WALTER Tull, the first black player to sign for Rangers Football Club, was yesterday inducted into the highly prestigious National Football Museum English Football Hall of Fame.
His story is both a tragic but also an astonishing one, with club representatives yesterday present at a ceremony in central Manchester.
Walter was born in Folkstone in 1888, one of five children to Daniel Tull, who originated in Barbados, and mother, Kent born Alice.
His parents died while he was still a child and the family was sadly broken up. While brother Edward was adopted by a family in Glasgow, Walter remained in England.
He turned his interests to football and by 21, as an aspiring inside-forward, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £10. He played 20 times for Spurs before being signed by Northampton in 1911 for what has been described as a substantial fee.
Walter’s career with ‘The Cobblers’ was impressive and by 1914, he had made 111 appearances. He was described in one account as ‘…an untiring player and a tower of strength in the half-back line’. However, Tull’s football career was cut short by the outbreak of the First World War.
Unselfishly and with dutiful commitment to the country in its hour of need, he rushed to sign up and was the first of the Northampton side to join what was known as ‘The Players’ Battalion’ (17th (Service) Battallion, Middlesex Regiment).
He was sent to the front line in France and apart from three months when he was debilitated by pneumonia, served with such gallantry that he was awarded a commission in May 1917, becoming the first mixed-race combat officer in the British Army.
The command caused some consternation in army circles as it was in conflict with the 1914 Manual of Military Law which shamefully excluded non-white men from exercising command as officers.
Prior to his commissioning, Tull had been transferred to Gailes in Ayrshire, for officer training, affording him the opportunity to meet up with his brother Edward in Glasgow.
He probably also met Rangers star James Bowie, who would often play golf with Edward at Turnberry Golf Course. Indeed, the two had played together in the same amateur football team. Bowie would go on to become both a Director and Chairman of Rangers.
It is possible that this connection alerted Rangers to Walter’s availability in Scotland. Regardless, Walter Tull became a Rangers player and signed for the club on 2 February 1917.
Apparently, it was his intent to play for Rangers when the war ended, bringing him closer to brother Edward and sister Cissie who had been welcomed into the family of Edward’s adoptive parents.
After his stint in Gailes, Walter returned to the Flanders Fields, fighting in the Battle of Messines just four months after signing at Ibrox. He was then thrust into the third Battle of Ypres, before entering the conflict in the Somme and the Menin Road Ridge.
In 1918 he was transferred to Italy before returning to Northern France for the spring offensive. Sadly, Walter was killed by machine gun fire on 25 March 1918 near the village of Favreuil, in Pas-de-Calais.
It has been reported that several of his men risked their own lives in an attempt to retrieve his body under heavy fire but they were unsuccessful. It is believed today his body is buried in the Héninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery close to Lille.
Yesterday, Walter was recognised and celebrated at a ceremony in central Manchester where the award was collected on his behalf by Edward Finlayson, Grandnephew of Walter.
Walter was inducted in recognition of his ground-breaking football career, and his pioneering successes as one of the first black professional footballers laying foundations for the BAME sporting community of the future.
Phil Vasili, author of “Walter Tull 1888 to 1918: Footballer and Officer” was on hand to formally induct Walter into the Hall of Fame, handing over the trophy to Grandnephew Edward in front of a host of guests and proud relatives.
Rangers’ Managing Director, Stewart Robertson, commented: “This is a fantastic accolade for a truly remarkable man.
“It remains tragic that Walter was unable to feature for Rangers, but we remain immensely humbled that he was our first black player in a time where it was unfortunately extremely uncommon across British football to boast players from non-white ethnic backgrounds.
“He led the way for today’s Rangers squad and indeed staff, which is comprised of so many different backgrounds, and that today, is something we are all incredibly proud of and remain committed through our Everyone Anyone campaign to continue to enrich and enhance.
“His military service too is something every staff member at Ibrox and the Rangers Training Centre are in awe of, and on behalf of Rangers Football Club, I would like to send my sincere congratulations to Walter’s family.”
National Football Museum CEO, Tim Desmond, added: “We’re delighted to present this award to Edward on behalf of Walter. The National Football Museum Hall of Fame aims to recognise a wide diversity of individuals who’ve made an outstanding contribution to the game.
Walter’s story is one that everyone should know. He truly was football’s hidden pioneer, and we hope this helps to recognise his impact on both the game and society itself.”
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