory seemed possible. Coventry City joined the Midland Section, and Southport Central was allowed to change its name to Southport Vulcan, despite Football League rules, due to wartime circumstances.

Peace unexpectedly arrived on Monday, November 11, 1918. A Special General Meeting on November 29, 1918, in Manchester, acknowledged that a regular season could not immediately restart due to players and supporters still being abroad. They decided to continue with the scheduled wartime fixture list. The FA considered a truncated FA Cup, but decided against it, deeming it unfair to non-league members.

January 1919 saw the emergence of new regional “Victory Leagues” as clubs prepared for the 1919-20 season. North East clubs formed a Northern Victory League, and Midland clubs established a smaller-scale league. The FA also reintroduced international matches, with England and Scotland playing home and away “Victory Home Internationals” in April and May 1919, followed by an England vs. Wales match in October 1919, leading into the new 1919-20 season and the ongoing issue surrounding Chelsea.

Timeline

Pre-War Context (Leading up to August 1914):

• Association football (soccer) was a well-established professional sport, especially in the UK, with the Football League and FA Cup being major competitions.
• FIFA, the international governing body, was founded in 1904.

1914:

• August 1914: World War I breaks out.
  • Initial debate erupts over whether football should continue. Some argued it was frivolous and distracted men from their patriotic duty to enlist, while others believed it was vital for morale.
  • Many amateur players and some professionals immediately volunteer for service. The entire Heart of Midlothian team, for example, enlisted.
  • Football clubs participate in charity matches to raise money for war efforts.
• September 1914:
  • Author Arthur Conan Doyle makes a direct appeal for footballers to volunteer.
  • The Football Association (FA) places itself at the disposal of the War Office and encourages recruitment at matches.
  • The 1914-1915 Football League season begins. Despite pressure, professional football continues for this season.
• December 1914:
  • The 17th Service Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, commonly known as the “Football Battalion,” is formed, attracting many professional footballers.
  • The unofficial “Christmas Truce” takes place on the Western Front, with anecdotal accounts of football matches being played between British and German soldiers in no-man’s-land.

1915:

• 1914-1915 Season Concludes: This is the last full season of peacetime football in England until after the war.
• Suspension of Official Competitions: The Football League and FA Cup are officially suspended for the duration of the war.
• Regional Competitions Emerge: In their place, regional league competitions are set up to keep the game alive, often featuring older players, those in reserved occupations, and younger men not yet eligible for service. Appearances in these regional tournaments do not count in players’ official records.
• Increased Enlistment: With the suspension of official leagues, more professional footballers enlist. Approximately 2,000 of the 5,000 professional footballers in Great Britain enlist by this point.
• Financial Difficulties for Clubs: Attendance drops significantly, leading to financial strain on clubs. Players take wage cuts to help their clubs survive.

1916-1917:

• Continued Regional Football: Regional competitions continue, providing some form of football for the public and maintaining morale.
• Women’s Football Rises: With men away fighting, women begin to fill roles in factories, and women’s football gains popularity. Factory teams, most famously Dick, Kerr’s Ladies FC, emerge and play matches that draw substantial crowds, often for charity.
• Football at the Front: Football remains popular among soldiers behind the lines, used for fitness, morale-boosting, and maintaining camaraderie. Many footballs are sent to the front for soldiers to play.

1918:

• War Ends: The Armistice is signed in November 1918.

Post-War (1919 onwards):

• Football Resumes: There is a quick return to football, with clubs assessing their depleted squads and repairing grounds.
• League Expansion: The Football League expands significantly, from 40 clubs before the war to 86 by the 1921-22 season, reflecting the renewed appetite for the sport.
• Legacy of Sacrifice: Many players, both famous and unknown, were killed or injured in the war, leaving a lasting impact on clubs and communities. Memorials are erected to commemorate fallen players.
• Women’s Football Faces Ban: Despite its wartime popularity, women’s football faces increasing resistance from male football authorities, culminating in a ban from playing on FA-affiliated grounds in 1921, which significantly hinders its development for decades.