It is one of the greatest stories in one of mankind's darkest periods of history.

The infamous games of football that shocked the world brought the smallest sense of romanticism back into the First World War.

Soldiers kicked the ball over the top of the trenches and played a game of football against the other fighting countries throughout the war between 1914 and 1918.

Now, the only ball still in existence that saw the trenches has now paid a visit to Southampton, at the new Football Lodge of Freemasons which was started last year.

The master of the lodge is David Lallana, father of former Southampton and England football star Adam Lallana, and 100 masons were there to hear the story of the ball that played a role in World War One.

It was kicked over no man's land at the Battle of Loos in 1915, which took place between September and October on the western front of France.

The ball was kicked over by members of the London Irish Rifles, in direct contradiction of orders given by a commanding officer.

There are more than 9,000 Freemasons in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The organisations are societies of men concerned with moral and spiritual values and is one of the world's largest and non-religious and charitable organisations.

Tony Robinson, a veteran of the regiment, brought the ball and told how before the battle, soldiers planned to dribble six balls towards the German front line in a display of courage.

Their commanding officer found out and before the attack, shot five of the balls. One ball was kept secret, with rifleman Frank Edwards inflating it as his comrades gave him cover.

David Lallana said: "The Loos football is an incredible piece of history. To have it among the brethren and to hear its story was fascinating, and humbling too.

"We are extremely grateful to Tony Robinson for bringing it along and telling us about it."

As the whistle for the big push sounded, Frank Edwards hoofed the ball out of the trenches and hacked it forward over no man's land, but was wounded in the assault, being shot in both legs.

Others kicked the ball onwards until it was pierced on German barbed wire.

The ball has remained with the London Irish Rifles and is now kept in the regimental museum and was restored in 2011.

It makes regular visits to schools and has also appeared on television.