“I knew nothing of professional footballers when I took over this Battalion.
I have learnt to value them. I would go anywhere with such men.
Their esprit de corps was amazing.
This feeling was mainly due to football - the link of fellowship which bound them together.
Football has a wonderful grip on these men and on the Army generally.”

COLONEL H.T. FENWICK
Commanding Officer of the 17th (Service) Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment (1915-17)