Today is also the anniversary of the passing of the man who more than anyone created the modern Arsenal – Henry Norris. He rescued Arsenal when it had run out of money, moved the club to Highbury, and ultimately brought in Herbert Chapman.
It is often said that he fixed the promotion of Arsenal to the first division, but as shown on this site, that is wholly untrue. Likewise that he was forced out of being a director of Arsenal because he had somehow stolen some money from the club (a strange suggestion given how much he put into the club and for how long he guaranteed the club’s debts).
This is also completely untrue – he left the club as he was engaged in a legal battle with Fulham FC, and league rules prohibited legal action between club directors.
Here are the anniversaries for today, and below details of our current series of articles on the period of Henry Norris at the Arsenal.
30 July 1912: William Garbutt, ex-Arsenal man, appointed manager of Genoa CFC. Genoa was seen to be an English town in Italy, and Garbutt sought work in the docks – but within weeks he was given the job of being head coach of the club.
30 July 1915: Archie Macaulay born in Falkirk. He played at first with Rangers and then West Ham, served his country in the Army Physical Training Corps, and later signed for Brentford from whom he was signed by Arsenal in July 1947 for £10,000.
30 July 1923: Arthur Hutchins was given a free transfer to Charlton then of Division III South, having played 108 league games for Arsenal.
30 July 1934: Death of Lt Colonel Sir Henry Norris – the man who rescued Arsenal in 1910, built Highbury in 1913, and hired Herbert Chapman in 1925. Contrary to his current reputation he was very generous to the club’s staff, and always fought for Arsenal against vested interest elsewhere.
30 July 1962: Jon Sammels signed as a professional. He scored on his debut in 1963 and went on to play 212 games all told, including making 21 appearances in the first Double season.
30 July 1991: Arsenal 2 Celtic 2. Paul Davis Testimonial. He stayed with the club until 1995, making 447 league appearances all told and scoring 37 goals.
30 July 2007: Reyes, one of the Invincibles, left Arsenal. He had just had a season long loan with Real Madrid, playing 30 games for them, having played 69 for Arsenal across three seasons.
30 July 2008: Jens Lehmann, having moved to Stuggart, played his first match for them… against Arsenal.
30 July 2011: Arsenal signed midfielder Amaury Bischoff from Werder Bremen. Arsene Wenger admitted the signing was a gamble because of his injury record and indeed he only played one game for Arsenal, before moving on to Académica de Coimbra in Portugal.
30 July 2015: Jon Toral loaned to Birmingham City for the season. He played 36 games, scored 8 goals, and won awards for Goal of the Season award, Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards.
It is also the anniversary of England winning the World Cup for the one and only time, despite (at least according to the media) being the best team in the world for every world cup thereafter.
- Arsenal day by day – over 5000 anniversaries of the club
The current series being developed on this site is Henry Norris at the Arsenal.
Covering all aspects off the life and work of the man who rescued Arsenal from extinction, secured the club’s future by moving it to Highbury, and then brought in Herbert Chapman as manager.
The most recent article is Arsenal relegated amidst allegations of match fixing
The previously untold tale of how it was that Norris came to choose Highbury as the suitable location for Arsenal’s new ground.
The series is being worked on daily, and the articles thus far are here.
Among the many other series we have run are…
- Arsenal in the 30s
- Arsenal players in the 30s
- Arsenal in the summer
- The First League Season, including a review of each player who played in that season
- Arsenal day by day – over 5000 anniversaries of the club
- Arsenal in the 70s
There are details of many other series covered by this site on our home page.
