footballers in the army

[cockneyexile]

did any players from london clubs serve in the army during world war 1 &2 if so players name players club and army regiment if anyone can help?

[Octavius]

This one is RAF I'm afraid:

Alfred Keeling made one first team appearance for Bradford Avenue (now Bradford City) at Bury on 26 March 1938. Alfred was part of a fifteen-man squad that embarked on a tour of Denmark in June 1938. Avenue played two matches - drawing with Copenhagen 2-2 and defeating Nykobing 1-0. On returning to Britain Alfred appeared in a pre-season first team v reserves at Park Avenue on 16 August. An emerging talent, sometime afterwards he joined First Division Portsmouth. His stay at Fratton Park was brief, before he made a first team appearance he signed for Manchester City in May 1939. He found lodgings in the Ardwick district of Manchester.

The outbreak of War in September 1939 put Alfred�s career on hold. Given his ties to Bradford, it was natural that he would become a Wartime �guest� player for both Bradford clubs. He made five appearances at outside right for Bradford City between November and December 1939. Alfred scored on his debut when City defeated his old club Bradford Park Avenue 4-3 at Valley Parade on 4 November 1939.

He also turned out twice for Park Avenue in 1940 and once for Manchester City against New Brighton on 14th September 1940 at Maine Road - City won 5-2 in front of 4,000 fans.

Around May 1941 he joined the RAF and in the October of that year he went to Calgary, Canada to learn to fly under the Empire Training Scheme. He earned his wings and became a sergeant-pilot in early 1942. He completed his training back in the UK at Catfoss near Hull.

He was posted to 235 Squadron, flying Bristol Beaufighters out of Chivenor airbase, North Devon. In October 1942 he shot down a Junkers 88 over the Bay of Biscay. The story was featured in the Morley Observer.

[Octavius]

Ditto:

Sidney Pugh, born 10 October 1919 Dartford, Kent. A halfback, he began his career with Nunhead in London. He joined Arsenal as an amateur on 26 April 1936. Almost immediately he was farmed out to the Gunners nursery club Margate where he made 42 appearances, scoring once, in 1937-38.

He signed on professional terms with the Gunners on 7 May 1938. Sadly, Sidney broke his leg on his Arsenal debut at Birmingham on 8 April 1939 and never played again for the Gunners.

His one appearance for Bradford City was as a Wartime �guest� player in a Bradford �Derby� at Park Avenue on 28 September 1940. He played inside right as City beat Avenue 2-0 in front of a paltry 2,987.

He joined the RAF as a Pilot. He was killed on 15 April 1944,aged 24. Sidney is buried in Grave 282 at Llanharan and Peterson-Super-Montem Joint Cemetery, South Wales. His name also appears on the Llanharan Memorial.

[sddsddean]

Walter Tull joined the 17th (1st. Football) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment with "many other professional footballers". Read his story here http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ntfc/tull.htm

[Octavius]

Here is a link:

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/lancashire/bolton/wanderers/WANDERERSBA8.html