Welcome to the daily review of Arsenal anniversaries. This one is for 31 July, and prepared on 31 July 2017.
The Arsenal anniversaries are
31 July 1951: Ian McPherson sold back to Notts County. He had played 152 games for Arsenal, and won a league winners medal in 1958. After County he moved to Brentford and then into non-league football.
31 July 1961: Joe Haverty sold to Blackburn for about £25,000. Joe spent one year with Blackburn, before moving on to Millwall, Celtic and Bristol Rovers.
31 July 1971: Benfica 2 Arsenal 0; “Champions Challenge Match,” celebrating
each club’s victory in their respective leagues.
31 July 1974: Cardiff 1 Arsenal 2. Brian Kidd’s debut, having signed from Manchester United. He went on to play 77 games for Arsenal before moving to Manchester City.
31 July 1981: Colin Hill signed professional terms, having played for Hillingdon Borough before moving to Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1977. He made his debut in April 1983.
31 July 1983: Meppen (of Germany) 1 Arsenal 4; the first game for John Lukic and Charlie Nicholas.
31 July 2008: Gary Lewin left Arsenal to work as a physio for England. He later suffered a dislocation to his left ankle and a fractured fibula, back of the tibia and ligaments while celebrating a Sturridge goal in a world cup match England lost.
31 July 2008: Tottenham bought David Bentley from Blackburn for £15m of which £7m went to Arsenal. He played just 42 games for the club before going on a series of loans to Birmingham, WHU, Rostov, and Blackburn. He later opened a restaurant.
31 July 2011: An injury to Wilshere forced a total rethink in the way Arsenal lined up with Arteta moved to defensive midfield playing alongside Song, leaving Vermaelen more free to push upfield during attacks.
31 July 2014: Carl Jenkinson loaned to West Ham for one season. He had played 37 league games for Arsenal, and became a regular in the WHU side playing to much acclaim and played on for two seasons, until injured.
31 July 2015: Daniel Crowley loaned to Barnsley until October during which time he played 11 league games for the club.
31 July 2015: Isaac Hayden loaned to Hull City for the season. He played 18 league games and scored one goal.
Meanwhile on the Moon
Before 31 July 1964 it was thought by many that the Moon was covered in a thick layer of dust that would prevent any spacecraft landing there and sending back pictures. But on this day in 1964, at the seventh attempt, a spacecraft carrying a working camera did land on the Mare Numbium with all six of its cameras working. And lo and behold – no dust.
- Arsenal day by day – over 5000 anniversaries of the club
The current series being developed on this site is Henry Norris at the Arsenal.
Covering all aspects off the life and work of the man who rescued Arsenal from extinction, secured the club’s future by moving it to Highbury, and then brought in Herbert Chapman as manager.
The most recent article is Arsenal relegated amidst allegations of match fixing
The previously untold tale of how it was that Norris came to choose Highbury as the suitable location for Arsenal’s new ground.
The series is being worked on daily, and the articles thus far are here.
Among the many other series we have run are…
- Arsenal in the 30s
- Arsenal players in the 30s
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- The First League Season, including a review of each player who played in that season
- Arsenal day by day – over 5000 anniversaries of the club
- Arsenal in the 70s
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