Tommy Briercliffe: part of the team that won promotion

Here are the key dates… 17 May 1901 Thomas Briercliffe signed from Stalybridge Rovers 2 September 1901: First appearance for Thomas Briercliffe in a home win against Burnley 15 April 1905: Last game for Thomas Briercliffe Tommy Briercliffe was born in Chorley, Lancashire in 1874,  and played for St Luke’s Whealton, Clitheroe, Blackburn Rovers, Stalybridge …

Football consumes twice as much as the royal family. The view from 1893.

This is the second part of the report on the George Davie case and how it was reported.  Part one, which deals with Davie and his contract can be found here. The George Davie legal case of 1893 im which the player sued Royal Arsenal in order to get his salary paid during a lay …

Exclusive: How Arsenal were at the heart of both the start and end of football’s “retain and transfer” system.

By Tony Attwood If you think about the key changes to players’ contract law across the years you’ll think about George Eastham and how in 1963 he brought about the end of the long running “retain and transfer system” through going on strike until he pushed through his transfer to Arsenal, with the court finally …

The end of “The “Arsenal”; Knighton’s fantasies; Tom Whittaker’s glory. 22 November anniversaries

It is a varied mix for 22 November at Arsenal including a change of name from our fourth name (The Arsenal) to the fifth (Arsenal) 22 November 1899: Alexander Main signed from Hibs 22 November 1913: Last senior game for Roddy McEachrane 22 November 1913: Last senior game for Joseph Fidler 22 November 1919: Programme for Arsenal versus …

From the first Tottenham game to bad Novembers in the league.

Publication of articles here has been a little erratic of late as I have been resident in Australia – and thus without many of the reference books that I like to check with on writing a piece. However as I am leaving today for the 36 hour trip via ferry, train, plane, plane and car, …

Trevor Ross: tough player, nice guy (but don’t get on the wrong side of him).

Here are the Trevor Ross dates… 16 January 1957: Trevor Ross born, the son of William, who played for Bradford City. 15 June 1974: Trevor Ross signed as a professional for Arsenal, having joined as a schoolboy in May 1972 2 October 1974: Testimonial match v Reading gives O’Leary, Ross and Rostron first games 1 February …

Eddie Kelly: from Europe and the Double to Torquay

Edward Patrick Kelly was born 7 February 7  1951 in Glasgow.   He played for Possilpark Depot (or Possilpark YMCA depending on who you listen to), and went straight to Arsenal as an apprentice in July 1966 where he found a growing group of Scottish players including Ian Ure, Frank McLintock and George Graham. He turned professional in February 1967. …

4 May 2003. The lesson of reading too much into a single game

  4 May 2003 It was a day to remember. Arsenal needed to beat lowly Leeds to still have a chance of winning the league, and getting another Double.  Victory would not have given Arsenal the title, but at the time of the match it would have kept our hopes alive. Likewise defeat for Leeds …

Arsenal and Swansea in history

Approaching the Swansea by Arsenal game this is what we find… Swansea City Swansea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, drawing three and losing three. But only Chelsea and Southampton have earned more points at home than Swansea’s 10 before this weekend’s game. Swansea only averaged 33% ball possession against …

Lycurgus Burrows: played for Tottenham and Arsenal at the same time.

By Tony Attwood Lycurgus Burrows was born in Ashton under Lyne, Northumberland, on 26 June 1875, and is first found playing for Melrose in Glasgow, and then in Sheffield, before playing for Woolwich Polytechnic while a student there. The cause of these moves were the family moving home, presumably in search of work, and it …