Football during World War One

During World War One, football in the United Kingdom faced unprecedented challenges that tested the resilience of both the sport and its supporters. As war broke out in 1914, the initial response was marked by uncertainty and division over whether football should continue. Some saw the sport as a vital morale booster that provided much-needed diversion from the grim realities of war, while others criticised it as a frivolous activity that diverted men from their patriotic duty.

The debate around football’s place in wartime society was intense. Public pressure mounted as recruitment campaigns highlighted the importance of enlisting for service, often accompanied by posters asking, “What did you do in the Great War?” Clubs, players, and spectators were scrutinised, and many high-profile individuals called for the suspension of league matches.

Southport responded to the decision to continue by deciding to charge soldiers half price, with wounded soldiers and sailors admitted free. The question of balancing national loyalty with social need for leisure became a contentious issue.

Despite the pressure, professional football continued during the early years of the war, but not without significant adaptations. The 1914-15 season marked the last full season of peacetime football until after the conflict ended. The Football League and Central League, decided to finish that season even as young men—including players—volunteered in droves to serve. On September 19th 1914 after the match between Southport Central and Liverpool Reserves the crowd was addressed by the Mayor, Dr Limont, who appealed for recruits for the forces.

When the 1915-16 season arrived, official league competitions were suspended. Instead, regional tournaments were established to keep the game alive. These competitions often composed of older players, those in reserved occupations, and younger men not yet eligible for service.

Clubs faced severe financial and operational difficulties as attendance dropped and many of their key players joined the armed forces. Football’s very existence was threatened by these losses, yet it found ways to endure.

By November 1915 no fewer than nineteen ex-Central players were in the forces. The sport adapted by implementing a system of guest players, allowing footballers stationed at military bases to play for nearby clubs.

About this time Private Jack Flynn the former goalkeeper, wrote to Secretary Edward Clayton asking for a football. His letter was a touching one: ‘We returned from the trenches after having had a bit of a rough time. We have had plenty of rain and it’s been very cold with it” Mr Clayton duly complied with his request and helped out again several months later when Flynn wrote to ask for a second ball “the other having been kicked to death”.

The story of Southport’s first manager Tom Maley (although not appointed until 1925), exemplified the sport’s wartime resilience. Born in 1864, Maley had a distinguished career as a player and manager, notably leading Manchester City to their first major honor, the 1904 FA Cup. During the war, he managed Bradford Park Avenue, transforming their fortunes and changing their kit to the green and white hoops of his beloved Celtic. Under his guidance, the club achieved promotion to the First Division in 1914. Beyond his leadership on the pitch, Maley played an active role in supporting the war effort, acting as an “amateur recruiting sergeant” and delivering lectures to boost morale.

Tragically, Maley’s personal life was deeply affected by the war. His second eldest son, Corporal Joseph Maley of the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, died from wounds sustained during a trench raid in May 1915. The loss profoundly impacted Maley, who, despite being over age, attempted to enlist himself but was refused due to his recognition. The death of his son, along with the general horrors of the war, left an indelible mark on him.

Football did not just survive during the war; it actively contributed to the war effort. Benefit matches became commonplace, with proceeds often directed to war charities or used to support soldiers and their families. Clubs embraced their new role, serving as centres for recruitment and morale-building, even as many of their grounds were repurposed for military use or as makeshift hospitals.

Public sentiment towards football shifted as the war dragged on. Initial hostility and skepticism gave way to acceptance as people recognised the value of maintaining some semblance of normalcy and communal spirit. Football, with its deeply rooted traditions, proved adaptable and resilient. It bridged the gap between past and present, offering hope that life would one day return to normal.

Tragically, many players never returned, leaving an indelible mark on the clubs and their communities and when the war finally ended in 1918, football faced the challenge of reinvention. Clubs resumed operations with depleted squads, financial strain, and a changed society. Yet, the survival of the sport during those dark years reinforced its place as a pillar of British culture. The collective experience of loss, resilience, and adaptation during World War One shaped the future of football, embedding a legacy of perseverance and unity that endures to this day.

The horrors of war and the disruption it caused to daily life are almost unimaginable to most of us today. The closest experience of mass interruption we have is the COVID-19 pandemic, which similarly brought football to a standstill. Like the wartime period, the COVID lockdowns tested the sport’s ability to adapt, with matches suspended, competitions reorganised, and games played in empty stadiums. Although the stakes were different, both crises highlighted football’s capacity to unify communities and maintain hope in times of widespread anxiety and uncertainty.

The experiences of figures like Tom Maley and the sacrifices made by so many footballers remind us that the sport’s legacy is intertwined with resilience and service. Their stories serve as a poignant reminder of how football, during the darkest times, can become a symbol of endurance, sacrifice, and collective hope.