Arsenal Football Programme Collectors Handbook
The latest instalment in Leonard Evans’ series of Arsenal Football Programme Collectors Handbooks covers home and away reserve and youth team matches between 1980 and 2020.
Why did Tottenham poll so few votes in 1919?
If you’re not already aware, following the end of World War One the members of the Football League decided to increase the size of both the First Division and Second Division by two teams. At a meeting held on 10 March 1919, Chelsea were unanimously elected back into the top flight as it was felt that they had been unjustly relegated due to an incident of match fixing between Liverpool and Manchester United players.
600: Brian Edward Sparrow 1962 – 2019
Brian Sparrow: The Arsenal 1977-1984
The 600th player in the first team, this popular reserve spent seven years at Arsenal before moving to Crystal Palace and then a number of coaching roles.
William Mark Meadows 1942-2019
Billy Meadows: The Arsenal 1958-60
A record scoring youth team player who went on to appear for Hereford in one of the most famous FA Cup giant-killing games of all time.
Ronald E Saxby 1937 – 2019
Ron Saxby: The Arsenal 1953-1959
A regular at youth and reserve team level during his six years at Highbury.
Geoffrey George Hamm 1930-2019
Geoff Hamm: The Arsenal 1948-50
A short-lived youth player at Arsenal he found his level at the top of the non-league game.
728: Jose Antonio Reyes 1983-2019
Jose Antonio Reyes: The Arsenal 2004-07
The 728th first team player, Reyes was an Arsenal Invincible who, after leaving, picked up an amazing array of winners’ medals.
414: Alan Smith 1921 – 2019
Alan Smith: The Arsenal 1946
The 414th player to appear in the first team, Alan was a short term post-war winger whose early career was blighted by the Second World War.
481: Alan Frederick Graham Skirton 1939 – 2019
Alan Skirton: The Arsenal 1959-1966
A quality winger, who was the 481st first team player, he made over 150 appearances for the Gunners, and then post-playing he was a great business manager for Yeovil.
Clickbait!!!
Having been sent a press copy of Darren’s book, I sat down to enjoy it with a cup of tea.