On this day in 1900 Arsenal recorded their biggest ever league win: Arsenal 12 Loughborough 0. Only 600 turned up to this Monday afternoon game, and such was the state of Loughborough, Arsenal paid their visitors train fare to and from the game so that the match could be played.
The reason it was played on a Monday afternoon was that the game had originally been played on the previous Boxing Day but had to be abandoned after 75 minutes due to fog making conditions unplayable. At that time Woolwich Arsenal led the away team by four goals to nil.
Those lucky few who attended the replayed game on what turned out to be conditions utterly the opposite of the abandoned game were probably expecting a similar score.
Arsenal were not exactly setting the league alight, with a distinctly average record for the season. However, Loughborough were the Second Division’s whipping boys, having lost 19 of their 24 league games and conceded 71 goals in the process.
Worse, as implied above the Loughborough club were in dire financial straits.
By half-time Woolwich Arsenal led by 4-0 with goals from Cottrell (2),Mainand Gaudie. Loughborough completely capitulated on the second-half and the Reds scored another eight goals by Dick (2), Tennant (2), Anderson, Mainand and two more for Gaudie to complete his hat-trick.
This proved to be more than adequate revenge for Arsenal who had recorded their record league defeat four years previously against Loughborough. For Loughborough it was one of the final nails in their coffin. They played nine more league games and folded on 29 June 1900.
Thus Loughborough did actually complete the season, with their final record being won one, drawn six and lost 27 and did apply for re-election, but not surprisingly the other clubs did not feel they could continue to pay for Loughborough’s travel to and from away games. In 34 league games they had conceded 100 goals. Woolwich Arsenal ended the season in 8th.
The 12-0 scoreline equalled Arsenal’s previous biggest win against Ashford United in the FA Cup in 1893 and remains the club’s biggest league win to this day.
100 Years in the First Division: the absolute complete story of Arsenal’s promotion in 1919.
Details of other series can be found on our home page and on the column on the right side of this page. In particular, you might like to note…
Henry Norris at the Arsenal: There is a full index to the series here.
Arsenal in the 1930s: The most comprehensive series on the decade ever
Arsenal in the 1970s: Every match and every intrigue reviewed in detail.
