It would be great to report that the new Arsenal – the Arsenal that became the club we know and love today, was launched with a huge fanfare, wild parties in the streets, dancing on the lawn and the rest. But it wasn’t. Saturday 30th April 1910 was the final day of the football season …
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If you have read the book, “Making the Arsenal” you might recall that just after Woolwich Arsenal’s season ends Henry Norris’ house was burgled. The story then goes on to describe who entered the house, what they found, and the insight that it gives into Norris’ life and his political ambitions. The novel is of …
Read More “Henry Norris’ house burgled: at least it says so in the book”
In fact everyone was looking to the heavens 100 years ago today, because Haley’s Comet was in the skies, and so bright that it could be seen all day as well as being the dominant object through the night – brighter even than the full moon. The Earth in fact, was moving in an orbit …
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With one more saturday of the season to go, but no game to play, Woolwich Arsenal could watch the rest of the world of football, and look at the shambles of their own finances, and wonder. In the league itself, Bolton Wanderers were already relegated, and Aston Villa had won the title. At the bottom …
Read More “Arsenal prepare for the close season in fear and trepidation”
23 April 1910 was a curious date for Woolwich Arsenal. It was their last game of the season – one week ahead of most other clubs. The one issue of interest to Arsenal had been settled a week earlier – they were not going to be relegated, and so this match hardly mattered an inch. …
Read More “23rd April 1910. Arsenal safe, but not covered in honour”
Today’s Sponsor: “Making the Arsenal” – the most original book on Arsenal FC ever. . Today if an Arsenal supporter ever does think of Preston North End, it might be in the knowledge that they were the first Invincibles – unbeaten in the very first season of league football. With the black and white 19th …
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With the draw at Tottenham in the penultimate game at season, Woolwich Arsenal were safe for one more season. The crowd at Tottenham had finally been published at 39,900, although the feeling was that it was probably much higher. Either way the figure was a record for Tottenham, and revealed that the near London clubs …
Read More “Arsenal safe: but now the real worry. Will they survive the summer?”
The first ever Tottenham v Arsenal match at the White Hart Lane ground ended 1-1, 100 years ago. With that result Woolwich Arsenal were safe for another season – although it had hardly been a classic year. The result also meant that Tottenham were probably safe, but that was dependent on the results in …
Read More “Arsenal avoid relegation 100 years ago”
By Tony Attwood As a youngster I lived just off White Hart Lane, on Devonshire Hill Lane. If you are not familiar with the area, let me explain. The two Lanes meander, going through sudden 90 degree turns for no apparent reason while roads of different names suddenly take over straight ahead. At one point …
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As we build up to Tottenham v Arsenal in 2010, so 100 years ago fans were getting ready for the first ever Tottenham v Arsenal league game at Tottenham, played on 15 April 1910. The importance of the match could not be overplayed. A draw for Arsenal would see them more or less safe in …
Read More “What’s Woolwich like: thinking back to our origins”
Woolwich Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 0. Played early monday evening, in front of a crowd of just 8000. And certain sectors of the footballing establishment went beserk. If you have read the report of the game from two days before when Woolwich Arsenal drew with low-lying Bury, you’ll know that it left the table looking …
Read More “11th April 1910. The football world cries “cheat” as Arsenal beat the champions”
Woolwich Arsenal 0 Bury 0 changed the picture at the foot of the table. Bury……………………… Played 34 Points 29 Middlesbrough……… Played 34 Points 28 Woolwich Arsenal…….Played35 Points 28 Tottenham Hotspur…..Played 34 Points 27 Bristol City………………Played 34 Points 27 —————————————————————- Chelsea……………………Played 35 Points 27 Bolton Wanderers……..Played 35 Points 22 . Total number of games to be …
Read More “April 9th, 1910. Arsenal teetering on the edge 100 years ago”
100 years ago to the day, Arsenal revealed just how much money was needed to buy the club and pay off the debts in an honourable fashion (rather than go into administration and leave everyone out of pocket – in the style that Leeds did a few years back). Arsenal’s debt was clocked in at …
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Tottenham Hotspur: the dark history How an underhand strategy and a desire to rewrite history has transformed how people think about football in London. To begin, somewhere near the start, and take you into an interesting world of politics and sport unlike anything you’d see today in football, poker online or any professional sport… In …
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100 years ago we were desperate to get out of relegation trouble. The club had looked doomed in March 1910, but then a victory away at Chelsea on Bank Holiday Monday, and a draw at Bristol City (two other clubs near the bottom) made it possible for us to get out. Next up was Bury. …
Read More “As Woolwich Arsenal try to escape relegation we meet Bury”
. On 2nd April 2010 Woolwich Arsenal went to Bristol, to play City, and came back with a 1-0 victory. McGibbon, the hero of the previous weekend (which was Easter, 100 years back) was not playing, presumably with an injury picked up at Chelsea. The goal was scored by Lawrence, the inside left, playing number …
Read More “100 years ago we also won 1-0, but we were after something very different”
Bristol City away So having given ourselves a lifeline by beating Chelsea away, and with just a handful of games to go, Woolwich Arsenal had to take on Bristol City. As an away trip this was a rarity since leaving aside the two London clubs Arsenal’s away games were long distance affairs to the north. …
Read More “Bristol C v Woolwich Arsenal, 2 April 1910”