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Today marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme. Fighting began on July 1, 1916 and finally came to a halt on November 18, 1916. It claimed more than 1.5 million lives. One was a remarkable Everton footballer. We republish his story.

Leigh Roose was a footballer and a hero. Not the glib kind of heroism that is celebrated in modern newspapers when a footballer scores a goal, makes a last ditch tackle or a goalkeeper dives bravely at a centre-forward’s feet.

Leigh Roose was a real hero.

He fought off German flamethrower attacks in the trenches at Pozieres in 1916, an act for which he was awarded the Military Medal, he was reported “missing presumed dead” after experiencing the hell on earth which was Gallipoli, and he did, eventually, lose his life – running at the enemy still firing his gun – at the Somme.

Yet he is not a household name.

And when his ultimate sacrifice was ceremonially recognised – as one of the 72,195 names inscribed on the immense war memorial at Thiepval – it was misspelled.

The name Leigh Roose does not figure on that incredibly moving monument.

Instead it is spelled L Rouse – an administrative error perpetrated earlier in the War, and an error which meant that for 87 years his family mistakenly believed he had died at Gallipoli.

A lot more is known about Leigh Roose’s remarkable life today, largely as a result of Spencer Vignes’ outstanding biography published in 2007.

Partly as a result of Spencer’s probing, coupled with a campaign by family members and Welsh football historian Gil Jones, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission finally agreed to amend the spelling error on the Thiepval memorial – but only when the stone block which contains his name needs replacing.

That could be years hence, but until that date Roose’s story deserves retelling.

A colourful goalkeeper, he was one of the most famous stars of his day – and he briefly played for Everton .

An extrovert personality, described by Vignes as “football’s first playboy,” he dated famous music hall stars like Marie Lloyd, refused to turn professional playing ‘only’ for expenses – which were considerable – and famously travelled by train to one match at Aston Villa, an engine he had commandeered himself containing one passenger – him.

His Everton career was equally eventful.

Signed after he had announced his retirement at the age of 26 – to study bacteriology at King’s College – he was asked by the Blues to deputise for the injured Bill Scott (his deputy George Kitchen had flu), not having played for seven months.

Desperately short of match practice he made an uncharacteristic error on his debut against Sunderland and Everton lost 1-0.

His response for the next game against Derby County was to walk around the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, shaking hands with fans, apologising for his error, before keeping a clean sheet which included numerous outstanding saves, which after each one he bowed and saluted to the crowd, before finally pulling himself up onto the crossbar and sitting on the wooden beam during a break in play.

The crowd loved him.

A penalty save – in which he specialised – in his next match further endeared him to Blues fans.

Billy Scott was by now fit again, but Roose was immoveable.

His arrival proved to be a turning point in the 1904/05 season.

From languishing in mid table, 12 wins and a draw from their next 16 matches put the Blues on target for a league and cup double.

Cup hopes were ended in an FA Cup semi-final replay defeat to Aston Villa, but with only six games left in the league Everton were four points clear.

Then fate conspired.

In November Everton’s match at Arsenal had been abandoned with 13 minutes remaining because of fog, with Everton leading 3-1 and both teams reportedly happy to continue.

Everton bizarrely agreed to a replay on Saturday April 22, just 24 hours after a home match against Manchester City.

Presumably way back in November Everton officials had no idea they would be involved in a title race.

But after losing 2-0 to City the tired players crammed into a London-train, a handful grabbed a few hours sleep in Leigh’s London apartment in Camden, then travelled to Arsenal where they lost 2-1.

Leigh confronted club chairman Will Cuff afterwards and questioned the wisdom of playing two such important games in such a timeframe.

In an era of marked class divisions when footballers were supposed to know their place, Cuff instantly dropped Roose and recalled Bill Scott.

Roose refused to return north with his team-mates – and despite a letter of apology to Cuff once he had reconsidered his outburst – Roose’s Everton career was over after five months and 24 matches.

A fleeting star – but an undoubted hero.

He was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery on the first occasion he saw action, the regimental history recording: "Private Leigh Roose, who had never visited the trenches before, was in the sap when the flammenwerfer attack began. He managed to get back along the trench and, though nearly choked with fumes with his clothes burnt, refused to go to the dressing station. He continued to throw bombs until his arm gave out, and then, joining the covering party, used his rifle with great effect."

Promoted to the rank of lance corporal, Roose was killed, aged 38, towards the end of the Battle of the Somme the next month. The exact location and manner of his death remain a matter of dispute.

What is undisputed is his heroism.