Arsenal 1886-2016

Arsenal FC is one of the most prominent football clubs in England, and indeed Europe. The club is based in North London, although that is not always been the case.

Arsenal were formed in 1886 as Dial Square FC by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich in South East London, being renamed Royal Arsenal FC shortly afterwards. When they became professional in 1891, they were renamed Woolwich Arsenal.

In those days the clubs wore redcurrant shirts with the team playing at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, apart from a three year spell when the nearby Invicta Ground was used. Arsenal were elected to Division Two of the Football League in 1893.

The clubs first manager was Thomas Mitchell in 1897, prior to the team winning promotion as Division Two runners-up in 1903-04 under the stewardship of Harry Bradshaw. The side reached the semi-finals of 1905-06 and 1906-07.

The club's location led to poor crowds and near bankruptcy before they were taken over by Henry Norris in 1910. Woolwich Arsenal were relegated in 1912-13 as Norris sought to move the club elsewhere.

The club moved to the new Arsenal Stadium in Highbury, North London, dropping Woolwich from their name the following year. Controversy would follow after World War One as the club returned to Division One.

Arsenal only finished in fifth place in the Division Two 1914-15 season, but nevertheless were elected the enlarged top flight instead of Barnsley by reportedly dubious means, while new local rivals Tottenham Hotspur were relegated.

Former Leeds City and Huddersfield Town manager Herbert Chapman was appointed to take charge of the team in June 1925, with Arsenal ending as league runners-up in the 1925-26 campaign.

‘The Gunners’ won the FA Cup in 1928-29 twelve months after reaching the semi-finals when Huddersfield Town were defeated 2-0 at Wembley through goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert, prior to the team going on to dominate the league for a few years.

Tom Parker would skipper the side to league titles in 1930-31, 1932-33 and 1933-34 aided by stalwarts such as Lambert, Cliff Bastin and Eddie Hapgood as Chapman revolutionised the club on and off the pitch.

In the 1931-32 season Arsenal came close to further honours, ending as league runners-up and reaching the final of the FA Cup, where they were defeated 2-1 with Bob John scoring the consolation goal.

In 1932 he persuaded London Underground to change Gillespie Road station to Arsenal and the following year he introduced the famous shirts of red with white sleeves. However, tragedy was to strike in January of the third title win.

Chapman caught pneumonia while out at various matches, quickly succumbing to the illness before passing away in the early hours of January 6th 1934 at his home in Hendon. He was buried four days later in St Mary's Churchyard, Hendon.

Joe Shaw took charge until the end of the bittersweet season when George Allison was appointed as manager with Ted Drake being signed to score the goals, which he did with great regularity until the outbreak of the Second World War.

Allison’s side made it three league titles in a row in 1934-35 before a second FA Cup triumph in 1935-36 when a solitary Drake goal was enough to defeat Sheffield United. Arsenal were crowned as champions of England for a fifth time in 1937-38.

Tom Whittaker took over as team boss, leading his side to the league title in his debut 1947-48 season. Among the star players were Jimmy Logan, George Swindin, Joe Mercer, brothers Leslie and Dennis Compton, Reg Lewis, Ronnie Rooke and Don Roper.

Two Lewis goals helped Arsenal to a 2-0 FA Cup final win against Liverpool in 1949-50 before the side fell at the final hurdle in 1951-52 when they went down 1-0 to Newcastle United before the club won their seventh league title in 1952-53.

Arsenal hit a relative slump thereafter. Whittaker was replaced by Jack Crayston who was succeeded by former goalkeeper Swindin. Billy Wright took over for a couple of years before the appointment of former club physiotherapist Bertie Mee in June 1966.

Mee built a new side who ended up as runners-up in the League Cup to Leeds United in 1967-68 and then Swindon Town in 1968-69. In the 1969-70 season the Gunners won their first European honours.

After seeing off Ajax, Arsenal faced Anderlecht in the final of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, the forerunner to the UEFA Cup and Europa League. After losing the away leg 3-1, the Belgians were defeated 3-0 at Highbury with goals from Eddie Kelly, John Radford and Jon Sammels.

However, the 1970-71 campaign would establish Arsenal at the top of the tree once more. An eighth league title was won as well as a 2-1 extra time victory in the FA Cup final against Liverpool with goals from Kelly and local youngster Charlie George.

As well as the mentioned players, the other stars of the period were skipper Frank McLintock, George Graham, Ray Kennedy, George Armstrong, Bob Wilson, Pat Rice and Sammy Nelson prior to the signing of Alan Ball.

Arsenal returned to the FA Cup final in 1971-72, losing 1-0 to Leeds United. The following 1972-73 season saw the Gunners go out in the last four of the Cup as well as ending as league runners-up prior to former team defender Terry Neill taking over as manager in July 1976.

His side reached the FA Cup final of 1977-78 with the help of goals from Malcolm Macdonald before going down 1-0 to Ipswich Town. Arsenal returned to lift the Cup in 1978-79 in one of Wembley’s classic finals.

A dramatic 3-2 win against Manchester United was achieved with goals from Frank Stapleton, Brian Talbot and Alan Sunderland orchestrated by star man Liam Brady alongside the likes of Pat Jennings, Rice, Nelson, David O’Leary and Graham Rix.

Arsenal ended as FA Cup runners-up twelve months later when they lost 1-0 to West Ham United. Further agony came when the team lost on penalties in the final of the European Cup Winners Cup after a 0-0 draw to Valencia CF at the Stade du Heysel in Brussels.

The East Stand during Highbury demolition

The 1982-83 campaign saw the north Londoners lose in the semi-finals of both the FA and League Cups before another period of decline, which led to the appointment of former midfielder George Graham as manager in May 1986.

Graham’s style was to build the side upon a solid defence. His side lifted the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in 1986-87 with two Charlie Nicholas goals with Kenny Sansom captaining the team. Arsenal returned to the final twelve months later but went down 3-2 to Luton Town.

In 1988-89 the club won their ninth league title after scoring more goals than Liverpool after points and goal difference were level in a dramatic last gasp win in the final deciding game at Anfield, which can be viewed here.

Stars of the show were John Lukic, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, David Rocastle, Michael Thomas, Brian Marwood, David Rocastle, Kevin Richardson, Alan Smith and Paul Merson.

The 1990-91 campaign saw Arsenal lose the semi-final of the FA Cup but regain the league title after David Seaman had taken over in goal while Paul Davis and Anders Limpar added to the success.

1992-93 saw the beginning of the Premier League. The Gunners lifted both the domestic cups, with both victories coming against Sheffield Wednesday. Future record scorer Ian Wright and Andy Linighan scored in the FA Cup final replay after a 1-1 draw in which Wright netted. Merson and Steve Morrow scored the goals in the 2-1 League Cup win.

The success was backed up in 1993-94 with triumph in the Cup Winners Cup when a Smith goal was enough to defeat Parma 1-0 in Copenhagen’s Parken Stadion. The following 1994-95 would end in disappointment after a losing FA Cup semi-final appearance.

Graham was sacked in February after it was discovered he’d received illegal agent fees, with former player Stewart Houston taking over. Arsenal reached Paris’s Parc de Prince Cup Winners Cup final where they went down 2-1 to Real Zaragoza following extra time after John Hartson had equalised.

Bruce Rioch was appointed as manager in June 1995, acquiring David Platt and Dennis Bergkamp before he was replaced by Arsène Wenger in October 1996, who rebuilt the squad and the mentality of the club off the pitch.

Inside Highbury after restoration

The Frenchman added Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit to the midfield alongside previous stalwarts alongside Ray Parlour and Martin Keown as Arsenal went on to win the league as well as the FA Cup following a 2-0 win against Newcastle United to complete the double with Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka scoring.

The Gunners ended as league runners-up and lost in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1998-99 prior to the signing of future legend Thierry Henry. Another league second place ensued in 1999-00 while the side reached the UEFA Cup final where they lost on penalties to Galatasaray after a 0-0 draw back at the Parken Stadion.

The 2000-01 campaign was another of disappointment, with a runners-up place in the Premier League and defeat in the FA Cup final against Liverpool, despite Freddie Ljungberg putting Arsenal ahead with eighteen minutes remaining.

Midfield action at Highbury in 2020

There would be no mistake in 2001-02 as Arsenal with the additions of Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell became champions of England for a twelfth time. Their third double was completed when goals from Parlour and Ljungberg defeated Chelsea 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

The FA Cup was retained in 2002-03 as a goal from Robert Pires defeated Southampton 1-0, while the side ended as Premier League runners-up. The side would reach the semi-finals of both domestic cups the following season.

The 2003-04 season surpassed anything previously achieved in an English title winning season as the “Invincibles” became undefeated champions with new signings Jens Lehmann in goal along with Robin van Persie while future star Cesc Fàbregas was also captured.

2004-05 saw Arsenal end as league runners-up but lift the FA Cup for the tenth time as Manchester United were defeated on penalties after a dull 0-0 draw. Wenger’s side would suffer disappointment in 2005-06 going for the biggest honour of all.

The team had earlier lost in the League Cup semi-finals, but their Champions League campaign had seen off Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal to reach the Stade de France against FC Barcelona. Arsenal took the lead through Campbell despite Lehmann being earlier sent off, but the man advantage told as the Catalans won 2-1.

The season saw Arsenal say farewell to Highbury when the club opened their new Emirates Stadium a few hundred yards away at Ashburton Grove. The old stadium was turned into flats using the old stands while the pitch was turned into a garden for residents. 

For Arsenal's history, pictures and my visits to the Emirates Stadium, click here.

My visits

From moving to London in April 1999 I was keen to visit a stadium I'd seen many times before while passing on the train to and from Yorkshire. Dad had been many times as his brother in law was a teacher nearby. 

He'd regaled me many times with tales of the great atmosphere in The Gunners Arms before standing on The Clock End. I went by one day to take photos from outside, but would have to wait a little while for my first game.

Arsenal u18s 2 Coventry City u18s 0 (Friday 12th May 2000) FA Youth Cup Final second leg (att: 14,706)

I got my first opportunity for the Youth Cup final as tickets for first team games were hard to come by since Highbury became all seated with demand always very high. I went on this Friday evening with Joe, an inconsistent Kiwi barman who I worked with at Lord's. 

We had some beers at the Lord’s Tavern and then Highbury Barn before walking down Highbury Hill to the imposing old place. Both side stands, the East and West Stand, were beautiful pieces of art deco architecture designed by Archibald Leitch and going back to the 30's. 

They were listed buildings and would eventually lead to the need for a new stadium as it was impossible to increase the size of them. We went in The North Bank Stand which was a huge two tiered construction which replaced the old North Bank which was a huge area of covered terracing with open corner sections. 

I was most impressed as all the seats were padded. The stands on either side mirrored each other apart from the director’s box and players tunnel and benches in the East Stand. Both had three tiers of red seats, the bottom of which had previously been for standing. The far Clock End had also been converted. 

Once a large open terrace with a huge clock at the back, it was now a bank of red seats with corporate boxes and a roof hanging over them. The game wasn't bad with the Gunners building on their first leg 3-1 lead. 

Looking at the teams on display years later it's amazing how many don't go on to a career at the top, despite them being the cream of the crop at youth level. Lee Fowler ended up having a spell at Scarborough.

The Arsenal goals were scored by Jay Bothroyd seven minutes before the break and Steve Sidwell on seventy two minutes.

Arsenal 3 Sunderland 1 (Sunday 6th October 2002) FA Premier League (att: 37,902)

My second match visit to Highbury for a match was with a Sunderland mate, Martin and two Australian groundsmen from Lord's, Jarvo and Brad. Martin managed to get tickets for the away end, so it seemed like a good day out.

Martin had been with me to Gravesend & Northfleet against Scarborough the previous day as a bit of a warm up in the football and drinking stakes. I was hoping Sunderland performed better than my mob had.

We met some ‘Gooners’ we knew from work at Lord’s in The Seven Pins in Finsbury Park for pre match beers before heading to our position in the Clock End for the 2pm kick off. We were right on the front row among relatively silent away fans after a terrible first ten minutes for their team.

Arsenal went two up through Kanu and Patrick Vierra as well as having keeper Thomas Sorrensen substituted with an injury. Kanu added a third before half time which more or less killed the game for the live TV audience and the fans inside the ground.

The Mackems did pull one back through Jody Craddock late on but it was too little too late. We retired back to the pub for rather a long drink while watching the Liverpool v Chelsea game and well beyond.

October 2006

A few months after Arsenal left Highbury I returned one Sunday afternoon to take some photos of the ground in a semi demolished state.

December 2011

Dad was staying over with me for a quick pre-Christmas catch up and I suggested a stadium tour around the Emirates, which he was chuffed with. More so when I took him along an old familiar route to him so he could recount some happy memories.

We even managed to sneak inside past the gates to where the old pitch once stood but was now surrounded by flats. At least they hadn’t bulldozed the lot.

November 2020

A long walk taking in lots of North London with my pal Jeff, our route took us either side of Highbury’s old stands on the way to Alexander Palace and back. Again, I got access into the communal area and this time didn’t forget to take a couple of snaps.

Some of the pictures on this page of Highbury when it was still in use, have been taken from the internet.