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Walter Tull's story still resonates 100 years on from his death

Walter Tull poses for a photo in his days as a Tottenham player

The amazing story of Walter Tull, footballing pioneer and war hero, is being remembered 100 years on.

"Through his actions, Tull ridiculed the barriers of ignorance that tried to deny people of colour equality with their contemporaries. His life stands testament to a determination to confront those people and those obstacles that sought to diminish him and the world in which he lived. It reveals a man, though rendered breathless in his prime, whose strong heart still beats loudly."

So reads the inscription on the monument to Walter Tull outside the Sixfields Stadium at Northampton, the words chosen by Tull's biographer Phil Vasili. Sunday marked a century since former Cobblers and Tottenham player was killed on the battlefields of the Somme during the First World War. Efforts are being made to ensure he will not be forgotten.

Walter Tull orphanage football team (pic: Action for Children)
Image: Tull's orphanage football team (picture courtesy of Action for Children)

Who is Walter Tull?

Born in Folkestone in 1888 to a local woman and a Barbadian carpenter, Tull was just nine when he was orphaned and placed in a Bethnal Green children's home. A great success story, he impressed while playing for Clapton before signing for Tottenham in 1909 and becoming one of the first players of mixed heritage to play in English football's top flight.

When war broke out in 1914, Tull enlisted soon after, making history again in May 1917 when commissioned as an officer in the regular British Army, in contravention of the Manual of Military Law which stated officers must be of 'pure European descent'. He became the first person of black heritage to become an officer and lead his men to battle.

Walter Tull's name commemorated among the war dead in Fontaine-sur-Somme, France.
Image: Tull's name is commemorated among the First World War dead in France

Speaking to Vasili, he summed it up neatly by saying that Tull "forced people through his actions to change, break and ignore the rules that attempted to make life difficult for people of colour". On 25 March 25th 1918, Tull was killed in action and despite the repeated efforts of his men, his body was not recovered from the battlefield.

Edward Finlayson, Tull's great nephew, said: "As a family we have always felt immense pride at Walter's sporting achievement and his evident courage in the First World War. As children some of us used to brag to friends about our great uncle, who had been a footballer. In more recent years we have been moved by the way in which Walter's story has been adopted as an inspiration to challenge inequality and discrimination."

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The Walter Tull memorial at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton
Image: The monument to Tull at Sixfields Stadium in Northampton

Tull has not been ignored. Special coins were issued in his honour by the Royal Mint. There was even a theatre production of his life. But there is now a renewed effort to ensure he is posthumously awarded a military cross, a group of 127 MPs writing to the prime minister to argue that this "true British hero" should receive the honour denied him at the time.

Regardless of the success of that proposal, the 100th anniversary of Tull's death is not going unmarked. On Monday, the Tull100 project is launched.

Dele Alli commemorating 100 years since the death of Walter Tull
Image: Dele Alli was among those at St George's Park learning more about Tull's life

Dele Alli and Danny Rose attended a special Tull event at St George’s Park with members of the FA Youth Council where the first Tull100 No Barriers medals were presented. So did they have to overcome any barriers?

Alli: “A lot different to what he [Tull] had to overcome but in all footballers’ careers there are things you have to overcome in your careers to be successful. For me it was a spell when I was like 15 or 14 where all my mates, we were all really close at my team MK Dons. They were all getting called up for the older age groups but I wasn’t getting called up and it really affected me. But I came out stronger from it. Not a big barrier but because I was young it affected me a lot and then I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it as a footballer at that time because I wasn’t being picked for the older age group.”

Rose: “One of my biggest ones, I was at Leeds from 11 to 16 and I’m from Doncaster, and I moved to Tottenham when I was 16 so I had to move away from all my family and all my friends that I grew up with up and start by myself down in London, on my own, and that was really difficult at the start. And it helped me out massively because I had to learn how to cook and clean and do everything on me own. To be a few hours away from friends and family that had been all that I knew for the first 16 years of my life and to start again, by myself, was pretty difficult for me.”

Danny Rose commemorates 100 years since the death of Walter Tull
Image: Danny Rose also discussed the challenge of overcoming barriers

What is the Tull100 project?

The project will award medals to those who make their communities more inclusive. Tull100 has "No Barriers" as its central message and will counter discrimination, promoting equality and inclusion irrespective of race, gender, sexuality, age or any other discrimination.

To earn a medal, young people need to hold an event with the No Barriers theme, reaching out to involve fresh faces from the community. Ideas include organising a football game, inviting special guests to share their experiences or even creating a Walter Tull mural.

Spurs urged to honour Tull
Spurs urged to honour Tull

Tottenham have been urged to name a stand at their new stadium after the club's first black player, Walter Tull.

The FA, Premier League and Football League are also backing the initiative. "I hope I'm doing my bit as chair of The FA's Inclusion Advisory Board, which oversees much of football's anti-discrimination work," said former player Paul Elliott. "In marking his centenary we have an opportunity to reflect on Walter's experience, success and sacrifice. We can reflect on ourselves, and above all honour his memory by standing up against discrimination today."

The medal challenge is open from 26 March 2018. To get involved, email tull100@big-ideas.org or follow #Tull100 #NoBarriers #FootballRemembers

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