“The purists would still want the FA Cup final at 3pm on the last Saturday of the season,” – Greg Dyke
Is the 3 o’clock kick-off time a tradition? Was it just a recent invention or does it have deeper roots in the competition? Is it progressive to alter the time of the kick offs, or just an utter waste of energy and another example of the FA bowing before BBC, Sky and BT dictats?
Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Alex James: these three names always crop up when discussing the best attacking player in Arsenal’s history, but the outstanding player from the 1930s is our subject here.
Extant concrete terracing from the Invicta Ground, Plumstead
Arsenal’s home between 1890 and 1893 was the Invicta Ground. It was a monumental location as Royal Arsenal moved there as an amateur team, but within a year the club had turned professional.
Despite the ground being replaced by housing in the late 1890s some of the stadium’s concrete terracing from 1890 still survives in the back gardens of houses in Hector Street.
A couple of years ago we embarked on a trip around Plumstead and this gives more detail to one aspect of the club’s time in Plumstead.
Postcard depicting the Arsenal train steaming past Highbury (image courtesy of Just Another Gooner)
A while ago Andy set a fiendishly difficult twitter question:
“Who was the first Invincible to sign for the club?”
After a number of incorrect answers that included the likes of Ray Parlour and Martin Keown, the correct player was named. Read More →
Jimmy Gray: The Arsenal 1946-1951
Jimmy Gray was an Arsenal reserve right full back just after World War 2, and a batting all-rounder for Hampshire County Cricket Club between 1948-1966.
Tommy Lawrence: The Arsenal 1957
Tommy Lawrence had a very brief Arsenal career making a single A team appearance in the 1956-57 season. An England amateur international he went onto transform Enfield as both a player and manager.
David Herd: The Arsenal 1954-61
David Herd was the 458th player to appear for Arsenal. Highly thought of at Highbury, this Scottish International goal machine had to leave Highbury to gain well deserved winners medals elsewhere in the 1960s.
Mel Charles: the Arsenal 1959-62
Mel Charles was the 476th player to appear for Arsenal. A Welsh international captain, he was at home at centre forward, centre back or wing half. A free scoring versatile player his time at Arsenal was marred by injury.
