A 16-PAGE illustrated newspaper telling the story of Silsden at the outbreak of World War One, has been produced by the town football club.

It includes a report of the Cobbydalers' victory in the 1914 Keighley and District Cup, which the team won.

They beat the favourites, Cullingworth FC, by three goals to two, in front of a crowd of 2,500 in Keighley.

The victorious team travelled home on an open-top charabanc and were led into Silsden by the Silsden Town Band who played Here Comes the Conquering Hero by George Handel.

Just a few months later, Great Britain declared war on Germany and more than 600 Silsden lads took the "King's shilling”. Whilst at the front, they started playing football and the Silsden lads wrote home for some football shirts. The people of Silsden rallied round and produced some blue and white striped shirts, which were duly sent to the Front.

The Silsden lads, mainly in the 9th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, went on to win a prestigious cup competition. They were presented with the cup and silver medals by the Brigadier General.

The skipper of the team, Clarkson Baldwin, survived the war and his daughter Elizabeth, who still lives in Silsden will bring his medal down to the Cobbydalers ground for a special Remembrance commemoration next Saturday, November 8.

The Silsden Herald also contains features on Dr John Purcell, the man who was responsible for the formation of the club, and on the footballers who died at the front.

There are letters sent home by soldiers who later died, as well as stories on the Bancrofts of Silsden, The Red Lion, Silsden Post Office, Jackson's Taxis, clog making and textiles and the 1912 Silsden Police Station riot.

The paper is being sold at £3 and all the money raised will go to the Royal British Legion poppy appeal.

Next Saturday's Remembrance commemoration will incorporate a North West Counties League match at 3pm. Silsden will wear the colours - light blue and white stripes - of the 1914 soldiers' team.

Silsden footballer Private John Gill died on the first day of the battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916. The following day, two more team players, Sergeant John Baldwin and Private Stanley Wrigglesworth, were amongst the fallen.

The day will also see Silsden Town Band playing music from the First World War backed by the Rock Up and Sing Choir singing period songs.

The service will end with a rendition of the football hymn, Abide with me.