Start of an era (1886/1913)

 The Highbury years

(1913/1945)

The Arsenal STADIUM was nowhere near finished when it hosted its first game on the 6/09/1913

The NORTH BANK was originally called "THE LAUNDRY END"

 Arsenal dropped Woolwich from their name in 1914

 Arsenal were ELECTED back to Division 1 for the 1919/1920 season replacing Spurs after some dodgy dealings by Chairman Sir HENRY MORRIS

 The official CANNON CREST was first used from season 1922/1923, below is just one of the EIGHT crests that have been recognised by the club and is one of the later crests used

 In 1925 Arsenal paid £64.000 for the freehold on their Highbury ground

On the 20/03/1926 JOCK RUTHERFORD becomes Arsenal's OLDEST player at 41 years and 236 days

  Highbury mastermind Sir Henry Norris left Arsenal in 1927 are being found guilty of football irregularities

The HILL-WOOD dynasty began when Sir SAMUAL took over from SIR HENRY NORRIS in 1927

 The first LIVE radio broadcast ever was from Highbury on the 22/01/1927, when Arsenal drew 1-1 with Sheffield United in the 1st Division

 The first LIVE FA CUP FINAL radio broadcast ever was on the 23/04/1927 when Arsenal lost 1-0 to Cardiff City at Wembley

 In 1928 HERBERT CHAPMAN got a 12 ft clock erected at the NORTH end of the ground. In 1935 when the NORTH end was covered with a roof, the clock was moved to the SOUTH end of the ground which then became known as the CLOCK end

On  21/04/1930 Arsenal drew 6-6 at Leicester City after being 3-1 down at half time in a 1st DIVISION LEAGUE game

 The 1930 FA CUP FINAL between Arsenal and Huddersfield Town was the 55th FA CUP FINAL and the EIGHTH at Wembley, played on the 26/04/1930. When the players took to the pitch it was the FIRST time EVER that both Captains led their teams out onto a football pitch together side by side. Arsenal beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 TO WIN THEIR FIRST EVER MAJOR TROPHY!! (ALEX JAMES and JACK LAMBERT were the two scorers) The final became known as THE GRAF ZEPPLIN FINAL because the FAMOUS GERMAN AIRSHIP flew over the stadium during the match. During CUP FINAL'S at this time the domestic LEAGUE season carried on as usual with all the other teams playing as if it was a normal day

 On the 09/01/1932 Arsenal recorded their BIGGEST EVER HIGHBURY WIN with a 11-1 win versus DARWEN in the FA CUP

 Arsenal do a League treble winning three titles in 1932/1933, 1933/1934 and 1934/1935

 Work to build the WEST STAND started in May 1932 as soon as the 1931/1932 season had finished. On 12/11/1932 just SIX months later, the stand was finished. The new WEST STAND stood 315 ft long and was 70 ft high with a capacity that could house 4100 seated and stand another 17.000. The WEST STAND cost £45.000 to build and was the most EXPENSIVE STAND in Britain at that time with the best seat cost 5 shillings (25p)

Meanwhile just before the WEST STAND was completed, GILLESPIE ROAD Underground station was renamed ARSENAL (HIGHBURY HILL) on the 05/11/1932 after HERBERT CHAPMAN had fought to get the Station's name changed

 JACK LAMBERT SCORED FIVE HOME GOALS in the 9-2 win over Sheffield United on the 24-12-1932 which is still a RECORD FOR THE MOST HOME GOALS SCORED BY A SINGLE PLAYER IN ONE MATCH

 The FIRST game with the new WEST STAND in use was a 1-0 win over Newcastle on the 12/11/1932. The OFFICIAL opening of the stand was by the PRINCE of WALES on the 10/12/1932 for the game was against Chelsea which Arsenal won 4-1. Just 14 days later and the NEXT home game, was an AMAZING 9-2 win against Sheffield United on the 24/12/1932. "Its a funny ol game" as someone once said because just TWO days after scoring NINE, Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Leeds United on the 26/12/1932. The next three home games brought two wins and a draw before the crowd got more top value for money with an 8-0 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers on the 25/02/1933

 Winger CLIFF BASTIN scored 33 goals from the left wing during the 1932/1933

 At 3am on Saturday the 06/01/1934 Herbert Chapman (pictured below) died at home from Pneumonia after a short illness. Hours later a SHOCKED Arsenal team took to the field and drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday in front of a very shocked silent crowd

NORRIS and CHAPMAN the two most important figures in Arsenal's short history BOTH DIED IN 1934

 George Allison the FIRST man to commentate live from the 1927 FA Cup Final (Cardiff 1-0 Arsenal) became Arsenal Manager after the death of Herbert Chapman

 1934/35 saw Arsenal blast Spurs home and away first 5-1 at home on the 20/10/1934 (Scorers: Drake 3 , Beasley , OG)  and then 6-0 away on 06/03/1935 (Scorers: Kirchen 2 , Drake 2 , Dougall , Bastin (pen))

 Highbury's record attendance was 73.295 versus Sunderland on the 09/03/1935 unfortunately for such a BIG crowd the game ended 0-0

 In the 1934/1935 season TED DRAKE scored 42 LEAGUE GOALS in 41 LEAGUE GAMES and 44 goals in total to make him Arsenal's MOST LEAGUE GOALS IN A SINGLE SEASON AND MOST GOALS IN TOTAL FOR A SINGLE SEASON TOP SCORER!!

 On the 14/12/1935 TED DRAKE scored all 7 goals in a 7-1 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park, he even had time to hit the BAR as well

 In Arsenal's (FOURTH) 1st DIVISION TITLE WINNING SEASON 1934/1935 Arsenal went goal crazy beating Spurs 5-1 at home, 6-0 away and putting 8 (EIGHT) Highbury goals past Liverpool, Leicester and Middlesbrough with Wolverhampton Wanderers also on the recieving end of a 7-0 Highbury mauling. (THIS COMPLETED A HAT TRICK OF 1st DIVISION TITLES!! 1932/33 1933/34 1934/35..... P 42 W 23 D 12 L 07 GF 115 GA 46 PTS 58

 The EAST STAND built 1936 at a cost of £130.000, It was also 315ft long but 10ft higher at 80ft compared to the WEST STAND

 25/04/1936 FA Cup Final Arsenal 1-0 Sheffield United (Ted Drake)

 1937 saw the FIRST LIVE TV broadcast ever. It came from Highbury and was a match between Arsenal and their Reserves being transmitted by the BBC

 1937/1938 saw Arsenal win their (FIFTH) 1st DIVISION TITLE after LOSING no less than ELEVEN games..... P 42 W 21 D10 L 11 GF 77 GA 44 PTS 52

The film "The Arsenal Stadium Mystery" featured clips from the Arsenal versus Brentford game played on the 06-05-1939

 During the 2nd World War Arsenal shared White Hart Lane with Spurs to complete their semi-friendly Wartime commitments

 Highbury was used in any way needed during the 2nd world War including as an AIR RAID SHELTER, a FIRST AID CENTRE, along with housing FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT for the surrounding area

 Football was encouraged during the war not only to give some entertainment to the public but to try to keep morale up as well

 Manager GEORGE ALLISON (middle of picture, below) was too old to fight, so he did as much as he could at Highbury for the community, so much so he turned the Referee's room into a flat so he could spend as much time as possible at the Stadium

In 1941 Arsenal played a War time friendly against CLAPTON ORIENT and won 15-2. Before the War started LESLIE COMPTON was a reserve defender who converted to a striker during the war scored 10 (TEN) of the goals!

 As so many PRO players were also moved around the country as part of their War time duties they could "GUEST" for the local PRO teams in their area. Arsenal player TOMMY LAWTON based in the North played TWICE on a Christmas day. In the morning for Everton and in the afternoon for Tranmere

 Arsenal had nine players killed during the Second World War which was more than any other club

06/09/1913 Leicester Fosse 2-1 w
15/09/1913 Notts County 3-0 w
20/09/1913 Hull City 0-0 d
04/10/1913 Bury 0-1 l
18/10/1913 Lincoln City 3-0 w
01/11/1913 Notts Forest 3-2 w
22/11/1913 Birmingham C 1-0 w
06/12/1913 Leeds City 1-0 w
20/12/1913 Glossop NE 2-0 w
26/12/1913 Bradford 2-0 w
03/01/1914 Wolverhampton W 3-1 w
24/01/1914 Barnsley 1-0 w
14/02/1914 Huddersfield T 0-1 l
28/02/1914 Blackpool 2-1 w
14/03/1914 Fulham 2-0 w
21/03/1914 Bristol City 1-1 w
13/04/1914 Stockport C 4-0 w
18/04/1914 Clapton Orient 2-2 d
23/04/1914 Grimsby Town 2-0 w

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