Football in the First World War
HistoryExtra podcast
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The Intensity of the Debate Over Football During the War
Brendan Rodgers has written a new book about football during the First World War. In it he explains how there was intense debate over whether football should continue while soldiers were fighting and dying on the front. He says that by 1950, when Tom Molly gave his speech in support of football being allowed to go ahead, they had banned professional players from getting paid or taking time off for military service. But then decided to adapt their rules so as not to be detrimental to the wider war effort but still fit into wartime society. And this is an attempt to sort of adapt a bit to a degree within what is permissible in wartime society according to him.
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