For this classic match report we go back to the 1930s for a historic game that rarely gets mentioned.
Many thanks to Middlesbrough fan Steve Roberts for providing a copy of the programme for this article.
Click on the programme cover to read it.
Last year, Northbank1969 wrote about his and his mates’ journey to see Arsenal play Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in 1977. I believed that one of his party was my brother who I knew had gone to the game. It turned out it wasn’t. Another group of North London lads organised their own trip up north to watch the game. Here is their story as told by Mick Kelly.
The Arsenal pre-season team photo
For this classic match we go back 30 years to a season that saw Arsenal play some scintillating football early doors but lost their way in November. Once again, we have the whole programme for you to read. This has been reproduced with the kind permission of Leicester City FC. There’s also a quiz question at the end of the article to test your knowledge.
Matchday programme
Click to read the whole programme
By Mark Andrews and Andy Kelly
“On the pitch, on the pitch, on the pitch…” sang the North Bank, as they prepared to “help” Aston Villa fans in their championship revelry!
1904-05 Woolwich Arsenal in the Top Flight of English football
A postcard of the team courtesy of @N5_1BU
The previous season had seen Woolwich Arsenal promoted, amidst ordnance supplied fireworks and a pitch invasion, after a draw in the final home match of the season which saw the top flight guaranteed for the very first time. The pitch invasion managed to break much of the fencing surrounding the pitch, and this was the cue to allow the club to embark upon a major upgrade of the Manor Ground, in part to accommodate the extra crowd expected to witness the club in the highest league.
Long service rewarded
After tweeting that Abou Diaby was celebrating his ninth year at Arsenal on Tuesday 13 January, someone pointed out that he is due a testimonial next year – if he has his contract renewed.
I was also asked if there was a list of Arsenal players that had been granted a testimonial. I wasn’t aware of one so I decided to put one together.
For those that aren’t aware, a testimonial can be granted to a player that has ten years unbroken service at the same club. This is irrespective of any loans, as he is still registered as a player of that club. Testimonials were introduced in the 1950s and, after a slow start, become a regular part of the fixture list during the 1970s and 1980s. The idea was to provide a financial bonus to a player coming to the end of his career. The testimonial. more often than not, involved a number of events throughout the year, the biggest usually being a game against attractive opponents, with the proceeds being handed over to the player. However, some players ended up out of pocket due to their club’s stinginess.
While there are many classic matches we could have chosen, the 1970s FA Cup semi-final victories which so affected the Stoke psyche being the most obvious, we went with last season’s game for one obvious reason.
To begin we give you one of the wonderful artistic interpretations of the 2014 FA Cup win by Tasha as part of #OpAa
For those of you not aware #OpAa is a brilliant organisation run by Dan which brings together artists working on Arsenal related art. They co-operate and combine to present the OpAa events which showcase a whole variety of Gunners works.
We are eagerly awaiting details of OpAa3.
It’s Aaron Ramsey by Tasha – #OpAa
This and other Arsenal items are available on the OpAa website
Arsenal v QPR
Bertie Mee began to impose his style on the team, with 8 of the Fairs Cup and Double winners in the side as…”we were top of the League, we said we were top of the League”.
Arsenal 2 Queens Park Rangers 1
McLintock 54, Wilks 67
Neill (pen) 60
Fun and fireworks at Trent Bridge
Notts County versus Woolwich Arsenal: Saturday December 17th 1904
by Mark Andrews and Andy Kelly
