Sports management and Arsenal, from the club’s earliest day

In the earliest days of football, sports management did not exist.  A football club put on matches, tried to get big crowds, and then hoped that the money from the gate receipts was greater than the cost of running the club.  And that was by and large it. If not enough money was raise then …

Gaining enhanced odds with Arsenal FC through the ages

Arsenal FC has a long engagement with betting on football, going right the way back to the organisation of an archery tournament in November 1902. It raised about £1,200 – equivalent to a quarter of the club’s annual income from gate receipts at the time! Now that might seem strange – the organisation of an …

From archery on the football pitch to a bit of fun online

There is no doubt that today, lots of people like a flutter.  Roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker… And there is no doubt that people have always liked a flutter.   Of course 100 years ago, back at the start of the 20th century they didn’t have the current options – but they still liked a little gamble …

16 March: Arsenal’s first floodlit game – but what year?

by Andy Kelly (@Gooner_AK) Herbert Chapman is credited with trying to introduce floodlit football to England. Arsenal played a couple of floodlit games behind closed doors during the early 1930s but the football authorities were not favourable to it. Floodlit football was finally given the go ahead in the 1950s and it has been assumed that …

11th November 1912 – Arsenal go nap: 5 straight defeats

by Andy Kelly This weekly series charts Arsenal’s final season in Plumstead and the move to Islington that, effectively, saved the club’s very existence. Saturday 9th November 1912 This week 100 years ago, Woolwich Arsenal took on West Bromwich Albion in the Midlands. Following the debacle of the previous week, manager George Morrell changed the …

4th November 1912 – Slaughtered at home

by Andy Kelly This weekly series charts Arsenal’s final season in Plumstead and the move to Islington that, effectively, saved the club’s very existence. Saturday 2nd November 1912 Woolwich Arsenal were visited by a Manchester City team that was in touch with the league leaders. With the Reds’ recent form of six league games without …

28th October 1912 – Another defeat, but still above Tottenham

by Andy Kelly This weekly series charts Arsenal’s final season in Plumstead and the move to Islington that, effectively, saved the club’s very existence. Saturday 26th October 1912 Woolwich Arsenal travelled to Bradford 100 years ago this week. Angus McKinnon and David Greenaway returned to the team after one game whilst Ernest Hanks made his …

21st October 1912 – Woolwich Arsenal to move to North London

by Andy Kelly This weekly series charts Arsenal’s final season in Plumstead and the move to Islington that, effectively, saved the club’s very existence. Wednesday 16th October 1912 Arsenal had a mid-week game at Crystal Palace in a relatively new competition – the Kent Senior Shield. It had been inaugurated the previous season and was …

30th September 1912 – Another week, another point

by Andy Kelly This weekly series charts Arsenal’s final season in Plumstead and the move to Islington that, effectively, saved the club’s very existence. During the final week of September, Arsenal’s first team played one league game and a charity match whilst the reserves also played a league game. There was also an interesting appointment …

23rd September 1912 – Crisis over?

By Andy Kelly Our series plotting Woolwich Arsenal’s move from Plumstead to Islington 100 years ago continues. On Saturday 21st September, the first team ventured north to play Sheffield United. Arsenal’s mis-firing front line was once again changed. McLaughlan returned to the team and Randall came in for his first game of the season; Flanagan …

16th September 1912 – Woolwich Arsenal struggle on and off the pitch

By Andy Kelly Woolwich Arsenal had two games in the week following their 0-3 defeat at Liverpool. Both games were at the Manor Ground against opposition that they had beaten (Bolton) and drawn against (Aston Villa) the previous season, so hopes were high. First up were Bolton on Saturday 14th September. The Arsenal team lined-up …

Henry Boyd, Arsenal’s top goal scorer on a goals per game ratio: an update

Updated 9 October 2018 Please note that we have been kindly provided with more information by Colin MacKenzie of the website Scottishsporthistory.   What I have done here is left Andy’s original article for Arsenal History Society as it was written, and added extracts from Colin’s work at the end. The new material is published from …

2nd September 1912 – The beginning of the end in Plumstead

by Andy Kelly This article is appearing one day late, because there was an even bigger anniversary on 2 September, and we felt the need to cover that.   Full list of anniversaries and links to the stories behind them appears on the Anniversary site. ————————— Now, on with the show… To celebrate 100 years of …

2nd September 1893 – Today’s MASSIVE Anniversary

——————————————– There is much more on the background to this extraordinary day in the book “Woolwich Arsenal: the club that changed football“ ——————————————- by Andy Kelly 119 years ago today on 2nd September 1893, Woolwich Arsenal played their first ever Football League game. The opponents were Newcastle United and the match was played in front …

Happy (re)Birthday Arsenal

Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed football.  New info on publication date.  Updated information here When Arsenal and Fulham were within moments of merging into one club… full details in “Making the Arsenal” We are on Twitter @Untold Arsenal ———————————   By Andy Kelly 26th April is a special day for Arsenal FC. On this …

When is an archery tournament not an archery tournament?

 Arsenal History and Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal Andy Kelly When it’s a lottery!!! Ha, ha, yes the old ones are the best ones. Those of you that have read an Arsenal history book will, more than likely, have read about the club organising an archery tournament in 1902 to raise funds. At the close …

Why it is time to rethink our views on Henry Norris, the man who made Arsenalal?

Tony Attwood Henry Norris has always suffered a bad press in football terms.  He has come down to us as an arrogant man, a bully, self-opinionated, and above all a man who was shamed out of football, having been found guilty of having his hand in the Arsenal money box. And yet, the more I …

How did we used to get the half time scores?

By Tony Attwood It is, of course, so easy today. If you want to know a score you can see it on TV at any time, both through teletext on the BBC and through Sky Sports News. If you are at the match at the Ems you can wait until half time or full time, …

Arsenal’s view of its own history is starting to change

Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal By Tony Attwood I have mentioned ad nauseum that I have a column in the Arsenal programme this season: “Arsenal Uncovered” which jumps around Arsenal’s history here and there, in a wholly illogical manner.  What I have not mentioned is that the club programme also has a series of articles …

Newcastle United v Arsenal; 118 years on from the very first game

Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal By Tony Attwood On 2 September 1893 Woolwich Arsenal FC played their very first game in the league.  And just like this season it was against Newcastle United. I have covered this game before, but the coincidence of starting the season with the same match is too much to let …

Revealed: the 18 most common errors that appear in most Arsenal histories

By Tony Attwood This monday sees the publication of “Dial Square to Woolwich Arsenal: the real story of Arsenal’s early years.” It is being published by Arsenal Independent Supporters Association, and everyone who is a member of AISA will get a copy.  Those attending the AGM on Monday will not only get to hear Ivan …

Are you related to a player, manager, official or supporter of Woolwich Arsenal FC?

By Tony Attwood After numerous delays and after months of being side-tracked by other issues I am finally finding the time to complete the book on Woolwich Arsenal. The book is called WOOLWICH ARSENAL: THE CLUB THAT CHANGED FOOTBALL, we have a publisher, and I am hopeful it will be published at the end of …