This summer marks the 60^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.  Official Commemorations will begin on May 8 with the anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and end with the anniversary of Victory in Japan (VJ) Day in August and will give people the world over the opportunity to remember those whose bravery ensured the freedom of future generations. 

Between 1939 and 1945 football made its own significant contribution to the war effort. 

Britain had begun preparing for the inevitable months prior to the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, that April a circular from the Football Association encouraged players to "set a patriotic example" and many joined organisations such as the War Reserve Police or the Territorial Army.

The 1939/40 League season began in a climate of fear as the countdown to war began.  The opening games of the season attracted around 600,000 spectators - down on normal levels - and by September crowds had dropped to 380,000. The evacuation of children from London which began on September 1st prompted a rescheduling of fixtures due to traffic congestion.  The next day the German invasion of Poland triggered Britain's declaration of war and the suspension of League competition due to a ban on the assembly of crowds.

Players contracts were immediately cancelled - though clubs held on to their registrations.  Many would go on to serve on the front line alongside the many thousands of brave men and women whose contribution would ultimately help win the war.

Despite the massive disruption caused to everyday life by the onset of war there was also a desire to retain a sense of normality - and normality included football. Friendly matches were played between clubs and representative sides from the armed forces, whilst regional games

were played under Home Office restrictions which limited attendances to 8,000 and a maximum travelling distance of 50 miles. For clubs like Chesterfield, their financial situations would only get worse, and this alone was behind the club's refusal to paint camouflage on the roof of the stand, as requested by the local council.

The Football League's Management Committee, headed by the president Willie Cuff, agreed on October 2 to arrange a regional competition comprising eight groups. The first such competition kicked-off on October 21, but faced heavy disruption.

Games were interrupted by air raids, stadia were damaged by bombs (Grimsby's home games against Chesterfield were played in Scunthorpe because of their stadium's exposed position on the east coast) and clubs struggled to field teams as their players headed off to serve their country.  A 'guest' player system was introduced which allowed players to appear for different sides and this allowed football to continue throughout the war years. At Chesterfield, guest players were few and far between, in comparison to teams near naval bases or garrison towns. To a great extent, this was due to the "reserved occupation" status of many of our players, who took jobs in foundries and coal mines to aid the war effort, and were thus able to play on Saturdays.

Goalkeeper Ray Middleton (pictured left) famously insured his hands for £2,000 and took a job in the mines; George Milburn found employment at the Tube Works. All but two of the side remained in the borough and this stability helped the club to win the East Midland Regional League and to complete the 39-40 season without losing a home match of any kind.

Crowds dropped as the wartime hardships took hold. Admission prices rocketed by 25% to 1/5d (7½p) and only 300 turned out for the visit of Rotherham United on December 6^th, 1941. Teams pulled out of the competition and games - and even seasons - went unfinished. The 1940-41 season was determined on points average - the average number of points a club could have expected to win if it had played all its games.

However football continued to provide a lift to a country and population suffering the effects of rationing, air raids and the tragic loss of loved ones. Chesterfield mourned the loss of three of its former players during war service - Fred Fisher, Albert Bonass and Allan Sliman, all with the RAF. A happier ending was enjoyed to Harold Roberts (pictured right) war service: he took part in the commando raid on the French port of St Nazaire that was immortalised in the film "The Wooden Horse," was badly wounded and became a prisoner of war. The work of a German surgeon probably saved his career and he was able to continue with Chesterfield when League football resumed in 1946.

Perhaps the highlight of Chesterfield's wartime adventure was the 1944-5 War Cup, the FA Cup's replacement competition. The Spireites reached the semi-final of this, beating Liverpool over two legs before narrowly losing out to Manchester United, the eventual winners.

The Football League and Chesterfield Football Club would like to take this opportunity to offer our own tribute to those who died and ask our supporters to remember those who contributed to making a more peaceful world.  In total, World War Two claimed an estimated 50 million lives including 400,000 in the UK. Their sacrifice, and that of thousands of others, must never be forgotten.

KEY DATES FOR 60^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

- May 8 - VE Day

- July 4-10 will be Veterans Awareness Week.

- July 10 - The Official National Commemoration to mark the 60^th anniversary of the end of World War II

- August 15 - VJ Day