Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain during the Second World War'I was 12th man for England against Wales at Wembley. Within a few minutes, the Welsh half-back broke his collar bone. They had no reserves and I was the only spare player to hand. That's how I made my international debut - for Wales.' - Stan Mortensen, Blackpool and England. When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, football came to an abrupt halt. Large crowds were banned, stadiums were given over to military use, most players joined up. Then it was realised that if victory remained the national goal, soccer could help - and football went to war. For the next six years the game became hugely important to Britain. Boosting morale among servicemen, munitions workers and beleaguered citizens alike - and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for war funds. It was a game with plenty of human stories. Some footballers were dubbed 'PT commandos' or 'D-Day dodgers'. Others, however, saw action. Pre-war heroes on the pitch became wartime heroes off it. This book captures the atmosphere of the time and tells the story of a unique period in football's history. |
Contents
In the Event of an Air Raid | |
Whos Playing Today? | |
Spoils of | |
Grounds for | |
FrontLine Footballers | |
It Is With Deep Regret | |
Wartime Wembley | |
The Caps That Didnt Count | |
Footballs Vera Lynns | |
13 | |
Out of the Ashes | |
Bibliography | |
Other editions - View all
Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War Anton Rippon Limited preview - 2011 |
Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War Anton Rippon,Tom Finney No preview available - 2007 |
Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War Anton Rippon No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
air raid amateur appearances army Arsenal Arsenal’s Aston Villa attendance beat Birmingham Blackpool Bolton Wanderers bomb Brentford Britain British camp Cardiff City career centreforward centrehalf championship Charlton Athletic Chelsea City’s club club’s competition crowd Cullis Cup final DDay debut Derby County Dynamo England Everton Finney football Football League football’s fullback German goalkeeper goals ground guest players Gunners insideforward Jimmy Joe Mercer joined kickoff killed later League games League South Leicester Liverpool London lost Luton manager Manchester City Manchester United match Mercer military Millwall Newcastle Norwich October outsideright peacetime pitch played Portsmouth postwar Preston North End prewar prisoner Queen’s Park Rangers Raich Carter referee Regiment Road Rovers Royal scored Scotland Second World September sergeant Sheffield United signed Southampton Southend spectators stadium Stan Sunderland Third Division South Tommy Lawton Town Tranmere United’s victory Villa Park Wales wartime football week Welsh Wembley West Ham Wolves