“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 (1st Football), The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
![Middlesex Regiment Cap Badge](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Middlesex-Regiment-Cap-Badge-300x300.png)
![](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Blackburn-1914-15.png)
![Manchester City 1914-15](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Manchester-City-1914-15.png)
![](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Leeds-City-1914-15.png)
![](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Exeter-City-1914-15.png)
![](https://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Tottenham-Hotspur-1914-15.png)