NO MORE PLAY UNTIL THE WAR ENDS

August 4th 1914 Britain declared war on Germany, but few were concerned. It was expected that those who enlisted and went towards the ports would be back by Christmas. Entertainment continue as normal, cricketers brought their matches to a halt whilst football expected a new season as normal.

No parallels with the present situation then??

As war dragged on, the FA became more concerned, young men were encouraged to enlist for Kitchener's army, as their chums died on battle fields in France. In April 1915, Manchester City goalkeeper, Walter Smith was urging readers of the "Umpire" that football should continue. One FA Councillor, a Mr Tillotson, argued that "there has been a great outcry by silly sentimentalists and people who never took kindly to football." Elsewhere there was considerable support for signing up.

I have written about the "Pals Battalions" before.

In March 1915, The FA did not fix dates for the FA Cup and it was not long that the Football League would follow suit.  The final game of the 1914/15 season took place on April 26th, with a 2-2 draw between Everton and Chelsea, at Goodison, giving The Toffees their second league title.The event was relegated to the inside pages, whilst the main pages were dominated by reports from Ypres.

In early July all four British League representatives  met in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool and with most clubs reporting a decline in revenue, due to falling attendances and players were enlisting,  it was decided to cancel the going season. Instead, Ad Hoc regional competitions were set up, no players would be paid and there would be no medals, no inter-league matches, no internationals and unexpectedly with no fixtures allowed mid-week (when there should have been all shoulders to the wheel) these new "leagues" were of little consequence. Nobody was interested in soccer! There were more important matters to consider.

BTW, Oldham Athletic would have won their First Division League title had they won their last match of the 1914-15 season. They lost to Liverpool (of all people) and Everton became champions by a point. Tottenham came bottom! (but were promoted the next time they played  in 1919-20).

"The Times" wrote that "We view with indignationand alarm that the persistence of the "Association Football Clubs" in doing threir best for the enemy...every club that employs a professional football player is bribing a much needed recruit to refrain from enlistmentand every spectator who pays his gate money is contributing so much towards a German victory".

We know of course that the football stadium was a good place to recruit.