Football at Malta, 1915

Photograph, World War One, Middle East (1914-1918), 1915.

Sport has always played an important role in the British Army. Sporting contests fostered faith in the regiment or corps, reinforced group identity and made soldiers ready to serve a shared cause.

The Army had several football competitions. The most prestigious of these was the Army Challenge Cup. The cup was first won in 1889 and remains one of the Army's oldest sporting competitions.

From an album of 64 photographs compiled by Sgt A J Favell, Royal Fusiliers, Gallipoli, Egypt and Malta, World War One, 1915-1916.