WHEN war was declared in August 1914, men from all walks of life answered Lord Kitchener’s call to arms.

Even local sportsmen, such as Hampshire’s county cricket team, were quick to join the armed ranks.

Footballers joined the effort more progressively as players stayed home to continue playing organised matches.

Despite opposition, football matches continued to be played in the Football League throughout the 1914-1915 season. For the remainder of the war, the Football League suspended its programme but allowed clubs to organise regional competitions.

Much of the opposition originated from the concern that many men preferred to play and watch football rather than join up. With that in mind, it soon became apparent that the sport could be used as a recruiting tool to attract healthy young men to join the fight.

The attitude of the FA towards recruiting was shown in a new poster appearing at football grounds up and down the country.

The poster, which was headed “An Appeal To Good Sportsmen” saw the secretary of the FA, Mr F J Wall, make a direct appeal to both players and spectators, asking them to help supply the demand needed for Kitchener’s army.

It appealed to those currently not doing their bit for the country to be a “good sportsman” and “enlist now and help other good sportsmen who are bravely fighting Britain’s battle against the world’s enemy.”

Many professional footballers fought for Britain during the First World War.

Those killed in action included former Spurs player Walter Tull and Bradford Park Avenue’s Donald Bell – the only professional footballer to be awarded the Victoria Cross.