Get Free Shipping on orders over $79
The Football Battalions : The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War - Christopher Evans

The Football Battalions

The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War

By: Christopher Evans

Hardcover | 23 December 2025

At a Glance

Hardcover


$51.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $13.00 with

 or 

Available: 23rd December 2025

Preorder. Will ship when available.

'An extraordinary story' - David Williamson, Chief Political Commentator at the Daily Express

'Lovely book ... a lot of unknown stories in there' - Paul Hawksbee, talkSPORT

'Excellent... a compelling analysis, drawing on social, political and military history, eye-opening but enlivened throughout by his keen eye for the humorous and hypocritical' - When Saturday Comes

'A worthy tribute to the footballers who fought, were wounded or lost their lives' - Late Tackle

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.

More in Football or Soccer

World Football Records 2026 - Keir Radnedge

RRP $49.99

$38.75

22%
OFF
The Stars of Football : The World's Best Players - Rodolphe Gaudin

RRP $32.99

$26.99

18%
OFF
Blue Lock 23 : Blue Lock - Muneyuki Kaneshiro

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
Football Superstars: Palmer Rules : Football Superstars - Simon Mugford
Messi and Ronaldo : Who is the Greatest? - ILLUGI JOKULSSON

RRP $39.99

$31.75

21%
OFF
Basketball for Kids: An Illustrated Guide - Alberto Bertolazzi

RRP $29.99

$26.75

11%
OFF
Don't Die with the Music in You - Wayne Bennett

RRP $27.99

$23.75

15%
OFF
Unseen Academicals : (Discworld Novel 37) - Terry Pratchett

RRP $27.99

$23.75

15%
OFF
Liverpool FC Official Annual 2026 - Liverpool FC

RRP $22.99

$21.75

Coaching Soccer For Dummies : For Dummies - National Alliance for Youth Sports

RRP $41.95

$33.75

20%
OFF
The Second Half - Roy Keane

RRP $24.99

$21.75

13%
OFF
MATCH! Football Skills Annual 2026 - Match! Magazine

RRP $22.99

$21.75

Injury Time : Football in a State of Emergency - DAVID GOLDBLATT

RRP $34.99

$28.75

18%
OFF
World Club Football Records 2026 - Adrian Besley

RRP $64.99

$51.75

20%
OFF