Donald Simpson Bell V.C

Full back Donald Bell was on the books at Newcastle United as an amateur in 1910-11 but didn't make a first team appearance.
In 1913 he made his League debut for Bradford Park Avenue. He made 5 appearances for the club.
In 1916 2nd Lt. Bell was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was killed in action 5 days later.

London Gazette Notice of Death 9th September 1916: Temp. 2nd Lt. Donald Simpson Bell, late York. R. For most conspicuous bravery. During an attack a very heavy enfilade fire was opened on the attacking company by a hostile -machine gun. 2nd Lt. Bell immediately, and on his own initiative, crept up a communication trench and then, followed by Corpl. Colwill and Pte. Batey, rushed across the open under very heavy fire and attacked the machine gun,, shooting the firer with his revolver, and ‘destroying gun and personnel with bombs. This very brave act saved many lives and -ensured the success of the attack. Five days later this gallant officer lost his life performing a very similar act of bravery.

Knocker West

Enoch West signed for Sheffield United as a 17 year old, but he failed to break into the first team and returned to minor football.
2 years later, in 1905, he joined Nottingham Forest. He scored 100 goals in 184 appearances for Forest.
In 1910 he joined Manchester United.

West was one of the players suspended indefinately by the Football Association following the revelation that the Good Friday match between Manchester United and Liverpool had been fixed.
The sorry tale is covered in depth in Graham Sharpe's Free the Manchester United One: The Inside Story of Football's Greatest Scam.

Betting on the correct score was unusual in those days. Mr Giles , a bookie in Hucknall, gave evidence that an exceptionally large number of bets were placed on a 2-0 scoreline, so much so that he stopped taking them. He still lost over £150. The fixing took place in the context of concerns that players would face hardship when football was suspended (the War had begun in 1914 and the Football League had been criicised for proceeding with the 1914-15 season).

The ban extended to preventing the men from entering any football ground in the future...

West protested and sued the FA  and  the Hulton publishing group for libel. The case was heard in July 1917 and West was unsuccesful. 
 Sandy Turnbull was killed while serving in the war, but all the other players, except West, had their bans lifted by the FA in 1919 in recognition of their service to the country; Turnbull received a posthumous reinstatement.
I can only assume that West was omitted from the amnesty for having the temerity to challenge the authority of the FA.. With an element arch black humour West's ban was lifted in 1945 when he was 59 years old. 

The players suspended were:

Tom Fairfoul (wing half, 34yrs)   Liverpool

Reinstated but did not return to football.

Tom Miller (forward, 24 yrs)        Liverpool

When the ban was announced Miller had already joined the army. Following suspension Miller returned to his native Scotland. When his ban was lifted he rejoined Liverpool. In 1920 he signed for Manchester United! After finishing his career in Scotland he had a very brief spell as manager of Barrow.

Bob Pursell (full back, 26 yrs)      Liverpool

Rejoined Liverpool in 1919 and moved to Port Vale in 1920.

Jackie Sheldon (winger, 27 yrs)   Liverpool

Sheldon joined Liverpool from Manchester United in 1913. At the time the ban was announced he was on active service on the western front. After the war (and the lifting of the ban) he played 2 further seasons for Liverpool.

Sandy Turnbull (forward, 30 yrs) Manchester United

Turnbull didn’t play in the Good Friday match. Turnbull was killed in action in Arras (1917). His life ban was posthumously rescinded by the Football Association in 1919 (!).

Enoch West (forward, 28 yrs)      Manchester United

Life ban lifted in 1945 (!)

Arthur Whalley (half back, 29 yrs)             Manchester United

Returned to United for the 1919-20 season.

Lol Cook (centre forward, 30yrs)                Chester

Cook’s career was over by the time of the enquiry.

Fred Howard (centre forward, 24 yrs)      Manchester City

At the end of his 1-year suspension (imposed for the unsatisfactory way in which he gave evidence) Howard returned to City. He later played for Gillingham, Wrexham, New Brighton and Port Vale.

West

Sergeant James Hamilton Speirs M.M.

Jimmy Speirs was an inside left who was born in Glasgow. He represented Scotland in 1 international (against Wales in 1908).  He played for Glasgow Rangers and Clyde before joining Bradford City in 1909.

The following season Speirs captained City when they won the FA Cup.

In 3 seasons at Valley Parade he made  96 first team appearances.

At Xmas 1912 Speirs joined Herbert Chapman's Leeds City. He made 78 first team appearances up until football was suspended in 1915. 

 Speirs enlisted voluntarily in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. He reached the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery.

Jimmy Speirs was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele in August 1917. He was 31 years old. 

I got this photograph from a Bantams website which appears to be no longer online- apologies for not being able to give better credit.

1914

The football authorities came in for a great deal of criticism when play continued following the outbreak of war in 1914. There was no reluctance, however, to exploit the potential of the game as a vehicle to promote voluntary enlistment (conscription was not introduced until 1916).
The above posters appealed to the patriotic inclinations of supporters of Millwall and Tottenham Hotspur.

Jack Thomas

Jack Thomas was born in County Durham.
He played for Brighton and Hove Albion in the Southern League before joining Newcastle United for the 1911-12 season.
He made one first team appearance, playing at inside right in a 1-1 draw away to Manchester City.
Thomas then returned to Spennymoor United, the Northern League club where his career began.
Pretty unremarkable.
During the 1914-18 War however Jack Thomas was involved in a series of remarkable exploits.
Captured by the Germans he was involved in attempt to tunnel out of the prison camp. He eventually escaped and made use of a compass smuggled in a cake to return to Britain. He was then sent back to Europe to work as a spy.

Credit

European International Football 1914-1919

Turin, 31.01.15- Italy 3- Switzerland 1.

European International Football 1914-1919

The Central Powers

Austria played 22 matches during the hostilities-19 editions of their long running series with Hungary and 3 against neutral Switzerland

Germany played no internationals between April 1914 and June 1920.

Hungary played 19 matches v Austria.

The Entente Powers

Belgium (site of the Western Front hostilities) played no matches between April 1914 and March 1919.

Finland (then a part of the Russian Empire) played no matches from May 1914 to May 1919.

France played no matches between May 1914 and March 1919.

Italy played Switzerland in 1915 before entering the war.

Russia played its last international in July 1914 and ceased to exist following the October Revolution in 1917.

The United Kingdom.

The 4 United Kingdom teams- England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all suspended internationals during the period of the war. In Scotland domestic football continued.
England and Scotland played each other twice for charitable causes...

13 May 1916 - England 4 Scotland 3

8 June 1918 - Scotland 2 England 0

Stockholm, 20.8.16- Sweden 2- U.S.A 3.

Neutrals

Denmark played 15 games v Norway and Sweden.

Luxembourg (under German occupation) played no matches between February 1914 and August 1920.

Netherlands played no matches between May 1914 and June 1919.

Norway featured in 17 matches including 1 vs USA and 16 against Sweden and Denmark.

Sweden played 18 matches during the hostilities-1 vs USA and 17 against Norway and Denmark.

Switzerland played 5 matches, 1 against Italy (before Italy entered the war), 3 v Austria and 1 v Hungary.

Old Carthusians 1903

The Dunn Cup was introduced in 1903 for clubs for former Public Schoolboys, and  Old Carthusians enjoyed a good run of success (they were winners  in 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908 and 1910).

This line up features 3 'full ' internationalists (G.O Smith, Maurice Stanborough and Charles Wreford-Brown), as well as a couple of amateur internationals (Rowlandson, Timmis).
Captain William Simpson was a leading referee (he had taken charge of the 1896 FA Cup Final).  
Haig-Brown, O.E Wreford-Brown and Rowlandson were killed in the 1914-18 War.

A humiliation that staggered the football world: Swansea Town v Blackburn Rovers- 1915

On Saturday Swansea City travel to Blackburn Rovers in the 4th round of The FA Cup.
When the 2 met in January 1915 for a first round FA Cup tie, the outcome was one of the biggest upsets in the history of British football. 
Blackburn Rovers were a big, big club. Established 40 years previously they were founding members of The Football League. The previous season Rovers had won the Championship (their 2nd title).  They had won the FA Cup 5 times. At the time of this match (09.01.15) they were 5th in Division 1.
Their line up featured 4 England internationals ( Crompton, Bradshaw, Latheron and Hodkinson) and 1 Scottish international ( Aitkenhead).
Crompton had played for England a remarkable 41 times ( a record which stood for 38 years), captaining on 21 occasions. 
Rovers offered Swansea a large sum to switch the match to Ewood Park but the offer was declined and 16,000 people were at the Vetch to see the League champions. 
Swansea Town were in the second division of the Southern League. They had only come into existence in 1912. Their line up that day was light on stars. Club captain Thomas Hewitt had played for Wales 8 times (1911-14). Captain for cup matches that season was Joe Bulcock The man who became a hero that day was a 16 year old Rugby player. Benny Benyon was only playing 'soccer' because Rugby was suspended during the war. 
Blackburn attacked relentlessly from the outset, but in the 20th minute Swansea broke out of defence in a move, started and finished by Beynon, that covered the length of the pitch and gave the Swans an unlikely lead. 
At half time Swansea were reduced to 10 men when Lock was injured. 
Rovers bombarded the Swans goal in the 2nd half. They were awarded a penalty but remarkably Billy Bradshaw, who had scored with 36 consecutive spot kicks, shot wide. Harry Read went off injured and Swansea had to hold out for the last quarter of an hour with just 9 men. 
It was, according to  contemporary newspaper reports: A humiliation that staggered the football world.
As the photograph shows, Swansea Town were unique in having a strip in which jersey and knickers were of the same colour.
Benny Beynon returned to Rugby after the war and played for Wales, but in a ruling that highlights the stupidity of the way in which that game was administered, he was banned for professionalism on account of his Association football exploits. He went to Oldham as a Northern Union player.
Joe Bulcock (Town) and Eddie Latheron (Rovers) were both killed in the war.

Swansea Town		Blackburn Rovers
Hurst	GK	Alf Robinson
Tom Hewitt	RB	Bob Crompton
Joe Bulcock	LB	Tommy Suttie
John Duffy	RH	Bert Walmsley
Lock	CH	Percy Smith
Anderson	LH	Billy Bradshaw
Harry Read	OR	Alex McGhie
Brown	IR	Wattie Aitkenhead
Benny Beynon	CF	Johnny Orr
Gilboy	IL	Eddie Latherton
Amos Lloyd	OL	Joe Hodkinson

The East Surrey Regiment

The East Surrey Regiment, Kolkata, 1890.

It's never particularly cool in Kolkata- about 25C in December and January, so that heavyweight kit and boots must have been hard work.
The British Military helped to spread football with their penchant for recreating English life wherever they went. 
Football was particularly popular in Bengal , with the locals founding clubs and aspiring to be able to challenge the English.
The first notable triumph for an Indian club  came in 1892 when Kolkata's Savabazar FC  defeated The East Surrey Regiment  in the Trades Cup final . 

The East Surrey Regiment feature in another curious episode. On July 1st, 1916 , The first day of the Battle of The Somme, Captain Billy Nevill gave his players 2 footballs with which to lead their assault on the enemy positions. On the balls was written: The Great European Cup-Tie Final. East Surreys v Bavarians. Kick off at zero and NO REFEREE.

Remarkably, given the carnage that followed, one of the balls was retrieved and returned to the regiment's HQ.

French Losses 1914-19

22 French internationals died during World War I:

René Camard - Association Sportive Francais Paris (08.02.87- 16.03.15) 
The outside left won 1 cap against Belgium in 1907.
Killed in action in Carnoy (Somme).

Julien Denis - Racing Club de Calais (14.08.81- 25.09.15) 
Half back, 2 caps in 1908. Calais' stadium is named in his honour.
Killed in action at Souchez.

Charles Dujardin - Union Sportive Tourquennoise (15.04.88 - 29.08.14) 
 1 cap v Switzerland 1913
 Died from injuries sustained in the battle of the Aisne.

Émile Dusart - Racing Club de Roubaix (03.09.92 -13.03.19)
Defender- 1 cap v Hungary in 1914.
A nurse, he died of influenza at Mainz.

René Fenouillère - Red Star Amical Club de Paris (22.10.82 - 04.11.16) 

The forward won 1 cap, in the 1908 Olympics at London.

The stadium of U.S. Avranches is named in his honour.

 Killed in action at Reims.

André François - Racing Club de Roubaix (1885 - 17.03.15)

6 caps,3 goals.Captain at the 1908 Olympics (in a  17-1 loss against Denmark).

Died of injuries in Meuse.

Charles Geronimi - AF Garenne Colombes Paris (08.02.95 - 09.11.18) 

Inside left, he won 1 cap, v Luxembourg in 1914. 

Died of  injuries at Souilly.

Raymond Gigot - Club Français Paris (11.05.85-25.09.15)

Outside left, 1 cap, v Belgium in 1905. 

Killed in action at Pas de Calais.

Raoul Gressier - Racing Club de Calais (19.11.85 - 06.10.15)

1 cap against Denmark at the 1908 Olympics for the team designated France B, losing 9-0.

Missing in action at Tahure.

Ernest Guéguen - Union Sportive Servannaise et Malouine Saint-Malo (30.05.85 - 25.09.15)
1 cap, v England Amateurs 1913. 
 Killed in action in the Second Battle of the Marne.

Victor  Hitzel - JA Levallois (?-?)
A forward, he won 1 cap against England Amateurs in 1909.

Albert Jenicot - Racing Club de Roubaix (15.02.85 - 22.02.16) 
aka Jules Aristide Jenicot
A forward who made 3 international appearances in 1908, including an Olympic match.
Killed in action at Vacherauville.

Emile Lesmann - JA Saint-Ouen (03.05.91 - 15.09.14)
A forward who faced Belgium in 1912.
Killed at The battle of Marne.

Jean Loubiere - Gallia Club Paris (07.01.92 - 04.02.15)

 Goalkeeper in 1 match against  Luxembourg in 1914 

 Killed in action at Massiges.

Pol Morel - Red Star Amical Club de Paris (05.03.90 - 28.09.15) 
A forward who won 2 caps in 1911
Killed in action at Servins.

Eugène Petel - AS Amicale Alfortville (1881-?)

1 cap, v Belgium , 1910.

André Puget - Racing Club de Paris (12.01.82 - 09.05.15) 

Outside right- 1 appearance v  Belgium in 1907.

Killed in action at the Battle of Artois.

Marius Royet - Union Sportive Parisienne (19.06.80 - 08.11.18) 
9 caps and 2 goals, including 1 in France's first ever international in 1904. 
Died of influenza in Mannheim. 

Pierre Six - Olympique Lillois (18.01.88 - 1916)
Played for France B at the 1908 Olympics. 
Killed in action at the Somme.

Julien Verbrugghe - Association Sportive Française Paris (26.12.89 - 21.08.16)  
France's youngest ever international (16 years and 10 months) in a 15-0 loss to England Amateurs  (1906). 3 further caps in 1911.
Killed in action at the Somme.

 Francis Vial - Club Athletique de Vitry (?-1916)

1 cap v Luxemblourg, 1911.

Justin Vialaret -  CA Paris XIVe (12.11.83 - 30.09.16)
Played 1 match for France B at the 1908 Olympics. 

17th Middlesex (1st Football Battalion)

As we have seen elsewhere, Association football had a tough time in the early part of the 1914-18 War, the governing bodies roundly criticised for carrying on with football instead of encouraging players to join up. In December 1914 on the suggestion of Lord Kitchener, Brentford MP  William Joynson-Hicks founded the Football Battalion. Frank Buckley was the first to enlist- he had been a soldier before joining Aston Villa in 1902, and had  represented England against Ireland in February 1914. Commanding the Battalion, Buckley became a Major and was wounded at The Somme.

standing: Sergeant Percy Barnfather (Croydon Common), Private William Jones (Brighton & Hove Albion), Private William Booth (Brighton & Hove Albion),  Private George Beech (Brighton & Hove Albion), Private Tommy Lonsdale (Southend United), Sergeant Joe Smith (Chesterfield), Sergeant Yeoval, Private Frank Martin (Grimsby Town), Private Jack Sheldon (Liverpool)

seated:  Private Pat Gallacher (ex Tottenham Hotspur), Captain Edward Bell (ex Portsmouth & Southampton),Lieutenant Vivian Woodward (Chelsea), Captain Frank Buckley (Bradford City), Private Sid Wheelhouse (Grimsby Town), Private Tommy Barber (Aston Villa), Lance Corporal Fred Bullock (Huddersfield Town).

17th Middlesex (1st Football Battalion) Regiment Football Team-1917

standing:  Lance Corporal Jack Doran (Coventry City), Lance Corporal Pat Gallacher (exTottenham Hotspur), Private John Spick, Regimental Sergeant Major Alfred Sabine, Private Joe Webster (West Ham United), Sergeant Alfred Hollanby, Company Sergeant Major Gibson (Nottingham Forest), Private Gardiner.

seated:  Lance Corporal George Pyke (Newcastle United), Lieutenant Bennett, Captain Cosmo Clark, Lieutenant-Colonel George Kelly, Captain Robert Templeman, Lieutenant Claude Gann, Private John Woodhouse (Brighton & Hove Albion).

ground: Private Jack Dodds (Oldham Athletic), Private David Kenney (Grimsby Town), Captain Percy Barnfather (Croydon Common), Private John Nuttall (Millwall), Sergeant Charles Stewart (Croydon Common).