6 replies to this topic

[AllseeingEye]

Back in the day just prior to and for four years after the Great War my grandfather played professional football in the UK.

 

Going through some old papers again today I came across a rare item; back then each player for all teams in the UK was given a pocket size team member booklet outlining his team's player roster, their positions, the team managers, and schedule for the upcoming season. He played for both Millwall and later Bexleyheath Town FC.

 

This is his BHFC membership book for the 1923-4 season -

 

 

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[On the Level]

Quite the find!

[AllseeingEye]

I knew we had it "somewhere", and I'm 99% the Millwall FC booklet is still in storage.

 

The most amazing find from my grandfather's stuff was a British Army officer's copy of the battle plan for the initial Somme Offensive in 1916. Unreal document. It folds out like a modern street map except this one is about 4-5 feet across with details of German and British gun and trench emplacements, troop deployments, the works.

 

I remember him telling us about how British and German troops, many like my grand-dad professional or semi-professional footballers prior to the war, played "friendly" games against each other during the Christmas Truce of 1914. Truly must have been a remarkable if not surreal experience...

[On the Level]

I knew we had it "somewhere", and I'm 99% the Millwall FC booklet is still in storage.

 

The most amazing find from my grandfather's stuff was a British Army officer's copy of the battle plan for the initial Somme Offensive in 1916. Unreal document. It folds out like a modern street map except this one is about 4-5 feet across with details of German and British gun and trench emplacements, troop deployments, the works.

 

I remember him telling us about how British and German troops, many like my grand-dad professional or semi-professional footballers prior to the war, played "friendly" games against each other during the Christmas Truce of 1914. Truly must have been a remarkable if not surreal experience...

Nothing better than finding something from your family linked to an amazing history.  I was able to get both the orders and the reconnaissance back for each day to my grandfather's battalion from archives Canada.  I would think the British would have the same?  

[johnk]

My sister has our grandfather's letter noting his service aboard Queen Victoria's yacht. Apparently sailors did a 2-year stint and at the end they got a letter saying "he did his duty" or some such.
No praise, no thank you. The Royal Navy did not offer sentiments.
"Rum, sodomy and the lash."
Aaaargghhhh!

[tedward]

Wow, they were doing well around that time. Three times FA Amateur Cup winners.

http://www.beckenham...r-cup-19251967/

[AllseeingEye]

He was actually a top notch footballer by all accounts. Even when well into his 70's and when I was playing in the Gordon Head soccer assn my grand-dad could easily out dribble and play keep-away from me at will, no problem heh.