Making the Arsenal
 
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Actual photographs from 1910

MAKING THE ARSENAL is a novel – the diary of a football journalist in 1910 who is given the job of covering the story of the collapse of Woolwich Arsenal, its take-over by Fulham and its re-birth as a new club.

But the story is more than just football – it is a story about life [...]

Arsenal in the second division

The run up to 1909.

 

This charts the history of Arsenal 100 years ago – leading up to the take over of the club by Henry (later Sir Henry) Norris in 1910.

 

Today: the league history of the club up to this point.

 

Woolwich Arsenal spent 11 not very [...]

Sir Henry Norris – the early years in football

This is an extract from the novel, MAKING THE ARSENAL which records the history of the takeover of Woolwich Arsenal by Henry (later Sir Henry) Norris of Fulham.

 

At this point in the story, Jacko Jones, the journalist, is trying to piece together Norris’ past activities in football.  And he hits [...]

What is the name of the man who built the modern Arsenal?

If you have read any of my ramblings on the topic of the early days of Arsenal before, you’ll know that I believe the modern Arsenal was founded in 1910.

 

The reason for that is simple – in 1910 the existing owners of Woolwich Arsenal FC put the club into liquidation, [...]

Life in the old days – an extract from Jacko Jones diary

Making the Arsenal is a record of the diary of Jacko Jones, football reporter with the Daily Chronicle in Fleet Street.   You can read more about it on this site – and the whole book will be published at the end of October 2009.

 

Meanwhile here is one day’s extract [...]

The centre of evil, 100 years ago.

In the 1909/1910 season which we celebrate here (100 years ago, in case I didn’t make that quite clear), Arsenal didn’t play the centre of all evil (Birmingham City FC) because they (Evil Birmingham) were in Division II.

 

In fact Birmingham were so bad that year that then [...]

Arsenal’s ground closed because of “incident”

One of the great things about studying football history is that one keeps coming across little known oddities which give just a tiny insight into the world of Arsenal.  The problem is that quite often they just don’t give enough information, and I am left desperately searching for a proper explanation.

 

Why did Arsenal go into liquidation?

Why did Arsenal go into liquidation?

 

Just over 100 years ago Arsenal FC (then known as Woolwich Arsenal) teetered on the brink, and toppled into administration.   There were four separate buy-outs, the last of which saw the club purchased by Henry Norris, who also owned Fulham FC.

 

The question is [...]

Arsenal, football and life 100 years ago. All the things you didn’t know.

This site features and celebrates the football season 1909/1910 – one hundred years ago.   Several articles about Arsenal during the season have already been put up and you can read these by going back through the site. We’re trying to put up a new piece each day, both on football and society at the [...]

The day Arsenal FC went bust: an eye witness report

Below is an extract from MAKING THE ARSENAL, the diaries of Jacko Jones, of the Daily Chronicle.  Jacko covered the story of the the demise and rebirth of Woolwich Arsenal in 1910.

 

In this extract, Jacko, a veteran of the Boer War turned football correspondent, has been ordered by his [...]

October 1909 Blackburn Rovers v Woolwich Arsenal

October 2nd 1909  Blackburn Rovers v Woolwich Arsenal

 

A curious coincidence: 100 years ago almost to the day, Arsenal played Blackburn Rovers.

 

But the club and the date are where the coincidences ended, for the events of October 1909 and October 2009 could hardly have been more different.

 

While [...]

Arsenal vs Blackburn: the story from 100 years ago

Arsenal v Blackburn 100 years ago

 

The 1909/1910 season for Woolwich Arsenal was not exactly the lowest point of the club but it was certainly not far short.

 

The club escaped relegation from the fist division by just two points, with a game to go, and also managed to go [...]

What was football like in 1910?

What was football like in 1910?

 

“Making the Arsenal” – the new book being published this month by the team that brings you the daily “UNTOLD ARSENAL” blog (www.blog.emiratesstadium.info). 

 

It focuses on football 100 years ago.  (To see why we have chosen 1910 see the previous article on this [...]

Why does Making the Arsenal focus on 1910?

Why does Making the Arsenal focus on 1910?

 

If you are a reader of HIGHBURY HIGH (and if not, why not) you will know that I consider 1910 to be the key point in the history of Arsenal.

 

I won’t [...]

“Making the Arsenal” to be published in October

MAKING THE ARSENAL

 

“Making the Arsenal” is a novel about Arsenal FC in 1910 which will be published in October 2009.

 

1910 was a central year for the history of our club, because the old Woolwich Arsenal went bust [...]

Making the Arsenal to be published in October 2009

Making the Arsenal – the Arsenal diary of 1910 – will be published in October this year.  Full details of how you can buy it will appear closer to the time.

1910 was the definitive year for Arsenal.  Woolwich Arsenal were bankrupt and desparately needing someone to take them over.

To the rescue came Henry Norris – [...]

The Woolwich Arsenal Diaries of Jacko Jones

The third and final edition of Jacko Jones’ diaries which tell the story of the demise and rebirth of Woolwich Arsenal in 1910 are nearing completion.

Because of this, the second edition, which appeared here, has been taken down and extracts of the diary will be published here shortly.

The full volume will be published in printed [...]