AS the world commemorates the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there is a growing appreciation that the conflict affected all aspects of everyday life. Football was no exception.

We have pointed out before in these columns the loss to clubs such as Bradford City and Bradford Park Avenue between 1914 and 1918. London club Leyton Orient also lost players to the war, as Dave Pendleton, curator of Bradford City’s bantamspast museum, recalls.

He said: “Although the 1914-15 League season was played to its conclusion ­— albeit against a background of mounting criticism ­— footballers increasingly played a full part in the conflict.

“Matches were used as occasions to boost recruiting. Notably, at half-time during the Division One Bradford derby at Park Avenue, Bradford City’s famous England international Dickie Bond wore his Bradford Pals uniform and made an appeal to spectators to join up.

“Sadly, as the war progressed footballers were killed and injured in ever-increasing numbers at the front. By the war’s end, nine Bradford City and two Bradford Park Avenue players had died as a result of the conflict. They included Jimmy Speirs, Bradford City captain in the 1911 FA Cup final.

“Those losses were replicated across Britain. Leyton Orient, then known as Clapton Orient, had three players killed and ten wounded.

“On Saturday, November 29, Bradford City play Leyton Orient at Valley Parade. This allows the opportunity to reflect on the losses of both clubs in the war to end all wars.

“Supporters of City and Orient have previously organised trips to the battlefields of France and Flanders. Myself, from the bantamspast museum, and Steve Jenkins, vice-chairman of Leyton Orient Supporters’ Club, will speak about our trips to the Western Front and give a brief summary of the footballers who paid the ultimate price. Bradford poet Glyn Watkins will close proceedings with a reading.

“The event will raise money for the Honour The Pals Appeal being organised by the T&A. The appeal is seeking to erect a memorial to the Bradford Pals at Serre on the Somme where, at 7.30am on July 1, 1916, the Bradford Pals left their trenches to attack the German lines. In the space of a few hours, the two Pals battalions were decimated. It was without doubt one of the darkest days in Bradford’s history.

“The fundraising event will commence at noon with lunch at the Jacobs Ale House, Kent Street, in the city centre. The landlady of Jacobs, Christina Wagstaff, has kindly offered to donate profits from the bar food to the appeal.

“At 12.30pm, Steve Jenkins and I will make our presentations. After 1pm there will be a walking tour via the cenotaph to the Midland Hotel’s Spirit of Bradford bar where there is a display about the hotel’s links with Bradford City’s FA Cup-winning team of 1911.

“Two of the cup winners pictured on the display, Jimmy Speirs and Robert Torrance, died in the First World War. In the Spirit of Bradford bar we will toast their memory. Those attending the match at Valley Parade will then head to the game.”

The talk and walk are free of charge, but donations are welcome for the appeal.