McCraes Battalion

A few days back Licensed to Chill blipped a lovely picture of Roo wearing a football top and why we should be allowed to wear a poppy with pride on it. I wrote an aside mentioning McCraes Battalion. Sir George McCraes Battalion was nick named the Heart of Midlothian Battalion as at the start of the great war the Hearts football team signed up on mass after a Derby game with Hibs. Hundreds of supporters and fellow footballers followed suit and were blooded in the Battle of the Somme, loosing three quarters of their strength on the first day alone. For brave men like this who gave us so much I find it incredible that a football body can try to stop this tribute. If more people in sport had these qualities that these brave men had ( not the glamor seeking lifestyle most seem to think is their right) then I think sport ( football ) and I include supporters too , would be in such a better state. If you can, I would recommend reading this book as it is " A meticulously researched work about Heart of Midlothian players and supporters... An outstanding counterpoint to the excess of modern day footballers "