History of Arsenal F.C. (1886-1966)

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Main article: Arsenal F.C.

For an account of the club's history since 1966, see History of Arsenal F.C. (1966-present).

This article covers the History of Arsenal Football Club from 1886 to 1966.

Contents 1 Early years (1886–1910) 2 Move to Highbury (1910–25) 3 The Chapman era (1925–34) 4 A hat-trick of League titles (1934–39) 5 The war (1939–45) 6 The post-war years (1945–66) 7 Footnotes 8 References 9 Further reading

[edit] Early years (1886–1910)

Arsenal were founded as Dial Square in 1886 by a group of workers employed by the Dial Square workshop at the Royal Arsenal, an armaments factory in Woolwich, south east London.^[1] They were led by a Scotsman, David Danskin, who purchased the club's first football and Jack Humble, and amongst their number was former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Fred Beardsley, who would later along with Morris Bates obtain a set of red kit from his old club, thus giving Arsenal the colours they still wear today.

Dial Square played their first match on December 11, 1886 against Eastern Wanderers on an open field in the Isle of Dogs, which they won 6-0.^[2] The club were renamed Royal Arsenal soon after, reportedly on Christmas Day. Royal Arsenal first played on Plumstead Common, but soon sought alternative homes. They first played at the Sportsman Ground in Plumstead and then moved to the adjacent Manor Ground in 1888. Royal Arsenal then moved to the nearby Invicta Ground in 1890, before returning to the Manor Ground three years later.

By now, Royal Arsenal had started to win local trophies, winning both the Kent Senior Cup and London Charity Cup in 1889-90 and the London Senior Cup in 1890-91. Arsenal also entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1889, where the gulf in quality between Arsenal and the professional sides from the North soon became apparent. In addition, Royal Arsenal faced the threat of their amateur players being lured away by the money professional sides could offer. Therefore, in 1891, the club decided to turn professional, and at the same time changed their name to Woolwich Arsenal.

Woolwich Arsenal's move to professionalism was frowned upon by many of the amateur Southern clubs, and they were banned from participating in local competitions. With friendlies and the FA Cup the only matches available for Woolwich Arsenal, they attempted to set up a southern equivalent of the Football League. The move failed and the club's future looked decidedly bleak, until the Football League came to Woolwich Arsenal's rescue by inviting them to join in 1893. Arsenal were the first Southern club to enter the League, initially joining the Second Division.

Woolwich Arsenal played in the Second Division for eleven seasons; they generally occupied mid-table before the appointment of Harry Bradshaw in 1899; Bradshaw and his star signings, including goalkeeper Jimmy Ashcroft (Arsenal's first England international) and captain Jimmy Jackson, won promotion to the First Division in 1904. However, Bradshaw moved on to Fulham before the Gunners had kicked a ball in the top flight, and despite some strong performances in the FA Cup (the club reached the semi-finals in both 1906 and 1907), they soon faded.

The chief cause of this decline was the club's ongoing financial problems; despite the boom in football during the early 20th century, the club's geographic isolation, playing in the relatively underpopulated area of Plumstead, meant attendances and thus income were low. To stay afloat, Woolwich Arsenal were forced to sell their star players (including Ashcroft, as well as Tim Coleman and Bert Freeman), and slowly started to slip down the table, which did not help their financial situation. The club were close to bankruptcy, and in 1910 went into voluntary liquidation before being bought out by a consortium of businessmen; the largest shareholder amongst the new owners was property magnate Sir Henry Norris.

[edit] Move to Highbury (1910–25)

Norris was acutely aware of the problems associated with Woolwich Arsenal's location, and was desperate to improve the club's income. First, Norris tried to merge Woolwich Arsenal with Fulham (he was a director of both clubs at the time). When that was blocked by the Football League, Norris abandoned the merger and looked to move Arsenal elsewhere. In 1913, the same year as the club finished bottom and were relegated back to the Second Division, Woolwich Arsenal moved from south east London to Arsenal Stadium (often referred to as "Highbury") in north London. Despite objections both from Woolwich-based fans and residents of Highbury, Norris tenaciously saw the move through, reportedly spending £125,000 (a huge sum for the time) on building the new stadium. Arsenal's move away from south east London led nearby Charlton Athletic to turn professional.

Now known as "The Arsenal", having dropped the "Woolwich" from their name in 1914, the club rejoined the First Division in 1919, despite only finishing fifth in 1914-15, the last season of competitive football before the First World War had intervened. The First Division was being expanded from 20 teams to 22, and the two new entrants were elected at an AGM of the Football League. One of the extra places was given to Chelsea, who had finished 19th in the First Division and thus had been already relegated. The other spot could have gone to 20th-placed Tottenham Hotspur (also relegated), or to Barnsley or Wolves, who had finished third and fourth in the Second Division respectively.

Instead, the League decided instead to promote fifth-placed Arsenal, for reasons of history over merit; Norris argued that Arsenal be promoted for their "long service to league football", having been the first League club from the South.^[3] The League board agreed; they voted eighteen votes to eight to promote Arsenal ahead of their local rivals Tottenham, which has fuelled the long-standing enmity between the two clubs. It has been alleged that this was due to backroom deals or even outright bribery by Sir Henry Norris, colluding with his friend John McKenna, chairman of Liverpool and the Football League.^[4] No firm proof has ever come to light, though other aspects of Norris's financial dealings unrelated to the promotion controversy have fuelled speculation on the matter.^[5] Arsenal have remained in the top division since then, and as a result hold the English record for the longest unbroken stretch of top-flight football.

Although the move to Highbury brought about much larger crowds and finally warded off the spectre of financial ruin, Arsenal's return to the First Division was not immediately successful. Under Leslie Knighton, the club never finished better than ninth, and in 1923-24 came dangerously close to going down again, finishing 19th and only a point clear of the relegation zone. Arsenal did no better the following season, finishing 20th (although paradoxically the club were a lot safer this time, being seven points clear of the drop), which was the last straw for Norris; he fired Knighton in May 1925, and appointed the Huddersfield Town manager, Herbert Chapman in his place.

[edit] The Chapman era (1925–34)

Chapman reformed many of the club's practices, including modernising the training and physiotherapy regimes, adding numbers to the players' shirts, and changing the team's colours, adding white sleeves to the red shirt. It was also during Chapman's era that the club lost the definite article from its name, becoming just "Arsenal", and he was reportedly behind the renaming of the local Tube station, Gillespie Road, to Arsenal. At the same time, Chapman had a large transfer budget by virtue of Arsenal's improved revenue from their new stadium and a change of heart from Henry Norris; previously a highly prudent chairman, Norris now dictated that there was to be lavish spending.

Chapman's first signing was veteran Charlie Buchan from Sunderland; as well as his contributions on the pitch, Buchan would play an important part off it. After Arsenal had been given a 7-0 hiding by Newcastle United in October 1925, Buchan suggested a change to the formation to adapt to a relaxation of the offside law, rejigging Arsenal's formation to the "WM", strengthening the defence by pushing the centre half back into defence and the full-backs out to the wings. Over time, Chapman developed the formation further, putting an emphasis on a pacy forward line, wingers cutting inside, and the role of a creative ball-playing midfielder. Chapman's adeptness at picking the right man for the job proved vital, as he slowly built a team capable of dominating the game in England.

Arsenal came second in Chapman's first season (their best ever finish at that time), but this proved to be a false dawn; for the next few seasons they stayed in mid-table as Chapman took his time to assemble his side, slotting new signings such as winger Joe Hulme, forward Jack Lambert and defenders Tom Parker and Herbie Roberts into his new formation. In 1927, Arsenal reached their first FA Cup final, only to lose, infamously, 1-0 to Cardiff City, after Arsenal's goalkeeper Dan Lewis let a harmless-looking shot slip through his arms and into the net; it was the only occasion in history that the FA Cup has been won by a club from outside England.

Chapman was not deterred, and continued to build his side, signing future captain Eddie Hapgood, as well as three of the club's great attacking players, David Jack, Alex James and Cliff Bastin; it was especially Alex James, Arsenal's playmaker in midfield, supplying the forward line and wingers, who became celebrated as the engine of the team. Three years later, in 1930, Arsenal reached the FA Cup final again, this time against Chapman's old club Huddersfield Town. The match was notable for being "buzzed" by the enormous German airship Graf Zeppelin. Arsenal were not distracted from their task; they won 2-0 with goals from James and Lambert, to bring home the club's first major trophy.

This success was the first in a decade in which Arsenal were the dominant club in England. Under Chapman they won the First Division for the first time in 1930-31, scoring 127 goals in the process. The following year, Arsenal reached the FA Cup final again, losing controversially to Newcastle United. Arsenal had led 1-0 with a Bob John goal, but Newcastle's equaliser came after a long ball had gone over the goal line, and out for a goal kick;^[6] Newcastle winger Jimmy Richardson nevertheless crossed the ball back into play and Jack Allen levelled the match for the Magpies; Allen scored again in the second half to win the match 2-1. Arsenal's pain was compounded by the fact that Everton had pipped them to the League title; a poor start to the 1931-32 campaign meant Arsenal played catch-up for most of the season and ended the season two points adrift.

Arsenal bounced back the following year, winning their second League title in 1932-33; after another weak start Arsenal went on a long winning run to catch up, culminating in a 5-0 win over second-placed Aston Villa at Highbury in April to clinch the title. By this time Chapman's first set of signings had started to show their age, so with an eye to the future Chapman signed the likes of George Male for Tom Parker and Ray Bowden for David Jack. The only blot on the club's record was an infamous loss to Third Division North Walsall in the FA Cup; five of the first team were out with injury or flu and had their place taken by reserves, but Arsenal still had plenty of top-class players in the side, yet lost 2-0 in one of the greatest Cup upsets of all time. One of the stand-ins, Thomas Black, was particularly to blame (conceding a penalty for Walsall's second), and was sold by an enraged Chapman to Plymouth Argyle within a week of the result.

[edit] A hat-trick of League titles (1934–39)

The Arsenal had started the 1933-34 season solidly, but tragedy struck out of the blue in January 1934, when Herbert Chapman died suddenly from pneumonia. Under caretaker manager Joe Shaw, they retained the title that season; Hulme and James were both out with injury for a large portion, and so Arsenal were not the attacking side they had been the previous season (scoring only 75 in the League, compared with 118 in 1932-33).

New full-time manager George Allison (who had formerly been a director) signed new blood for the side, including midfielders Jack Crayston and Wilf Copping, and goalscorer Ted Drake. With these new signings Allison oversaw the completion of a hat-trick of League titles in 1934-35, and Arsenal were back to their attacking best; Drake scored a club record 42 goals that season and Arsenal racked up a series of crushing scorelines (including 7-0 v. Wolves, 8-1 v. Liverpool, and 8-0 v. Leicester City and v. Middlesbrough). Such was Arsenal's strength that in November 1934, seven players that started for the England side that beat World Champions Italy 3-2 (in the so-called "Battle of Highbury") were on Arsenal's books, a record number of players from a single club, which still stands today.^[7]

Arsenal's ongoing success attracted larger and larger crowds. Arsenal's home, Highbury, was completely redeveloped, with the stands (designed by Archibald Leitch) demolished and replaced with modern Art Deco stands, which remain to this day; the East Stand is now a Grade II listed building. Meanwhile, the North Bank and Clock End terraces had roofs installed. The new stadium saw its largest ever attendance, 73,295, on March 9, 1935 for a match against Sunderland.

Arsenal's dominance of the decade was sealed with a second FA Cup victory in 1936, beating Sheffield United 1-0 with a goal from Drake. Arsenal faded in the League somewhat after the 1935 title victory, and were weakened by the retirement of Alex James and others such as Bastin being past their peak, but they still won a fifth League title in 1937-38.

[edit] The war (1939–45)

With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, all first-class football in Britain was suspended. Arsenal Stadium was requisitioned as an ARP station, with a barrage balloon operating behind the Clock End. During the Blitz, a 3,000lb bomb fell on the North Bank, destroying that stand's roof and setting fire to the scrap that was being stored on the terrace. With Highbury closed, Arsenal instead played all of their home matches at White Hart Lane, home of their rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Wartime matches do not count in official statistics; competitions were played on a regional basis and teams often did not complete a full season; many footballers served in the armed forces as trainers or instructors and were away from their clubs for long periods of time, so they would often star as "guests" at other clubs. Arsenal won the Football League War Cup South in 1943 and the London or Southern league titles in 1941, 1943 and 1944.

In November 1945 Arsenal played one of the most extraordinary and controversial matches in their history, against a Dynamo Moscow side touring the country. With many players still serving abroad, Arsenal were severely depleted and used six guest players, including Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen, which led Dynamo to declare they were playing an England XI (though three of the side were actually Welsh). The match kicked off in thick fog and the slick and technically proficient Dynamo won 4-3, after Arsenal had led 3-1 at half-time. Though the score is generally agreed upon, after that accounts of the match diverge; English reports alleged Dynamo fielded twelve players at one point, and trying to pressurise the referee into abandoning the match when they had been behind; in turn, the Soviets accused Arsenal of persistent foul play and even alleged George Allison had bet money on the result (a claim that was later retracted).^[8] With the fog obscuring much of the action (even the identity of the goalscorers is disputed), not to mention the language barriers and mutual suspicion (the match took place with the Cold War brewing in the background), it is unlikely that any accurate account of what really went on will ever emerge.

[edit] The post-war years (1945–66)

The war had cut short the careers of many of the club's star players, including Bastin and Drake. Additionally, the debts from the construction of Highbury and the costs of repairing war damage were a heavy financial burden, and Arsenal struggled when competitive football resumed. They lost 6-1 on aggregate to West Ham United in the third round of the 1945-46 FA Cup, and upon the league's resumption in 1946-47 the club finished a disappointing 13th. George Allison decided to retire from football at the end of that season, and was replaced by his assistant Tom Whittaker, who had been trainer under Chapman.

Whittaker enjoyed immediate success with the club, winning the League in 1947-48; led by captain Joe Mercer and with goals from attacking front two of Reg Lewis and Ronnie Rooke, Arsenal topped the table from October and never looked back. Given the age of the Arsenal side at the time (Rooke and Mercer were both over thirty, as were Denis and Leslie Compton), long-term success was never on the cards. In response, Whittaker brought in younger players such as Doug Lishman, Alex Forbes and Cliff Holton. Although Arsenal were unable to sustain any challenges for the League title, with the new blood they won the FA Cup in 1950, with Reg Lewis scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Liverpool.

1951-52 saw the club nearly win the Double, but it ultimately ended in disappointment; a series of injuries and a fixture pile-up at the end of the season saw Arsenal lose their last two matches, including the title decider against eventual champions Manchester United at Old Trafford on the last day of the season; the Gunners finished third, equal on points with Tottenham. A week later, Arsenal played Newcastle United in the FA Cup final, with several recovering players rushed back into the first team; Walley Barnes was taken off injured with a twisted knee after 35 minutes (no substitutes were allowed then), and ten-man Arsenal suffered further injuries so that by the end of the match they had only seven fit players on the pitch; Newcastle took full advantage and won 1-0.

Unbowed by the disappointment of the previous season, Arsenal won their seventh League title in 1952-53; in one of the closest title races ever, they beat Preston North End to the title on goal average after finishing level on points. That proved to be Arsenal's last trophy for seventeen years; unable to attract many stars, the club's fortunes began to wane, particularly after the unexpected death of Tom Whittaker in 1956. Apart from finishing third in 1958-59, Arsenal usually figured around mid-table. Nor did the club have much luck in the FA Cup – after reaching the final in 1952, Arsenal would not get beyond the quarter-finals again until 1971.

Jack Crayston and George Swindin, both former players, followed Whittaker but could not replicate his success. In 1962, Arsenal made the bold but ultimately unsuccessful step of appointing England legend Billy Wright as manager, despite his lack of managerial experience. Like his predecessors, Wright could not achieve much either, although it was under his leadership that the club made their debut in European competition, in the Fairs Cup after finishing seventh in 1962-63. In his final season, Arsenal finished 14th, their lowest position in 36 years, and recorded the lowest-ever attendance at Highbury (4,554). The only Arsenal player to figure in England's 1966 FIFA World Cup-winning squad was George Eastham, who didn't play at all during the tournament. Wright was dismissed by the Arsenal board in the summer of 1966.

For an account of the club's history since 1966, see History of Arsenal F.C. (1966-present).

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Soar, Phil & Tyler, Martin (2005). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61344-5.
• Spurling, Jon (2004). Rebels For The Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal Football Club. Mainstream. ISBN 0-575-40015-3.
• The Club. Arsenal.com. Retrieved on June 17, 2006.
• Arsenal statistics. Arseweb. Retrieved on July 27, 2005.
• History of Arsenal FC. Arsenal-Mania. Retrieved on March 9, 2006.

[edit] Further reading

• Joy, Bernard (1952). Forward Arsenal!. Phoenix House.
• Maidment, Jem (2005). The Official Arsenal 100 Greatest Games. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61376-3.
• Roper, Alan (2003). The Real Arsenal Story: In the Days of Gog. Wherry. ISBN 0-9546259-0-0.
• Weaver, Graham (2005). Gunners' Glory: 14 Milestones in Arsenal's History. Mainstream. ISBN 1-84018-667-4.

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