Bedford Athletes at the Front

Sunday 4th July: The above snapshot of seven well-known Bedford athletes, now serving at the Front with the East Anglian Royal Engineers, was taken “somewhere in France” whilst the little party known as “the lucky seven” were enjoying a stroll not far from the firing line during a respite from the trenches. The names are as follows: Sapper Chapman, well-known  to all local followers of Association football as “Napper” Chapman, the redoubtable forward of the Eagles Football Club; Corporal Young, christened by his comrades “the old man” by reason of his long service in the East Anglian Royal Engineers, a staunch supporter of Bedford AFC; Sapper “Biscay” Burton, one of the Biddenham Football Club’s most enthusiastic followers; Sapper “Curley” Sharpe, butcher of the regiment, renowned in local cricket circles as a dashing batsman, who has done good service for the Bedford Wasps; Corporal Wildman, who has been awarded the soubriquet of “Borneo” and played many dashing games at outside right for Bedford United; Sergeant Ames, who has performed with distinction at outside-left for the now famous EARE Football Club and Corporal “Whisperer” Redman, than whom Bedford Town FC has no more devoted and enthusiastic supporter.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 6th August 1915