ON Tuesday September 14, Barnsley FC will hold a bucket collection in aid of a planned new memorial dedicated to the memory of the 17th Middlesex Battalion - The Footballer's Battalion.

Academy Manager Ronnie Branson and a number of his young players will be positioned around the ground before and during the game against Leeds United to take donations from fans.

Currently, there is no memorial in the UK or on the Western Front recognising the sacrifices made by the Footballer's Battalions - two units of professional footballers almost completely wiped out during the First World War.

The collection will have extra poignancy for the club with four of its former players - Percy Barnfather, Ernest Simms, Alfred West and George Wilcox - having served in the Battalion.

Barnsley FC Director and General Manager Don Rowing said: "People who gave their lives defending this great country during some of its darkest days deserve the highest praise and recognition. We should never forget the ultimate sacrifice they made for each and every one of us and we, at Barnsley Football Club, are delighted to do all we can to raise money for this fine cause".

Phil Stant, Football League Youth Development Officer (Midlands), who is spearheading the campaign, backed by The Football League, for a memorial, said: "The men that died in that Battalion have no memorial; there is nothing physical thanking them for the sacrifices they made.It is crucial that we raise money for this project and I am delighted that Barnsley have decided to participate and I would like to thank them and their supporters in advance for their efforts."

The story of the 17th Middlesex

Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, a heated debate took place in the letter pages of national and local newspapers about the continuance of professional football during a time of national crisis. Professional players in particular were vilified by large sections of the press as unpatriotic shirkers who put their own interests before those of their country.

In December 1914, the Rt. Hon Joynson Hicks raised the Footballers' Battalion at a meeting in Fulham Town Hall with some 35 professional footballers enlisting straightaway.

Over the next few months, another 300 professional players enlisted from clubs ranging from modern-day Premier League clubs, such as West Ham United, Chelsea and Liverpool to Football League clubs, like Leyton Orient, Plymouth Argyle and Grimsby Town.

The ranks of the 17th Middlesex were further swelled by numerous amateur players, officials and football fans eager to serve alongside their favourite players and in May 1915 a second Footballers' Battalion (23rd Middlesex) was set up.

The 17th Middlesex were sent to France in November 1915 and in the spring of 1916, the battalion moved south to Vimy Ridge, where it was blooded in its first offensive action near Souchez. During this period, the battalion football team won the Divisional Football Tournament without conceding a goal.

In July 1916, the 17th Middlesex entrained for the Somme, where it fought at Delville Wood and Guillemont. On 28 April 1917, the battalion was virtually annihilated at Oppy Wood during the Arras offensive. After a period of reconstitution, the 17th Middlesex then faced the full onslaught of the German counter-attacks at Cambrai.

Despite its proud record, the battalion was disbanded in February 1918 when the number of battalions within a brigade was reduced from four to three in the wake of manpower shortages. By the end of the war over 1,000 men who had served with the 17th Middlesex had lost their lives.

Some of the professional footballers who served with the 17th Middlesex

Frank Buckley

Clubs included Aston Villa, Brighton, Manchester United, Manchester City, Derby County and Bradford City. One international cap in 1914.Legendary Wolverhampton Wanderers manager 1932-1944. A ruthless disciplinarian, who was renowned for his ability to unearth talent, his finds included Billy Wright and Stan Cullis. Also managed Norwich City, Walsall, Hull City and Leeds United.

Jack Cock

Played for Brentford, Huddersfield Town, Chelsea, Everton, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall. He also played on two occasions for England, scoring in both matches. Awarded the Military Medal during the war. A snappy dresser with a fine singing voice, he starred in the 1930s football film The Great Game alongside a young Rex Harrison.

Vivian Woodward

Celebrated amateur footballer. One of the greatest players of his age, he played for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, scoring the first ever League goal at White Hart Lane. Record goal scorer for England (29 goals in 23 matches) until Tom Finney surpassed his haul in 1958. Also represented Great Britain at the Olympic games in 1908 and 1912.

Joe Mercer

Strong, attacking centre-half with Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers. His career was curtailed by the war. His son, also called Joe, grew up to become one of the true greats of English football both as a player and a manager.

Jackie Sheldon

Tricky winger, who played for Manchester United and Liverpool. One of the key protagonists in the infamous fixed match at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Liverpool on Good Friday 1915, he subsequently received a lifetime ban from the game, which was later rescinded.

Walter Tull

Walter Tull was one of the first black men to play professional football in The Football League. He played for Spurs and Northampton Town. Tull later received a commission and was killed at the head of his men while trying to stem the German Spring Offensive.

Ted Hanney

Accomplished centre-half who played for Reading, Manchester City and Coventry City. England amateur international. Also represented Great Britain at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, although he missed Great Britain's 4-2 victory over Denmark in the final because of injury. Later coached in Stuttgart.

Fred Keenor

One of the greatest Welsh footballers of all time. Despite being badly wounded on the Somme, he recovered to lead an unfancied Cardiff City side to FA Cup glory in 1927. This is still the only occasion on which the FA Cup has ever left England.

Tommy Barber

Wing-half, who played for Bolton Wanderers and Aston Villa. In the 1913 FA Cup Final against Sunderland, Barber headed the winning goal. Badly wounded in the leg at Guillemont, he defied doctors' orders to play in an Inter Hospital Fund game in June 1918.

Tim Coleman

Capped by England, this roving inside right's clubs included Northampton Town, Woolwich Arsenal, Everton, Sunderland, Fulham and Nottingham Forest. Known 'as the life and soul of the dressing room wherever he went', he later became a respected coach in Holland.

Bob Whiting

Goalkeeper who started out as a shipbuilder before playing professionally for West Ham Reserves.Went on to play for Chelsea and Brighton. Whiting was renowned for his prodigious kicking ability. Once reputed to have cleared the opposition crossbar from his own area. 'Pom-Pom' Whiting made 320 appearances for Brighton