Liberal Democrats in cross party petition for memorial to local Tottenham hero

3.01.00pm GMT Thu 21st Jun 2007

Haringey Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party support for their petition calling for a memorial to local Tottenham hero Walter Tull. As the first black outfield professional footballer, Walter Tull played for Tottenham Hotspur between 1909 and 1911. He was also the first black commissioned officer in the British Army and died on the Western Front on 25 th March 1918 in World War One.

David Lammy, the Member of Parliament for Tottenham, has agreed to be the first signatory to the petition.

Cllr Carolyn Baker (Harringay Ward) comments:

"It is clear that Walter Tull is a local hero. His achievements in football and his military career, against the prejudice of the time, should not go unrecognised. We should all be proud to support this petition to request that Walter Tull is remembered for what he did for Spurs, Haringey and the country."