January 1, 1970

As in the First World War, spectator sports such as football, greyhound racing and horse racing were initially banned. But it was soon recognised by the government that sport played an important role in national morale and this decision was revised. Sportsmen played an important role on the battlefield and eighty professional footballers lost their lives during the course of the war and many more were injured or became prisoners of war (POWs). All three services encouraged football as a way of keeping troops fit, active and entertained. It was also popular amongst POWs of all nationalities and Manchester City’s famous goalkeeper Bert Trautmann came to Britain as a German POW in 1945.