Bristol Rovers Virtual Museum

It has been reported that nearly 300 professional footballers lost their lives in World War One that broke out on 4th August 1914. First-class football continued until the summer of 1915 but, unlike World War Two when the club closed down, Rovers continued to play in the South-Western Combination along with Portsmouth, Swindon and Bristol City and some local and services teams and even Bristol YMCA who Rovers beat 10-1 in 1917.

It is believed that 8 men who had previously played for Rovers lost their lives during the war. They included Henry Phillips, William Gerrish and Edward Murphy who poignantly stood together for a Rovers team photo in 1908 – see our photo on the Museum main page. Others who gave their lives were George Elmore, Bill Frankham, Arthur Hulme, Albert Rogers & William Westwood.