Here are the Anniversaries from 3 September – part of our regular daily look at Arsenal’s history.
Our most recent article on Arsenal’s history is November 1914: The Times journalist goes to a reserve match without realising it.. The December 1914 report will follow later today.
3 September 1898 John Dick played his first league game for Arsenal – a 1-0 away victory over Luton Town. He was an ever present that season, playing in every league and cup match.
3 September 1904: First game in the first division; and the first under Phil Kelso. As with Arsenal’s first game in the second division the match was against Newcastle away, and again Arsenal lost – 0-3 on this occasion. Newcastle went on to win the league. This was also the first game for James Henry Bigden a stalwart of West Ham, and Archi Gray who came from Hibernian.
3 September 1905: Jimmy Dunne born. He started with Shamrock Rovers, and then moved to New Brighton scoring six goals in his first eight league games. Then it was Sheffield United, who signed him in February 1926 – which is when he became a star.
3 September 1906: Final game for Jimmy Blair, a 4-1 away defeat to Bury. He played 13 league games and scored three goals for Arsenal.
3 September 1910: Bury 1 Arsenal 1. It may seem strange to think of Bury in the first division, but they were – and indeed they won the FA Cup in 1900 and 1903, holding to record for the highest score in a Cup Final.
3 September 1921. Sheffield Utd 4 Arsenal 1 as Arsenal made it three defeats in succession at the start of the season for only the second time (the previous being 1894).
3 September 1932. Arsenal 6 Sunderland 1 (Hulme 3, Coleman, Jack, Bastin) as Arsenal started an amazing 18 match run in which they won 15, drew 2 and suffered just one defeat scoring 66 goals in the process (3.66 a game).
3 September 1936: George Swindin played his first game for Arsenal as Arsenal lost 2-0 to Brentford. He was signed by Allison after playing for Bradford City for two years.
3 September 1977: Ritchie Powling’s last game. Arsenal 3 Nottingham Forest 0. He had played 55 league games in all and scored three goals before moving on to QPR.
3 September 1988: “Never take too much notice of the first home game” was etched in the minds of supporters as Arsenal lost the first home game of the season: Arsenal 2 (Marwood, Smith) Aston Villa 3. After five games and two defeats Arsenal were 7th. We did however win the league.
3 September 1994: Billy Wright died aged 70 of stomach cancer. After leaving Arsenal, he became a television pundit and Head of Sport for ATV and Central Television, before joining the board of directors at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Elsewhere on this day, Oliver Cromwell died in 1658. Although it is not what he is most remembered for, he did establish religious freedom, and allowed members of the Jewish faith to settle in England without persecution. On the other hand, having overthrown the right of hereditary kingship, he had appointed his son to take over on his death.
- Arsenal day by day – over 5000 anniversaries of the club
The current series from the Arsenal History 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 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.
