The Footballers' Battalions

[Svlad Cjelli]

A largely unknown story, but one every supporter should know about - I was privileged to be at the unveiling ceremony for this today. Inspiring and massively moving.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8079101/Footballers-Battalions-remembered-on-Somme-battlefield.html

[PEARCEY]

As Gareth Ainsworth says we must never forget.

[Svlad Cjelli]

I particularly like the idea of making sure that young apprentice footballers go out there and hopefully get more of a sense of realism and perspective from it.

[Stuka]

Good article. Phil Stant's book is a real page turner and tells the story of playing for Reading while being in the SAS

I'd be interested in reading more about Reading players in the First World War too. Inconcievable to imagine modern players going through all that.

[papereyes]

Good article. Phil Stant's book is a real page turner and tells the story of playing for Reading while being in the SAS

I'd be interested in reading more about Reading players in the First World War too. Inconcievable to imagine modern players going through all that.

He wasn't.

There's a gap of ~ 3 years between playing for Reading and playing for Hereford (now, remind me where the SAS are based again ... )

There's a few bits in his book that are just . One early bit about a mate that died - the complete lack of real emotion in his description is almost upsetting.

[Stuka]

Good article. Phil Stant's book is a real page turner and tells the story of playing for Reading while being in the SAS

I'd be interested in reading more about Reading players in the First World War too. Inconcievable to imagine modern players going through all that.

He wasn't.

There's a gap of ~ 3 years between playing for Reading and playing for Hereford (now, remind me where the SAS are based again ... )

There's a few bits in his book that are just . One early bit about a mate that died - the complete lack of real emotion in his description is almost upsetting.

You're right got his military carreer mixed up a bit there. He was of course a serving solider while a Royal though.

Footballer's books are rarely works of genius but I still thought "Ooh Aah Stantona" was well worth a read.

[papereyes]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it. It's just that there's some pretty depressing chunks in there.

[Rex]

Do you still have the book Papes. Hint.

[papereyes]

I stood in Waterstones for 2 and a half hours.

[Rex]

Liberty.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Just to bump this by saying that on BBC South tonight at 7.30 pm there's a brief documentary about Brian Mc and other ex-Royals visiting the site of this memorial a month or so ago.

[PlasticRoyale]

oh ferking memorial this, memorial that.....it's all fake anyway for the vast majority

[papereyes]

oh ferking memorial this, memorial that.....it's all fake anyway for the vast majority