Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain during the Second World War

by Anton Rippon, Sir Tom Finney (Foreword)

"I was 12th man for England against Wales at Wembley. Within a few minutes, the Welsh half-back broke his collar bone. They had no reserves and I as the only spare player to hand. That's how I made my international debut - for Wales." - Stan Mortensen, Blackpool and England. When Britain declared war on Germany in September 1939, football came to an abrupt halt. Large crowds were banned, stadiums were given over to military use, most players joined up. Then it was realised that if victory was the national goal, soccer could help - and football went to war. For the next six years the game became hugely important to Britain. Boosting morale among servicemen, munitions workers and beleaguered citizens alike - and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for war funds. It was a game with plenty of human stories. Some footballers were dubbed 'PT commandos' or 'D-Day dodgers'. Others, however, saw action. Pre-war heroes on the pitch became wartime heroes off it. This book captures the atmosphere of the time and tells the story of a unique period in football's history.

About the author

Anton Rippon is a British journalist, author and publisher.

Born in Derby during the Second World War. He has spent almost all his working life in the newspaper and publishing industry. He is the author of 30 books, including an autobiographical memoir A Derby Boy, which was published in 2007.

His work has appeared in a wide range of national newspapers and magazines and he has written radio documentaries for the BBC. In 1982, he founded Breedon Books, the sports and history publisher that he sold in 2003 to resume writing full-time. In 1993, the Derby County Former Professional Players' Association elected him an honorary member. He is also a member of the Sports Journalists' Association, the International Society of Olympic Historians and the Football Writers' Association. His book Gunter Plüschow: Airman, Escaper, Explorer, was published by Pen & Sword in 2009. A collection of his columns from the Derby Telegraph – A Derby View – was published by Wharncliffe in October 2010.

Reviews

[Kate Daysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book, I really enjoyed hearing what football was like during WWII. There was a really nice blend of factual information and first-hand memories and the photos were great too. Gives a good insight to what it must have been like.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anton Ripponin "Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War" (History Press, 2014) on mainiosti nimetty tietokirja brittien kuningaspelistä vuosina 1939-1946. Liigaa ei sotavuosina päästy pelaamaan normaaliin tapaan, ja katsojille tutuksi tulivat alituiseen vaihtuvat kokoonpanot, suurimaaliset ottelut ja erilaiset sarja- ja pisteenlaskujärjestelmät. Saksalaisten pommitukset vahingoittivat myös useita stadioineita, ja vaikka osa jalkapalloilijoista välttyikin rintamapalvelukselta, menettivät monet myös henkensä taisteluissa.

Ripponin kirjotustyyli oli sen verran puiseva ja luettelomainen, ettei lukukokemusta voinut pitää erityisen mukaansatempaavana, mutta muutama hauska anekdootti tästä jäi kuitenkin käteen.

[Rob Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football in WWII was different to any before or since, the ad-hoc, make-it-up-as-you-go-along, nature of it meaning it could be no other way. The vagaries of the guest player system are of particular interest as is the make-do-and-mend approach necessary to keep it all going. Some players went to war and returned to play again while many others weren’t so lucky. Many footballers were honoured for the part they played in the conflict, a conflict that meant some were never again the player they’d once been. The game undoubtedly played its part in keeping up the spirits of the people during a long, dark night of six year’s duration. It’s all here in this enjoyable read,

[Tom Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football during the Second World War is something that is largely ignored - both in terms of the history of the conflict itself, and also the history of football itself. On the surface, this may seem logical. In terms of the battles and campaigns and general events of the war, football seems irrelevant. In footballing terms the normal league and cup competitions closed down for the duration. Yet after a very brief hiatus (of just a few weeks), football continued throughout the war in the form of wartime league and cup competitions, far removed from the normal seasons, with regional leagues throwing all sorts of teams together and a guest player system, which saw some of the games' greats turning out for lowly sides. This book is full of the weird and wonderful stories of football's wartime years, which demonstrates just how important football was for morale both for those serving in the military, and civilians on the home front. These are valuable tales worthy of being heard.