Great War.

The 1st World War years. 1916-19.

These players made appearances during the great war. those that appeared in games before or after the war can be found in the relevant sections. These include, Friendlies, The South West Combination and The Bristol County Combination.

A Baker.

Arthur John Aldin. 1915-16.
Born, 1893, Bristol.
Died?
Having first appeared in Rovers’ side in the 4-1 home defeat against Reading in September 1915, Alden made up the numbers for the opposition a fortnight later. Cardiff City, a man short, fielded him at right-half and it was Alden who handled the ball in the area five minutes before half-time, to allow Tom Brown to put Rovers 3-2 ahead, the final goal of the match. He was in the Rovers side which defeated ASC Remount 3-0 in May 1916.

Albert Edward Baker. 1917-19.
An attacking player formerly with Union Jack and Horfield, Albert Baker scored in the 12-0 victory at home to ASC Remounts in September 1917 and added three further goals during the 1918-19 campaign. He is likely to be one of two Albert Edward Bakers in the Bristol area at that time – one was born in 1889 and died in 1940, the other born in 1892 and died in 1968. Albert Baker married Edith Louisa Leonard in 1912 and, of their nine sons and two daughters, the youngest was Mervyn Baker (1932-2013), a stalwart of Southmead United, for whom he scored 58 goals in 1,300 matches across four decades, and a well-respected local football researcher, who married Tommasina “Tina” Capobianco (1930-2009) and had a son Edward.

Lance Corporal Benn. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

Six goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons indicated Benn’s attacking promise; three of these goals (two in the last fifteen minutes with Rovers already 4-1 down) came at The Dell in September 1915, as Rovers lost 4-3 to Southampton. His first appearance for the side may have been in the 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Reading, earlier the same month.

S Bennett. 1918-19.
Born?
Died?

This left-back is only known to have played on Easter Monday 1919, when a 12,000 crowd at Eastville saw Rovers and Bristol City draw 1-1 in an unofficial wartime encounter, both sides registering from the penalty-spot in a five-minute second-half spell. He also scored twice for the club, one of these coming in the astonishing 20-0 victory over Great Western Railway in February 1919.

Unknown Bishop.
Born?
Died?

This player appeared for Rovers on an unspecified number of occasions during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Walter Edward Bowan.
Born, December 1891, Hednesford.
Died, 1944.
Career: 1909 Hednesford United; Hednesford Victoria; 23.4.13 Cradley Heath St Luke’s; 5.12.13 Nuneaton Town; 2.5.14 West Bromwich Albion [1,0]; 26.5.19 Hednesford Town; 17.5.20 Cannock Town; 23.12.20 Wellington Town; Stamford Town.

“Tod” Bowen scored one goal during the unofficial First World War football seasons, in Rovers’ 3-2 victory over ASC Shirehampton in April 1916. Lean, Fair-haired and six feet tall, he had initially arrived at Rovers on trial from New Cheltenham and previously appeared in West Brom’s 3-1 First Division defeat away to Liverpool in March 1915, in front of a 16,000 crowd, when he deputised for England international Sid Bowser (1891-1961). His sixteen Birmingham Combination matches with Nuneaton had started with a 2-1 defeat at Bromsgrove Rovers in December 1913 and he captained the Hednesford Collieries team based at the Cross Keys Ground through World War One, winning the Ansells Shield and being runners-up in both the Dewer Shield and the Black and White Cup.

Unknown Brace.
Born?
Died?

This untraced player scored his only goal for Rovers in the 7-0 victory over Bristol YMCA at Eastville in a wartime friendly in October 1917.

E Bright. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

Although he may have played regularly, the only Rovers goal Bright is known to have scored came during the unofficial 1915-16 season. His goal was the third as Rovers ran up a 6-1 half-time lead, en route to a 9-2 victory over RAMC in December 1915.

Unknown Brooke.
Born?
Died.

This player, who played during the 1916-17 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced.

C H Brooks.
Born?
Died?

It is likely that outside-left Brooks’ first two games for Rovers were the final two fixtures of the 1915-16 campaign, a 1-1 draw with Bristol City and a 3-0 win against ASC Remount. In the latter game, it was his cross which led to George Phillips notching Rovers’ third and final goal. A forward, Brooks scored three goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, against ASC Remount, Bristol Dockers and Bristol YMCA in the spring of 1917.

Thomas Brown. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

This player was credited with two goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, in October 1915 victories over Newport County and Cardiff City. The latter came in a 3-2 victory, when he slotted home the rebound after goalkeeper Jack Kneeshaw (1883-1955) had initially saved his penalty. He also scored from the penalty-spot in the 9-2 home victory over RAMC that December. It is believed Tom Brown’s first appearance for Rovers came in the 3-1 home victory over Newport County in September 1915.

Unknown Bryant. 1916-?
Born?
Died?

A wing-half who appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons and registered one goal as the Central Flying School was defeated 3-2 at Eastville in December 1916, Bryant’s true identity remains an enigma. He is also known to have appeared at right-back in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City reserves as early as April 1916.

F Bush. 2017-18.
Born?
Died?

Having scored against Tractor Depot, ASC Remounts and the White City-based Royal Engineers during the unofficial 1917-18 campaign, Bush scored his fourth and final goal for Rovers in the wartime local derby with Bristol City in October 1918.

Unknown Butler. 1916-17.
Born?
Died?

This player, who played during the 1916-17 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced.

(Fred) Fredrick John Chapple.
Born, 3.2.1884, Eastville, Bristol.
Died, 1965.
Career: Eastville Commercial School; 1903 Blaina; 1904 Ebbw Vale; 1905 Treharris Boys’ Club; 20.4.06 Aston Villa [9,3]; 4.12.08 Birmingham [50,15]; 10.6.10 Crewe Alexandra; 14.8.12 Brentford; 6.6.13 Bristol City [20,10]; 1915 Blyth Spartans; 25.8.20 Douglas Motors.

Despite joining Birmingham halfway through the season, inside-left Fred Chapple was their top scorer in 1908-09 and he was top scorer at Brentford in 1912-13 with twelve goals in 29 Southern League appearances. This figure included a second-half hat-trick as West Ham were defeated 5-1 at Griffin Park in November 1912 and he played in the 1-1 draw with Rovers five months later. In addition, he contributed Crewe’s goal which knocked Bristol City out of FA Cup in 1911 and scored 22 times in 49 Birmingham and District League games whilst at Gresty Road; this tally included four goals in consecutive fixtures against Wellington Town and Wednesbury Old Athletic in the autumn of 1910 and a hat-trick in the return fixture with Wellington Town in March 1911. He evidently enjoyed home games against Stockport County, for he scored four times on Christmas Day 1908 in Birmingham’s 4-2 win and his hat-trick helped Bristol City defeat County 5-0 in Division Two in September 1913. He had scored top-flight goals for Villa against Manchester United, Birmingham and Liverpool. With Rovers, Chapple scored four goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, two of these coming in a 5-1 home victory over the Army at Eastville in January 1918. He had earlier scored the opening goal in the reserves’ 4-0 victory over Highland Light Infantry in November 1915, with a long, swerving shot, and added Rovers’ goal in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City reserves in April 1916. As a seventy-four-year-old, he fell in the River Avon on his way to Harry Bamford’s funeral in 1958 and was pulled out of the water. He married Florence Wells (1879-1961) and their son Leslie, born in 1909, had a son, Malcolm. From 1965, when he died aged eighty-one, there was a Fred Chapple Trophy for the North Bristol cribbage champion, the first winner being a Fred Coombe.

Unknown Chapman. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

This centre-half is known to have played in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City in April 1916, Fred Chapple’s second-half goal earning a draw before a 4,000 crowd.

William Cook. 1915-1919.
Born?
Died?

When Rovers defeated Cardiff City 3-2 at Eastville in October 1915, Bill Cook made his début at left-half; Rovers trailed 2-0 inside five minutes but were ahead by half-time. Four weeks after, he scored his first goal for the club, a tap into an open goal from Billy Weston’s cross to complete a 4-0 victory over Highland Light Infantry. Overall, he scored four more goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, the next coming in the 10-0 victory over 3rd Officers Cadets at Eastville in January 1917 and the last being the only goal of the home fixture with Douglas in April 1919.

A Cox.
Born?
Died?

A local player who appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Edward Dando.
Born?
Died?

This forward scored four goals for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Emsley.
Born?
Died?

This man played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

William Edward Fenner.
Born, 22.7.1889, Bromborough, Cheshire.
Died, 19.4.1950, Bromborough, Cheshire.
Career: 27.8.09 Wrexham; 3.6.10 Bury [57,0]; 7.7.13 Wrexham (to December 1914).

A left-back, Bill Fenner assisted Rovers in one match during World War One. Unfortunately for him, he collided with Bristol City’s Mike Green and suffered a broken arm, the St John’s Ambulance offering his initial treatment. Earlier in his career, he had first appeared for Bury in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in September 1910 and suffered relegation to Division Two with the Shakers in 1911-12. Later, he scored three goals in 33 Birmingham and District League appearances with Wrexham, and secured a Welsh Cup medal as part of the side which defeated Llanelli 3-0 in the replayed final at Oswestry in April 1914. One of seven children of William Wood Fenner (1844-1916) and Elizabeth Ann Goodwin Bell (1849-1919), who had married in 1872, he was baptised in the village of Bromborough on 11th August 1889, married in 1920 Martha Mabel Boughey (1890-1934), having two sons, William and Paul. In June 1933 he re-married to Ada Corlett Dobson (1900-50), who survived him by four days, and they lived at 51 Neville Road, Bromborough.

Private Flannery.
Born?
Died?

When Rovers defeated Cardiff City 3-2 at Eastville in October 1915, Private Flannery played at inside-left; Rovers trailed 2-0 inside five minutes but were ahead by half-time.

John Forbes.
Born, 1892, Scotland.
Died?
Career: Dundee North End; Dundee Violet; 6.6.11 Bristol City [27,5]; 5.9.12 Stalybridge Celtic (to 1915).

Johnny Forbes played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons. He had earlier played regularly at Ashton Gate through the 1911-12 season, first appearing in the 1-0 home victory over Fulham that September and contributing both goals the following month in a 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest, who included the former Rovers player Frank Saunders in their side.

Thomas Henry Ford.
Born, 1885, Bristol.
Died, 19.10.1918, Isle of Wight.

Full-back Tom Ford, who died aged thirty-three of influenza, played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons. He is listed as Thomas D Ford on his death certificate.

Unknown Foster.
Born?
Died?

Foster played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Fowler.
Born?
Died?

This forward scored when Rovers drew 1-1 at home to the Royal Flying Corps in January 1917.

(Tom) William Thomas Fuge.
Born?
Died?

Born, 27.12.1887, Bristol.
Died, 1944, Bristol.
Career: January 1910 Cwm Albion; Hanham Rangers; Belle Vue; Hanham Athletic; August 30.8.11 Barrow; 23.2.12 Barrow St Luke’s; 22.6.12 Llanelli; 6.6.13 Bristol City [6,3]; June 1914 Mardy; 19.9.19 Douglas.

Tom Fuge scored two goals in unofficial First World War football, in 4-1 defeats in September 1915 at Cardiff and at home to Reading. The Cardiff goal came on the rebound after goalkeeper Lonsdale had only parried Billy Weston’s initial shot. Fuge had earlier scored in both his first two Second Division matches with Bristol City in September 1913, as Glossop were defeated 4-1 and Stockport County 5-0. His four known goals for Barrow include one on his Lancashire Combination début, a 1-1 draw at Rossendale United. He appears to have been a son of Edwin Fuge (1856-1932) and Annie Lovell (1859-1908), who married in 1880.

Unknown Giles.
Born?
Died?

This forward scored one goal for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons, in the 8-0 drubbing of Bristol Dockers in October 1917.

Unknown Goodman.
Born?
Died?

This forward played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons and scored once as Brazil Straker and Company, 2-0 down at the interval, were defeated 7-1 by Rovers at Eastville in January 1918.

Unknown Gordon.
Born?
Died?

A local man, Gordon played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Leonard Richard William Gyles. 1917-19.
Born, 5.7.1892, Bedminster.
died, 20.3.1965, Wells, Somerset.

During the unofficial World War One seasons, Len Gyles scored eight goals for Rovers. Having scored in the 4-0 victory over RFC Cirencester and the 13-0 thrashing of GWR Carriage through the autumn of 1917, he added six more goals in 1918-19, including a hat-trick as Great Western Railway were defeated 20-0 at Eastville in February 1919. Len Gyles lost both his parents to the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, Frederick William Gyles (1868-1918), the founder of Gyles Brothers sports equipment who had played once for Rovers in September 1889 having married Henrietta Kezia Harris (also 1868-1918) in 1891. He married three times, first in 1915 to Marie Eugenie Moore (1894-1920), who died in child-birth giving birth to their daughter, Marie junior, and then in 1924 to Irene Osborne, with whom he had a son, Anthony. After Irene had re-married in 1939 to Alfred Peacock, he married Florence Emily Prideaux (1901-68) in 1942. An insurance clerk who worked for the family business before running a pub, he died in Somerset at the age of seventy-two.

J Hall. 1917-18.
Born?
Died?

This player, who played during the 1917-18 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced.

Herbert George Harding. 1918-19.
Born, 1889, Bedminster.
Died, 1959, Worthing.
Career: Bristol Rovers; 11.10.27 Bristol St George; 29.10.31 Co-operative Wholesale Society, Bristol.

Bert Harding scored just once for Rovers, in the wartime 5-0 victory over YMCA at Eastville in November 1918, before embarking on a long career in local non-league football. He played alongside the former Rovers wing-half Billy Cuff at CWS.

Unknown Henderson.
Born?
Died?

Henderson played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons and scored once as Brazil Straker and Company, 2-0 down at the interval, were defeated 7-1 by Rovers at Eastville in January 1918.

Unknown Hobbs. 1916-17.
Born?
Died?

This forward scored when Rovers defeated the Royal Warwickshire Regiment 3-2 at Eastville in October 1916.

Unknown Holt.
Born?
Died?

Holt played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

J Hopes.
Born?
Died?

This player appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons and scored once as Brazil Straker and Company, 2-0 down at the interval, were defeated 7-1 by Rovers at Eastville in January 1918.

Unknown Iles.
Born?
Died?

Iles played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

William James.
Born?
Died?

Local forward Bill James scored one goal during the unofficial First World War football seasons, this coming in a 5-2 home victory over Army Ordnance in November 1916.

Henry Kelston. 1914-1919.
Born, 16.9.1893, Bedminster, Bristol.
Died, 1978, Bristol.
Career: Bedminster United; 1914 Bristol City; 17.10.19 Newport County [11,1]; July 1921 Mardy; September 1923 Penrhiwceiber.

Left-half Harry Kelson scored seven goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, including two each in the large victories against ASC Remounts, Bristol Dockers and a Military XI in the autumn of 1917. Kelson returned to haunt Rovers by scoring the opening goal when Rovers lost 2-0 to Bristol City at Ashton Gate in March 1918 and adding further goals when City won 4-2 that October and in Rovers’ 4-1 victory of May 1918, although he did not play against Rovers for County in the 1920-21 season. He scored the winning goal as Newport defeated Grimsby Town 2-1 in March 1921, his only League appearance for the Somerton Park club. His occupation was described in 1939 as “concrete mixer house and bumper petrol”, whatever that may mean. After serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, he had married Florence Thomas in 1916; they had four daughters and a son and lived at 83 Salcombe Road, Bristol.

(Wally) Leonard Harford Kemp.
Born, 1895, Bristol.
Career: 1917 Bristol Rovers

Having appeared for Rovers during World War One, Wally Kemp was reported to be living in Montreal in 1950; however, there appears to be only one Leonard Harford Kemp born in the past two centuries in England and he was in Leicester in the 1911 census and died in Frances Road, Basingstoke in 1944 at the age of forty-eight, which fits his date of birth in Bristol. He also ran a jeweller’s business in Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, trading as EC Kemp, until 1934; the clock above the store’s entrance was, for many years, a famous meeting-place in Leicester and it survives to this day.

Henry Kirk.
Born, 22.4.1899, Dinnington, Yorkshire.
Career: Dinnington Colliery; Sherwood Rovers; Worksop Town; 29.3.20 Bristol City (professional, 30.4.20) [17,7]; 20.6.21 Plymouth Argyle [1,0]; 4.3.22 Exeter City; 28.5.22 Plymouth Argyle; 30.9.22 Exeter City (£250) [140,45]; 13.5.26 Charlton Athletic (£150) [8,2]; 1927 Bath City; 24.8.28 New Brighton [27,9]; 9.8.29 South Shields [12,3]; September 1930 Bath City; 1931 Gateshead (trainer).

Harry “Jazzo” Kirk, nicknamed in deference to his skills on the ukulele, eccentricities and value as an entertainer, played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons. When Rovers lost 1-0 to Plymouth at Home Park in September 1921, it was Kirk’s sole appearance in an Argyle shirt, but he did not oppose Rovers when with Charlton. On the other hand, though, he scored six times in ten Third Division (South) fixtures against Rovers whilst with the Grecians, scoring twice in the April 1922 and again in the Christmas Day 1922 encounter. Exeter’s top scorer with twelve League goals in 1924-25, he also scored four times as the Grecians won 4-3 at Portsmouth in March 1923 and a hat-trick against Newport County in February 1924. Five feet eight-and-a-half inches tall and weighing eleven stone four pounds, he scored Charlton’s fifty-fifth-minute winner against Swindon Town in October1926 and scored again in the 1-1 draw at Gillingham two months later. In September 1928 he scored for New Brighton against Chesterfield after just fifteen seconds of a Third Division (North) fixture. Earlier in his career, he had registered two braces for Bristol City, at home to Hull City and Stockport County in April 1920 and September 1920 respectively. An entertainer on the field, his singing, piano-playing and card tricks rendered him highly popular off it too.

Unknown Lewis.
Born?
Died?

Lewis scored in Rovers’ 3-2 victory over Brazil, Straker and Company in March 1917, his only goal for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Lucas.
Born?
Died?

A formidable forward, Lucas scored six goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, these all coming in the 10-1 victory over Bristol YMCA at Eastville in March 1917. Some records claim he had scored twice and also missed a penalty when Rovers won 7-0 away to Bristol Dockers earlier that calendar month.

Unknown Mitchell. 1918-19.
Born?
Died?

This forward only features once in match reports from Rovers’ excursions in World War One, being credited in some sources as scoring the final goal as Rovers defeated Bristol City 5-1 at Ashton Gate in April 1919. Other sources suggest that Ted Skuse scored the final goal, thus completing his hat-trick.

Unknown Norris.
Born?
Died?

Norris played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Nyland.
Born?
Died?

This footballer played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons. The few Nylands in the United Kingdom during late Victorian times were concentrated in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

F Osborn. 1916-17.
Born?
Died.

This forward scored in Rovers’ 3-2 victory over Brazil, Straker and Company in March 1917, his only goal for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Pears.
Born?
Died.

Whilst Pears scored only four times in wartime football for Rovers, these goals all came in the same fixture, as Avonmouth were defeated 10-2 at Eastville before a 1,000 crowd in October 1916.

Willaim John Pedrick.
Born, 1893, Bristol.
Died, 1956, Pontypridd.
A forward, Jack Pedrick scored six goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons. His first goal was the opener, as Rovers ran up a mammoth 14-1 victory over Discharged Soldiers and Sailors at Eastville in September 1918.

Unknown Phillips. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

This player, who played during the 1915-16 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced.

SidneyPotter.
Born?
Died?

Forward Sid Potter’s only goal for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons came in a 3-0 victory at Newport County in a South West Combination League fixture in January 1916. It is believed his first game for the side had come in the 3-1 victory over the same opposition in September 1915.

Unknown Powell. 1915-16.
Born?
Died?

This player, who played during the 1915-16 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced.

Private Robertson.
Born?
Died?

When Rovers defeated Cardiff City 3-2 at Eastville in October 1915, Private Robertson played at left-half; Rovers trailed 2-0 inside five minutes but were ahead by half-time.

Unknown Rowley.
Born?
Died?

A forward, Rowley scored one goal during the unofficial First World War football seasons, this coming in Rovers’ 2-2 draw at Portsmouth in September 1916.

Harry Augustus Reginald Rubery.
Born, 19.8.1894, Bristol.
Died, 1976, Tavistock.

Briefly with Rovers during World War One football, Harry Rubery married Mary Jones (1894-1948) and had three daughters, Edna, Eveline and Mavis. Baptised at St Philip and Jacob on 9th September 1894, he was the third son of Albert Robert Kirby Rubery (1866-1940) and Louisa Taylor (1868-1920). He rose to the position of Superintendent at the Machine Shop of the Bristol Aeroplane Company.

Unknown Sleigh.
Born?
Died?

Both Sleigh’s goals for Rovers came in the unofficial wartime victory over Repatriated Soldiers and Sailors at Eastville in January 1919, Rovers winning 6-0. He may well be Henry Arthur Sleigh, born in Bristol in the summer of 1896, who married Verina Whitehead (1897-1959) in Bristol in the autumn of 1922; there was a Henry Arthur Sleigh, baptised in Gloucester on 5th February 1897, the son of Frederick William Sleigh (1860-1925) and Kate Brookman Jeffries (1856-1947).

Private S Smith.
Born?
Died?

A forward, Smith scored his only goal for Rovers in a 2-2 draw at Swindon Town on Easter Saturday 1916 in the South West Combination League. He is also known to have played in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City in April of that year.

C Stevens.
Born?
Died?

Stevens scored two goals during the unofficial First World War football seasons, these goals coming in successive weeks in the spring of 1917, against Brazil, Straker and Company and against Bristol City. He also appears to have played for Bristol City in 1918-19.

S Stone. 1916-19.
Born?
Died.

This player, who played during the wartime campaigns of 1916-17 and 1918-19, has not as yet been successfully traced.

Fredrick George Sweet. 1915-16.
Born, 1894, Bristol.
Died, 1962, Bristol.

Previously with Bristol City reserves, for whom he had signed professional forms on 29th August 1912, centre-half Fred Sweet made his first appearance in a Rovers shirt in the 7-2 victory over Newport County in November 1915, his two goals in that fixture including a penalty. He scored again when 259th Motor Transport company were defeated 4-0 the following January and added a penalty in the 3-0 victory over ASC Remount in May 1916. His earlier time at Ashton Gate had encompassed four Football League games, the first two in the top-flight in 1910-11 and a début goal in a First Division defeat at Old Trafford, 3-1 to Manchester United, in February 1911. The son of George Henry Sweet (1867-1948) and Caroline Shipp (1862-1923), Fred Sweet was baptised at St John’s, Bedminster on 7th September 1894, married Ethel Mary Nelmes (1897-1965) in 1921 and had a daughter, Margaret, and a son, Raymond. It is, though, possible that he was the Frank George Sweet, born in Bristol on 18th November 1885, who scored once in four League games with Bristol City between 1910 and 1912.

Private J Thompson.
Born?
Died?

When Rovers defeated Cardiff City 3-2 at Eastville in October 1915, Private Thompson played at outside-right; Rovers trailed 2-0 inside five minutes but were ahead by half-time.

Unknown Toose.
Born, 1894,Bedminster.
Died?

The player who appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons could be Frederick Norman Toose, who was born in Bedminster over Easter 1894.

Tommy Ware.

A Tucker.
Born?
Died?

Tucker played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

J Walker.1918-19.
Born?
Died?

This forward, who scored four goals for Rovers during the 1918-19 wartime campaign, has not as yet been successfully traced. His identity is unlikely to be proven, since there were five John Walkers and three James Walkers born in Bristol alone between the summer of 1896 and early 1900.

Thomas Ware.
Born, 16.10.1885, Bristol.
Died, 1.5.1915, Poperinghe, Belgium.
Career: Army football; 18.12.11 Bristol City [51,0] (to August 1914).

Goalkeeper Tommy Ware played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons and was seriously injured during the hostilities of the First World War, dying in a field hospital in northern France at the age of twenty-six. He had earlier played for Bristol City against Rovers in the Gloucestershire Cup Finals of 1913 and 1914. First appearing in a 3-0 defeat at Hull City in December 1911, he conceded seven at Barnsley over Easter 1913 and played for City alongside Fred Chapple and Tom Fuge. He was baptised at St Philip and Jacob, Bristol on 8th November 1885; working as a gunner as recruit 46806, he is buried at Poperinghe Old Military Cemetary.

R Webb.
Born?
Died?

Webb played for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Williams.
Born?
Died?

This player appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.

Unknown Wooley.
Born?
Died?

This player appeared for Rovers during the unofficial First World War football seasons.