George Male
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Charles George Male (May 8, 1910 – February 19, 1998) was an English footballer.
Born in West Ham, London, Male trialled with West Ham United before playing with non-league Clapton. He joined Arsenal as an amateur in November 1929, and made his debut in a 7-1 victory over Blackpool on December 27, 1930. Initially a left-winger or left-half, usually deputising for Bob John. Male's appearances were few and far between - three in 1930-31 (in which Arsenal won the First Division for the first time in their history) and nine in 1931-32, although he was a surprise choice at left half in the 1932 FA Cup final after Alex James was withdrawn because of injury and the side reshuffled as a result. Arsenal controversially lost 2-1 to Newcastle United, after Newcastle's winner had come after the ball had already gone behind for a goal kick.
In 1932, with Arsenal's current right back Tom Parker ageing and his replacement, Leslie Compton, not looking entirely assured, Male was convinced that he could make the switch from left half to right back by Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman; Male would later recount how he entered Chapman's office fearing for his future at the club, and left convinced he was the best right back in the world.
Bolstered by Chapman's pep talk, Male slotted into the right back role easily; he was a near ever-present for the next seven seasons, as Arsenal won the First Division four more times, as well as the FA Cup in 1936. He made his debut for England against Scotland on November 14, 1934, and went on to win nineteen caps for his country.
By the end of the 1930s, Male was Arsenal captain (and had also captained his country), but World War II intervened at the peak of his career. Male played nearly 200 wartime matches for Arsenal, as well as serving in the Royal Air Force in Palestine. Upon the resumption of League football Male was 36, but still played 15 times in Arsenal's 1947-48 First Division-winning season, and thus became the first player in League history to play in six title-winning seasons. Male's last match for Arsenal was an 8-0 victory over Grimsby Town in May 1948. In all he played 318 matches for the Gunners, though he never scored a goal.
After retiring from playing, Male became a coach at Arsenal, training the youth and reserve teams, and was later a scout (discovering, amongst others, Charlie George). He was still at the club to see it win its first Double in 1970-71, before retiring finally in 1975. The last surviving player of the Chapman era, he died in 1998 at the age of 87.
