BORN in a tight-knit Victorian working-class County Durham community, he fought for the Brit-ish Empire in India, was awarded the Legion D'Honour by the French for bravery in the First World War and was nominated for the Victoria Cross.

He also played football for Tottenham Hotspur, the London club where his picture has pride of place in the boardroom to this day.

But a search for any reference to the name of Sergeant Alfred Hobday in his home community of Blackhill, Consett, will only end in disappointment.

It is only now - 86 years since Mr Hobday fell at Ypres, in France - that his great nephew, Alan Cox, has asked the question: Why?

However, Mr Cox, of Ebchester, near Consett, is not just concerned that his great uncle's name should be commemorated.

He wants to know why none of the other Blackhill men and women who gave their lives for the country are not recognised on a war memorial in this country.

Mr Cox said: "There is a memorial for the Catholic soldiers at St Mary's Church, which has quite rightly been renovated last year.

"But I have searched for years to find some sort of plaque or anything with his name on. His name is on no memorial, and neither is that of many other Blackhill lads who gave their lives for their country."

Mr Cox tells the story of his great uncle - who remains the reason why his family still support Tottenham Hotspur - with pride.

Alfred Hobday was born at 24 Derwent Street, Blackhill, in December, 1886.

He joined the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers at the age of 19, in 1906.

Two years later, he fought against the fierce Mohmand tribes in North-West India. In one action, 1,500 British took on 15,000 rebels and defeated them.

Mr Hobday left the Army in 1912, after being the honour guard to the King the year before, and played football for Consett Swifts, Allendale Park and West Stanley before being signed by Tottenham.

He played 24 times in the 1913-14 season, including the London Challenge Cup Final against Arsenal.

Recalled for the First World War in 1914, he was on the first boat to France. He was awarded the Legion D'Honour and nominated for the Victoria Cross for carrying a wounded officer to safety under heavy fire in 1915.

The day after he received the French award he was killed at "Hellfire Corner" at Ypres on June 16, 1915. Alfred Hobday's name is still recorded for posterity - but only in the country where he fell.