CHAPTER 3
ARSENAL V RANGERS 1963
MAKE KELSEY’S AND RANGERS A DOUBLE
● Jack Kelsey
Testimonial Match
● Monday 20th
May 1963 ● Kick-Off 7.30pm
B A
C K G R
O U N D
█ CHANGING
SEASONS █
• RANGERS CHANGES
As the 1963 Season closed, Rangers made another trip to
• SHARED HERITAGE
As we shall see a very close relationship existed between the boards.
Both clubs perhaps saw something of a mirror reflection in each other. Traditions
of style and excellence on and off the pitch; marble halls and grandstand
interiors which exuded wealth, heritage and status. It is indicative of the
strength of the relationship that Rangers sandwiched in this fixture, having
played Queen of the South two days earlier and due to face Clyde two days
later.
█ JACK KELSEY, LUCKY ARSENAL █
• OUTSTANDING
During Jack’s Arsenal career, Arsenal had generally struggled which in
turn put the spotlight on the goalkeeper and he seldom let Arsenal down. He was
one truly outstanding performer in a rare era of mediocrity at Highbury. A former
steelworker from Swansea, tall and blessed with huge hands he joined Arsenal
aged nineteen having been spotted by former Wales and Arsenal player Les Morris
playing for local team, Winch Wen.
After two seasons in the reserves, Jack made his league debut in
February 1951 as cover for Arsenal’s highly rated regular George Swindin and
went on to make a further three league appearances that season. The following
season he did not feature for the first team, however the year after he made
twenty five league appearances in Arsenal’s League Championship triumph and
from that point on was Arsenal’s number one.
At this stage the shoulder charge was part and parcel of the game, not many
fancied their chances against him. His naturally powerful physique had been
developed with weight training and he looked like an Adonis between the sticks.
That was just one component of Jacks game, he had a brilliant sense of positioning
but when he needed to could pull off the most acrobatic of saves. He was as
good as anyone at collecting and dealing with crosses and not surprisingly
boasted a very powerful throw. The only weak spot in his game was his kicking.
• THAT WAS 1958
In 1958, he was a key figure as
In the same year Jack Kelsey won an
• THE BEST IN BRITAIN
Jack won forty one caps for Wales and was accorded the special honour of
being selected to keep goal for Great Britain in a match against the Rest of
Europe in 1955. In my opinion he was up there as one of the top four
goalkeepers in Europe, however the Championship medal from 1953 was his only winner’s
medal. By all accounts he had a very good sense of humour and had a particular
penchant for playing practical jokes on his teammates. His teammates were also
amused at how he would always be the first to arrive in the dressing room at
half time despite being furthest away from the players’ tunnel. The anti-smoking
lobby might be less amused to know that this wonderful athlete was also a
smoker and he liked a quick puff before the team talk. Though I’m not sure if
it was the secret of his success or jest when he told of rubbing chewing gum in
his hands to make the ball stick!
Whether it was the tobacco or the gum, Arsenal were fortunate to have
this world class player and professional.
•THE END OF A GREAT CAREER?
On 16th October 1962 an article by Harold Miller of the
Mirror reported that Jack’s career was possibly over and that he was facing up
to the possibility that he might be unable to play again. Aged thirty three,
Jack suffered a terrible back injury playing for Wales against Brazil, five
months earlier and a visit to a London specialist on 12th November would
determine if he could ever play again.
If he was feeling bitter about what had happened, he certainly did not
show it in his interview with Harold Miller. “Football has been good to me. If
I still had my time over again, I’d still want to be a goalkeeper and play for
Arsenal.”
On football as a career, he said, “I’d like nothing more than to see my
two sons take up a pro career – if they’re good enough of course.” He was
especially grateful to Arsenal. “The Gunners are the greatest club in the
country.”
• AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Jack’s future was unclear but at least he was entitled to a £5,000
insurance payment from the Welsh FA and another £500 from the PFA Insurance
Scheme, he was also hopeful that Arsenal would grant him a Testimonial. He had
prepared himself for the eventuality of a life outside football although an
immediate career as a manager was not on the horizon. “No Thanks! But the
coaching and training side interests me… What I’ll probably do is go back to
South Wales and open a restaurant.”
Unfortunately Jack was unable
to ever play again. His contract was due to expire at the end of June and he
was still receiving treatment for his terrible injury. Fortunately he had
received his £5,000 compensation from the Welsh FA, been granted a Testimonial
by Arsenal but hadn’t yet opened his restaurant.
Upon retirement after making
327 Arsenal appearances, he told the club that he would like to help them in
any way he could, “In appreciation of what the club has done for me over the
years.” Arsenal appointed Jack as secretary promoter for the Arsenal FC
Improvement Society which generated income for the club through pools,
lotteries, souvenirs etc… Given his injuries, it had been announced in advance
of the game that he would be unable to play in his Testimonial.
In the matchday programme, Arsenal chairman, Denis Hill-Wood paid this
tribute, “I need hardly tell you all in what esteem Arsenal holds the name of
Jack Kelsey. It is the byword of loyalty to club and devotion to the game. It
gives me and my colleagues great pleasure to present this Testimonial match in
his honour and to know that Jack will remain with us, we hope for many years,
in an administrative capacity.”
█ THE STORY
OF ARSENAL █
• SCOTSMEN AND THE
In 1886 employees at a munitions factory called Woolwich Arsenal decided
to form a football team. Heavily influential were a number of Scottish
employees and one David Danskin of Burntisland, Kircaldy. When the football
enthusiast and captain of Kircaldy Wanderers moved south to work at the factory
he found that a number of the other Scots working there were keen to re-start a
team. There had briefly been a works team before but it ceased through a lack
of support. This coincided with the arrival of some new employees from the
They named themselves ‘
Arsenal played at a number of grounds in Plumstead and Woolwich in what
today is South East London but at the time, when London was much smaller,
technically in Kent. Their original grandstand was a line of army wagons and
their first gateman none other than Danskin who collected the money at the gate
before leading the team out! Dial Square initially renamed themselves Royal
Arsenal and then Woolwich Arsenal. Although amateurs they were very good and
turned professional in 1891 as professional clubs kept trying to poach their
players. In 1893 Arsenal joined the Football League. Not just the first London
club do so, but the first club south of the Midlands.
By the turn of the century Arsenal had their first England international
and in 1906 reached their first FA Cup semi final. However by 1910, the club
was in serious financial difficulties and as we shall later see, Rangers played
a small but crucial part in helping to keep the club in existence.
• HENRY NORRIS THE CELEBRITY CHAIRMAN
HENRY NORRIS CV
Date of Birth : 23rd July 1865
Positions Held : Property Developer and Housebuilder in south and west
London, Director then Chairman of Fulham FC, Mayor of Fulham (1909-19), London
County Council Member (1916-19), Fulham East MP (1918-1922) and Knighted in
1917 for his work in military recruitment.
Other Interests, Hobbies and Activities : Prominent Freemason,
Philanthropist and personal friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Other Achievements : Indirectly responsible for the creation of Chelsea
FC. (See Chapter 9.)
• MERGERS AND MOVING THE FRANCHISE?
Sir Henry Norris acquired Arsenal in 1910 with the idea of merging with
Fulham. The League refused this and informed him in 1912 that he could only be
involved with one club. He took the more challenging option of Arsenal and this
intriguingly meant a break from his South West London power base. ln 1913
Norris relocated the club to the densely populated Highbury district of North
London. Their new ground was chosen for its excellent underground, rail and bus
links. The club were renamed or should that be rebranded as, ‘The Arsenal’ and
the 2nd Division club went on a spending spree. However they missed out on a
promotion spot in 1913-14 finishing in third spot behind Runners Up, Bradford
Park Avenue on goal average. Their new North London neighbours, Spurs had a
poor season but avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish
in the top flight.
• WHY SPURS HATE ARSENAL AND VICE VERSA
Before the war, Spurs were less than enamoured with Arsenal for turning
up in
On 4th August 1914, Britain entered the War. The Football Association
decided to proceed with the forthcoming 1914-15 season, probably on the basis
that they too believed in the publicity and spin that it would all be over by
Christmas. Of course players were enlisting and it soon became apparent that
this war was going to last a lot longer. Furthermore given the death and
carnage, there was a feeling that young men should be volunteering themselves
for the battle rather than football field and of course it really was a
meaningless game and season when young men were being slaughtered on foreign
fields. Nevertheless the season was played out. Spurs finished bottom in the
twenty team Division 1 and Arsenal sixth in Division 2. (Bizarrely in 1975 it
was discovered they should have finished fifth as their goal average had been
incorrectly calculated!) League football was then suspended.
When War ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of 1918,
football was not uppermost in people’s minds. Of course as things got back to
normal, so football would too and this is where events took a somewhat
controversial turn. The 1st Division was to be re-organised into a league of
twenty two teams. Of course, an immediately thorny issue was as to where the
league would resume or start from. Would it be the end of 1914 or 1915? With
obvious implications for those teams promoted or relegated. There was also
further clouding of the issue when in 1914-15 a relegation fixture between
Manchester United and Liverpool had subsequently been proven to be ‘fixed’ and
kept United out of a relegation spot. It wasn’t going to be straightforward and
neither was the electoral process that followed it to determine who would play
in the top division. To put a long process into a couple of sentences. Norris
managed to get Arsenal entered into the ballot but it was an odd ballot
altogether. Nottingham Forest who had put in appalling seasons in Division 2
both in 1914 and the meaningless 1915 campaigns were allowed into the ballot
too. They would have been relegated in either season had the 2nd Division not
been a closed shop where there wasn’t direct relegation but a process of
election. Perhaps Forest’s presence was a signal that football wasn’t the sole
consideration in FA elections.
Arsenal’s persuasive, well connected owner and Member of Parliament was
in his element and lobbied hard. His arguments were based not just around the
third place 1914 finish in the context of an expanded league but seemingly on
the basis that this was in effect a new league altogether and a number of other
mitigating factors should therefore be taken in consideration. Including,
Arsenal’s role of bringing the Football League to London and the South and
their longevity of League membership.
In the final round of voting, Arsenal were elected into the top flight
whilst Spurs found themselves voted down into Division 2. Needless to say
furious questions were immediately raised from Tottenham about how Arsenal and
Norris had achieved this and to put it bluntly, if there was foul play. In
particular, questions were asked about what had prompted the League President
and chairman of Liverpool to recommend in Arsenal’s favour. However, no doubt
Norris would have been the first to point out that Tottenham themselves had
been elected to the Football League Second Division in 1908 having finished
seventh in the 1907-8 Southern League instead of its champions, Queens Park
Rangers.
Arsenal and Spurs hadn’t clashed on the pitch since Arsenal’s relocation
to North London. They’d only ever met twice before in their histories but the
peace was now well and truly broken in North London as the rivalry took on a
new intensity on and off the field.
█ THE
‘FANTASTIC’ MR CHAPMAN THE GREATEST ENGLISH MANAGER? █
• JOURNEYMAN
Yorkshireman Herbert Chapman was in fact a former Spurs player, he
mainly played for their Reserves and was something of a journeyman in terms of
ability and career. He wasn’t even the best player in his family, his brother
Harry was the star. Chapman played at a number of different clubs for short
spells and his main claim to fame were his lemon coloured boots.
• COBBLERS
However, in 1907 he joined Northampton Town as player manager and
transformed ‘the cobblers’ from an appropriately named Southern League outfit into
Champions of their League.
• A BUNG SCANDAL
In 1911, his hometown club Leeds City appointed him manager and great
improvements were made until war broke out. Leeds were thrown out of the League
in 1919 for refusing to show their books when accused of making illegal
payments to players. According to Phil Soar and Martin Tyler in their history
of Arsenal, Chapman though probably aware of the payments wasn’t even at the
club when they were supposed to have been made. Nevertheless he received a ban.
• LOCK STOCK AND TITLE
With his ban completed in 1920 he moved across West Yorkshire to join
• TO HIGHBURY AND MORE CONTROVERSY
Norris
detected that Chapman was becoming disillusioned at Huddersfield and recruited
him to Highbury at the end of the 1925 season on a massive salary. Chapman
further lavished Norris’s resources on a string of top players. However the
Daily Mail reported in 1927 that the chairman had two years earlier made an illegal
payment to entice Charlie Buchan to Highbury. Norris was suspended by the FA, and although the
practice was widespread, the penalties for being caught were as Leeds City had
discovered to their cost, severe. Characteristically, Norris immediately sought
legal redress and sued both the FA and Daily Mail for libel and it became a very
messy affair as Chapman and Norris then traded accusations in court. An FA
investigation further revealed that Norris’s chauffeur had been paid for by
Arsenal and that the club owner had pocketed the proceeds from the £125 sale of
the team bus. In February 1929, the Lord
Chief Justice, Lord Hewart found against Norris and the FA imposed a lifetime
ban from football to the colourful, property developer.
The
upshot was that Sir Samuel Hill-Wood then became chairman and subsequently
introduced an assortment of football minded lords and knights to the board. Including the colourful Lord Lonsdale, President of the Automobile
Association and Bertram’s Mill Circus. A pugilist who once claimed to have
knocked out the redoubtable John L Sullivan, Rolls Royce Collector and visitor
of every racecourse in Britain. His name was given to the famous boxing belt.
• A SPECIAL DAY IN MAY 1930
As Chapman himself predicted, success would not be instant and perhaps
the courtroom dramas had been a distraction too. In 1927 Arsenal reached the FA
Cup Final only to beaten by Cardiff City. However in 1930 Arsenal returned to
Wembley to win the FA Cup and their first trophy under Chapman. On an
unforgettable and emotionally charged afternoon, they beat Chapman’s old club
Huddersfield watched by King George V, a hovering German Zeppelin and four of
the original lads from Dial Square. The breakthrough ushering in an era of
success.
• CHAPMAN THE INNOVATOR
What was so impressive about Chapman was his forward thinking. Many football
managers are constantly moaning and criticising, something has to change but
they rarely come up with any fresh ideas to improve the game. Chapman was
different, here are some of his ideas:
~For The Game
A ten yard penalty box semi-circle (a full decade before it was adopted.)
~For The Team
• Getting the first team, reserves and junior teams playing the same way thereby smoothing the transition of players rising through the ranks.
• Holding a weekly brainstorming session where he encouraged players to come up with ideas and give their feedback.
• Having Arsenal play in white sleeves on the red shirt and blue and white socks so the players could pick each other out better.
• Building small models of players to demonstrate his tactical thinking to players. (And Subutteo wasn’t invented until 1947 by Peter Adolph!)
~For The Fans
• Shirt numbering to make it easier to recognise players.
• Using a white ball so that fans could follow the play better.
• Trying to sign the best foreign internationals.
• A 45 minute Clock on the South Terrace which became known as the Clock
End.
• A public address system to convey information to the fans.
• An electronic turnstile system to count the fans and prevent
overcrowding.
• A scoreboard to relay the scores of matches being played elsewhere.
~Marketing
• Getting the local tube station renamed from Gillespie Road to Arsenal.
• Dropping the ‘The’ from The Arsenal in 1927 in order to appear at the
front of publications.
• Installing a floodlighting system at Highbury as far back as 1932. He
got the idea on a football weekend break to
• Encouraging members of the playing staff who had a flair for cricket
to play the game for county teams and if good enough internationally. Not just
to keep the players fit off season but to keep the club firmly in the public
eye.
~European Football
•Chapman played an annual game against Racing Club of Paris to make the
club better known across Europe and most importantly to raise funds for
veterans of World War 1.
~Recruiting The Trainer Ahead Of His Time
Working alongside Chapman was Tom Whittaker a man also ahead of his
time. The gentle giant installed the most modern medical equipment, varied
training routines and tailored individual treatment. The Gunners were always
one of the fittest teams. Such was his reputation that tennis legends Bunny
Austin and Fred Perry were regular visitors to Highbury. Whittaker had
originally joined the club from the army in 1919 but his career was sadly
curtailed by serious injury in 1925 whereupon at Chapman’s request he embarked
on studying physiotherapy, was appointed assistant trainer and promoted the following
year to chief trainer.
• CHAPMAN’S DEATH
Aged fifty five, Mr Chapman died suddenly from pneumonia in the first
week of January 1934. What had seemed like a heavy cold on Wednesday had
claimed his life by the early hours of Saturday morning. He was buried in
Hendon at the church he frequently attended and his cortege had to slowly wind
its way through thousands wanting to pay their final respects. He not only
delivered success but in the process completely redefined the mindset and very
nature of his club.
• ALLISON & WHITTAKER
You can’t replace the irreplaceable so Arsenal essentially split
Chapman’s duties. Officially he was replaced by George Allison, a radio
commentator! But essentially Allison dealt with the admin and business side
whilst Tom Whittaker took responsibility for the day to day running of the
team. It may seem a strange arrangement but the trophies kept rolling in.
•
BORING ARSENAL, LUCKY ARSENAL?
In 1925 the offside laws were changed. Arsenal were by no means the first
to find tactics to suit the new rules but after a heavy defeat Buchan sought
out Chapman and the pair had a brainstorming session. They formulated a plan
whereby the centre half joined played deeper with the two full backs who marked
the wingers. In turn, at least one and sometimes both inside forwards would
join the wing half pairing in midfield. The inside forward(s) in midfield would
be more creative, the wing halves usually more defensive. Chapman’s trick was
not to go out and pick the best players and then fit them into the pattern but
to pick the players best suited to the pattern.
In the past, teams wanted to attack as that had always been perceived as
the way to play the game. Arsenal for their part were now happy to absorb
pressure and cede territory for long periods in their midfield and defence especially
against teams who still used four or five forwards. Then they hit them on the
break. Many opposing fans could not work out how their team could have 80% of
the play and lose and viewed Arsenal as either ‘lucky’ or their tactical play
undeserving of victory.
• CLASS WAR 2 THE TEAM THEY ALL WANT TO BEAT
Of course everybody wants to beat the top team, which Arsenal were, however
there was more to it than that. The 1930’s were a time of great economic
hardship and to many people, Arsenal were the club that reflected the upper
classes and the elite. With their lavish spending, aristocratic directors,
luxurious grandstands, big ideas and ultra professional team (many fans still fondly
remembered the days of amateurism) that ‘stole’ games they almost became
football’s version of the class divide in society.
When they travelled to parts of the North that were suffering terrible
economic hardship, their games frequently took the metaphor of a ‘class war’.
They encountered vitriolic abuse at away games and a win over Arsenal in some
quarters of the country was almost as good as winning a trophy. When lowly
Walsall beat Arsenal in the FA Cup, parts of
• THE
More than anything this was
when Arsenal developed their reputation as footballing aristocrats and for
trying to do the right thing or for being ‘the gentlemen’ of football. Yet also
sharing Chapman’s ideal to be at the forefront of changes and improvements to
the game. Though Chapman expected Arsenal players to tackle strongly, he hated
anything deliberately attempted to injure and two players were immediately
transferred from Arsenal for making atrocious challenges.
When Arsenal built their art deco East and West Stands, their symmetry,
style, attention to detail, ultra-modern facilities and great viewing positions
for the fans made a statement. As Rangers did when they built their main stand
in 1929.
Arsenal won their first League Championship in 1931 and again in 1933,
1934 and 1935 and the FA Cup was won in 1936. Arsenal happily paid top dollar
for the best players including the likes of Alex James, David Jack, Cliff
Bastin, Eddie Hapgood, Ted Drake etc…
█ POST WAR
ARSENAL █
• TOM WHITTAKER
Typical of the Arsenal contribution to the wartime effort, Whittaker who
had served in World War 1, volunteered for the RAF in World War 2, went on to
become a Squadron Leader and I was fascinated to learn awarded the MBE for his
sterling efforts during the D Day landings.
George Allison retired in 1947 and Whittaker who was
Sadly, Whittaker died mid-season in October 1956. Some suspected that
like Chapman, the huge workload he subjected himself to may have been a
contributory factor in his death.
He was mourned far beyond Highbury, not just for the passing of a fine
trainer, coach and manager but as a kind gentleman and ambassador for the game.
• DECLINE AND FALL?
Arsenal then split the role of manager between Bob Wall as secretary to
look after the admin side of the job and former star Jack Crayston to manage
the team. Essentially the secretary’s role was to take charge of anything not related
to the kicking of a ball ie stadium management, organising contracts, arranging
travel, fixtures, office staff etc…
Crayston who had been Whittaker’s assistant resigned in 1958.
Former goalkeeper George Swindin then took over and encouraged the board
to invest in new players but he did not deliver. One of the problems was that
despite some very good individuals, the dressing room had become split into
factions. Perhaps over time the club had become too insular and inward looking
and with Spurs sweeping all before them, Swindin was sacked in 1962 to be
replaced by former
• HONOURS
Arsenal’s list of honours at
this time read:
League Championships (7): 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938, 1948, 1953.
FA Cup Winners (3): 1930, 1936, 1950.
FA Cup Finalists: 1927, 1932 and 1952.
█ ARSENAL
1963 █
• BILLY WRIGHT
Since the Chapman era, Arsenal always looked to appoint a manager who
had been a player with the club. Perhaps it was now a time for a change and
fresh ideas. Though Wright had spent his domestic career captaining the fine Wolves
team of the early to mid 1950’s, it was easy to see his appeal. Rated as one of
the finest ever
•
Arsenal concluded their League campaign two days before facing Rangers
with an away win at Sheffield Wednesday that clinched a promising seventh place
finish and earnt the club its first place in European Competition with a berth
in the forerunner to the UEFA Cup, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
• WRIGHT AT ONE END
The former defender’s team were prolific goalscorers with 86 league
goals, two more than Champions Everton but leaked goals at the other end,
conceding a shocking 77. The loss of the great Jack Kelsey certainly cost
Arsenal dear. Forget about the crucial saves, it must have been a great tonic
to opposing forwards and unsettled a defence used to his heroics when they
failed to clear. Moreover the best talent Wright inherited was attack minded.
This season had very much been one for Wright to take stock. He only introduced
a single new face to the club, Joe Baker but sold his strong tackling former
teammate from England and Wolves, Eddie Clamp to Stoke for making an appalling
challenge during a game.
• DEFENCE
Replacing Kelsey in goal was Ian McKechnie a former left winger who had
impressed between the sticks in training and switched position. Having not been
coached, his style was somewhat unconventional. Capable of acrobatic brilliance
but prone to making a few too many elementary mistakes.
Arsenal boasted a pair of
• MIDFIELD
Like his father, George Eastham represented England but he will probably
be most remembered for the controversy and upshot of his transfer from
Newcastle. To look at his frail build and weak tackling it was hard to
understand what all the fuss was about but he had a brilliant left foot that
picked out his forwards with precision passes and an unerring ability to send
defenders the wrong way. Joining him was the veteran and very underrated Vic
Groves. Great all round ability and a non stop tackler, runner and worker. His
career suffered from a number of injuries and he played the best football of
his career when switched from forward to midfield. Many consider him as the
best Arsenal player never to be capped.
Sharing defensive duties in midfield with him was the all-rounder, David
Court. His greatest asset tackling and marking. Not blessed with natural pace,
he was a very clever reader of the game.
John Barnwell was a curious
player. Great skills, brave and very fit, he had all the ingredients to become
an
• ATTACK
Joe Baker was the new hero of
the Arsenal crowd. Born in Liverpool, brought up in
He was usually joined by the exceptionally fast Geoff Strong, who could
score with either foot and contributed to attacks with his heading. Johnny
MacLeod was a capped Scotland winger when he was signed from Hibernian by
George Swindin. His crossing and dribbling was too good for the poorer 1st division
teams and when Arsenal had more possession at home he looked terrific. Yet away
from home and/or against the better teams he struggled to replicate his best
form.
Alan Skirton was not a typical winger. Tall and strongly built, it was
fair to say that he was not the most elegant or skilful of wide men.
Nevertheless he was quick and could create havoc with his aerial strength and
powerful shooting especially from outside of the penalty area.
• STYLE
The big story at Arsenal at this time was the prolific goalscoring of
Joe Baker. In 38 League outings he netted 28 times. Geoff Strong who did not
play in this fixture boasted figures of 36 and 18, Alan Skirton 27 and 10 and
Johnny MacLeod 32 and 9. They in turn were prompted by the skills of George
Eastham and the ageing maestro Vic Groves. Looking at Arsenal on this
particular evening, they needed perhaps to re-enforce the midfield. Ideally
with a younger defensive ball winner, quick to reach the ball and even if he
didn’t win it, to at least hold up opposition attacks. So as to enable other
players to come back and help the defence.
Given his early success in the transfer market with Joe Baker, it is
surprising that Wright did not make further signings during the season at the
very least to replace the ball winning Eddie Clamp and for the soon to retire,
Vic Groves. When Gordon Banks was first selected for the England squad, his
fellow squad member, George Eastham suggested how much he would enjoy playing
at Highbury. Wright received a warning for this at a tribunal in 1963 but alas
for the Gunners this perfect replacement for Jack Kelsey had not been
recruited.
• ABSENTEES
In addition to Geoff Strong, other Arsenal absentees for this game
included the emerging young talents of George ‘Geordie’ Armstrong and Ulsterman
Terry Neill at centre half. Overall Rangers would not arrive at Highbury with quite
the same sense of trepidation they felt on their previous visit to the capital.
█ RANGERS
1963 █
The team was similar to that which had faced Spurs earlier in the
season. John Greig was now a regular but in a more defensive role. Dave Provan
replaced the injured Eric Caldow. Strong and attack minded, he liked to build
from defence with low accurate passing. Also travelling with the party was the
pacy Craig Watson who was usually
M A
T C H
D A Y
█ ISSUE &
TISSUES █
• HOW GOOD IS JIM BAXTER?
How Good Is Jim Baxter? Rangers hero ‘Slim Jim’ had recently asked for a
transfer from Ibrox. A number of managers from
Arsenal who had used nine wing halves during the 1962-63 season were
known to be particularly keen to sign him and manager Billy Wright wouldn’t
deny his interest when asked by the media. Although the one thing that Arsenal
really needed in midfield, a fast and strong tackler was not something that Jim
Baxter would bring to the party and of course to accommodate Baxter at left
half, Arsenal would have to reshuffle their midfield.
Wright would no doubt have been less than happy to hear that deadly
rivals Spurs were also reported to be in the hunt for his signature. With Danny
Blanchflower nearing the conclusion of his illustrious career, would Bill
Nicholson want to do what the Scottish selectors didn’t and pair him with Dave
Mackay in midfield?
• FEELING THE BLUES
There was a stomach virus going around the Rangers camp and Baxter was
one of those suffering from stomach pains along with Millar, Greig,
Just before kick off, Evening Times reporter Bill Brown noted that a
lion rampant flag fell from its flagstaff. Was this to be an omen?
M A T C H R E P O R T
ARSENAL
: 1 Ian McKechnie 2 Jimmy Magill 3 Billy McCullough 4 John Barnwell 5 Laurie Brown 6 Vic Groves
7 Johnny MacLeod 8 David
Court 9 Joe Baker 10 George Eastham 11 Alan Skirton.
Red shirts with white sleeves. White shorts. White socks with dark blue
hoops
RANGERS
: 1 Billy Ritchie 2 Bobby Shearer 3 Dave Provan
4 John Greig 5 Ron McKinnon 6 Jim Baxter
7 Craig Watson 8 Ian
McMillan 9 Jim Millar 10 Ralph Brand 11 Davie Wilson.
Blue shirts with a deep white V. White
shorts. Red socks with a white top.
Referee : L Callaghan (
Linesmen : D Lewis (Cockfosters, Herts) and E MacRaild (
No substitutes allowed.
Dry evening.
Pitch well used after a long season.
FIRST HALF
Wearing a suit Jack Kelsey takes to the field and receives a fantastic
ovation from all sides of the ground. In fact he is to play a small but
interesting ‘cameo’ in his game, he kicks the game off sweeping the ball onto
Rangers right hand side…
25 seconds : GOAL 1-0 RANGERS
McMillan collects from the kick off and passes to Baxter, he
nonchalantly runs thirty yards with the ball, dummies to line up a pass and
thunders home a left foot shot past McKechnie who is still rooted to his line
as the ball flies into the net. Of course it’s not Kelsey’s fault, Arsenal’s
defence should have broken down Baxter’s attack.
Rangers develop a penchant for
passing the ball back to Billy Ritchie. Arsenal struggle to create any chances
and perhaps are tempted to make an offer for Jim Baxter after ten minutes.
Henderson’s replacement Craig Watson is performing better on the wing and brings out a fine save from McKechnie.
HALF
TIME SCORE : ARSENAL 0 RANGERS 1
SECOND HALF
50 mins : GOAL 2-0
Ian McMillan takes the ball off Groves and supplies Ralph Brand to knock
in the second goal.
Rangers miss a great opportunity to go 3-0 up. Craig Watson blasts a
shot against the crossbar. It rebounds out to
57 mins : GOAL 2-1
With Rangers leading 2-0, Jim Baxter pulls off a breathtaking feat in
his own penalty box. He dribbles past three Arsenal forwards but then spoils
his magical moment with a back pass to his goalkeeper which falls straight into
the path of Alan Skirton who gratefully snaps up the chance to bring Arsenal
back into the game.
60-75 Minutes
Arsenal scenting an equaliser pile on the pressure. Billy Ritchie is
forced into action and pulls off a string of splendid saves.
70 mins : GOAL 2-2
David Court chases after a ball which looks destined to beat him and go
out of play on the goal line. Somehow he reaches it, passes it back to McLeod
who picks out Eastham who plays the ball up for Skirton to head home from close
range.
Excited young Arsenal fans run on the pitch to congratulate their double
goalscorer.
Both teams play out time with Arsenal finishing the stronger.
FINAL
SCORE : ARSENAL 2 (Skirton 2) RANGERS 2 (Baxter, Brand).
Attendance
33,007 Receipts : £7,000
P O S T M A T C H
R E A C T I O N
█ QUOTES AND
ASSEMENTS █
• JACK KELSEY
“It was a great warm reception from the crowd. I really appreciated it
and felt quite choked up.”
• 24 CARAT
The Islington Gazette wrote, “Baxter’s constructive play had twenty four
carat written all over it but defence wise he could be faulted.” The Gazette
concluded that he had shown enough touches of class to keep the speculation
going.
• AND BROWNIE POINTS
Despite the
attention focussed on Jim Baxter, Bill Brown’s pick of the Rangers team were
Jimmy Millar who he described as, “A great trier all through” and Billy
Ritchie, “For bringing off two miraculous saves when Arsenal pressure was at
its height.” He was also complimentary of Craig Watson’s first half
performance. The Evening Times journalist was especially impressed with Arsenal’s
George Eastham who, “Stood out for footwork and speed.” and with John
Barnwell’s dramatic clearance off the line. I daresay Davie Wilson suffering
with a stomach upset might have had better days, as Brown noted his marker’s,
“Man eating attentions.”
•
On Tuesday,
the Rangers party flew back home in a Viscount. The Herald reported that those
who had experienced stomach upsets were now feeling much better or ‘in the
pink’ as they put it and were now making light of their bout of sickness.
Unfortunately Willie Henderson who had suffered the worst had to remain in
T A L K I N G P O I N T S
█ WHEN
ARSENAL MET RANGERS █
• WE’RE WITH THE
WOOLWICH
The link between Arsenal and Rangers dates back to the 19th century when
Rangers travelled south and beat Woolwich Arsenal 3-2 on 30th April 1892.
Playing in the Rangers attack was a James Henderson who went on to join Arsenal
for the 1892-3 season.
In June 1896, Arsenal signed Finlay Sinclair from Rangers and the full
back played for a season before joining
On 28th April 1908 Woolwich Arsenal travelled north and held Rangers 1-1
at Ibrox watched by 2000 fans. Though he didn’t take part in the match,
Scotland international Jimmy Sharp had joined Rangers from Arsenal six days
earlier. The full back had been a regular Arsenal player for three seasons since
joining from Fulham.
In November 1909, forward Robert Steven moved to Ibrox after having
played just seven times for Arsenal.
In April 1912 the teams played out a goalless draw at Ibrox, although the
attendance at Ibrox quadrupled from four years previously.
• A SHARED HERO DR JAMES PATERSON
Dr James Paterson better known as Jimmy was a remarkable man. Born in
London but brought up in Glasgow, the qualified doctor played on the left wing
for Rangers from 1910. Upon the outbreak of World War 1 he enlisted in the most
appropriate of regiments, the
He retired to devote more time to his medical practice in Summer 1924
only to be persuaded to make a comeback some two years later by none other than
Herbert Chapman. An onfield story gives the
• A SHARED HISTORY
Not did the
relationship between the clubs span two centuries, and not only were Rangers
always welcome guests, they were legally entitled to an annual visit as
shareholders for Arsenal’s AGM. When this book was originally researched in the
early ‘noughties’, Rangers still had their shares and this is what I found and
wrote,
“Rangers
shareholding in Arsenal followed a game between the pair at Arsenal. The date
given was reported as 1910 but it can’t have been as they didn’t play each
other that year, I’m convinced it was the 1892 fixture when Arsenal had just
turned Professional and they figured that a novel going home present for their
visitors would be two shares, though it’s possible that it could have been
payment for James Henderson.”
In
mitigation, Rangers publications were absolutely insistent on the fact that it
followed a game between the pair. (As a former professional researcher, I do
take a bit of pride in this sort of thing!)
Alas in 2012
this special shared link was broken courtesy of the appalling Craig Whyte and
the so called custodian, David Murray who disgracefully allowed him to take
control of Rangers. One upshot was that when the controversy over the sale of
shares broke, the true story of the shareholding became clearer.
1910 was
indeed the year when Rangers became shareholders in Arsenal. The reason that
they acquired a stake was that the Woolwich club were in serious financial difficulties
and their manager George Morrell, the former Secretary of Rangers Reserves
wrote to his old club asking for any assistance. Rangers kindness was
acknowledged with two shares in the Gunners. Their generosity helped forestall
the immediate closure of Arsenal and later in the year Henry Norris invested in
the club, subsequently relocated to North London and the rest as they say is
history.
Rangers stock
multiplied eightfold in 1930. To mark the twentieth Anniversary of the lifeline
the now affluent Gunners gifted a further fourteen shares. In 2004, it was
known that Rangers shareholding was sixteen shares. The assumption of not just
myself but also a group of canny Arsenal fans looking to protect their club
from foreign businessmen, was that the additional shares had come about through
various rights issues or bonus shares
One Rangers
fan brilliantly expressed what the shareholding meant, “As far as I am concerned these shares demonstrate
all that is/was good about the game I love and the team I love. The value of these shares?
Priceless. You cannot put a value on tradition, achievement, history and
class.” Sadly Whyte did, they were sold for £230,000 to a foreign
businessman.
RANGERS BUSINESS CONSULTANTS LTD
Some time ago
I spotted on ebay another interesting link and indication of the level of
relationship at board level between the clubs. A
“Dear Jimmy,
Confidentially we have been considering the issue of Bonus Shares and have been making representations to the Football Association in this connection. There are difficulties because there is no rule prohibiting the issue of Bonus Shares although there is one restricting the amount of dividend which may be paid.
In our consultations with the club's
solicitor it has been said that Rangers made a Bonus Share issue several years
ago and that the Scottish Football Association regulations permit this. Could
you give me any information on the subject which, of course, will be kept
confidential and if you could send me a copy of the current Scottish F.A.
Handbook I would be extremely obliged.”
• WHEN THE LEGENDARY MR STRUTH MET THE FANTASTIC MR CHAPMAN
~Probably The Best Team In The World
In the 1930’s Struth’s Rangers were the supreme team of Scotland, Chapman’s
Arsenal of England.
Although both men managed their clubs differently in terms of style,
they shared similar core values. Both men demanded the very highest standards
not just from players but everyone connected to the club and they both possessed
an intensity and dedication second to none. They both believed in discipline,
attention to detail and would not tolerate anything that damaged the reputation
of their clubs and above all both men always put the club above any individual.
I’ve read an article that briefly stated how both men were close
friends, but it didn’t contain any evidence. My own hunch is that they must
have enjoyed each other’s company whenever they met especially as the games
between the clubs were to become a regular fixture.
I’m also convinced that not only did each man hold the other in the
highest regard, each must also have been fascinated by the other. Fans, not
just of both clubs wanted to know who really was the best club in Britain and
as Mr Carlsberg might deduce ‘probably the best team in the world’. Surely that
also went for both men and their players. It would have easier to observe each
other from a distance but both gentlemen were true sportsmen and though it is
unclear who threw down the gauntlet, it was gladly picked up.
In September 1933 an unofficial British Championship was organised.
Ibrox 20th
September 1933 Rangers 2
Arsenal 0 (att. 37,000)
Highbury 27th September 1933 Arsenal 1 Rangers 3 (att. 46,000)
Rangers played very well in the first leg but their performance in
London was simply breathtaking.
Scorer of the first goal, Dr Jimmy Marshall went on to join Arsenal in
July 1934 but it was a short stay, he played just four matches before leaving
for West Ham in March 1935.
The following season a single meeting was arranged.
Highbury 12th September 1934 Arsenal 1 Rangers 1 (att. 53,000)
~Mr Struth v Arsenal
After Chapman’s death the
games continued. Another ‘one off’ Championship game was arranged at Ibrox in
September 1935 which finished 2-2 and was watched by 25,000. In September 1936,
a match fought under the title ‘British Cup Winners’ was played and Arsenal
recorded their first ever victory against Rangers with a slender 2-1 win. In
the final pre-war game, Rangers beat Arsenal 1-0 in August 1938. A sixteen year
old prodigy called Willie Waddell scored the winner on his debut.
Post War, the friendly rivalry was rekindled in October 1951. A capacity
crowd of 62,000 at Highbury watched Arsenal triumph 3-2. This match marked the
inauguration of Arsenal’s new floodlighting and a
Rangers reciprocated by inviting Arsenal to be their special guests for the ‘inauguration’ of their new Ibrox floodlights in December 1953. Arsenal won 2-1 in front of 70,000 spectators. Waddell now nearing the end of his illustrious career played again for Rangers and Jack Kelsey kept goal for the Gunners.
~Scot Symon V Arsenal
Thus far as manager, Scot Symon had not been beaten by Arsenal.
Highbury 15th March 1955 Arsenal 3 Rangers 3 (att.
28,123)
Ibrox 21st November
1955 Rangers 2 Arsenal 0 (att.
37,000)
The teams were due to meet at Highbury on 28th October 1958, the
programmes were printed but the match was postponed due to fog and almost all
of the programmes were pulped. Those few that weren’t are now serious
collector’s items valued in the hundreds of pounds.
Highbury 21st April 1959 Arsenal 0 Rangers 3 (Brand 2 and
Caldow [pen]) (att. 35,000)
In the Wee Blue Book 1959-60 Scot Symon rated the performance as one of
the best of the entire season. “It was a triumph not for one or two individuals
but the team.” The manager was also hugely impressed with the excellent
reception received not just from the Rangers contingent in the crowd but also
from the home fans.
Eight months later, the clubs resumed their rivalry at Ibrox
3rd December 1960 Rangers 4
(Brand 2, [1 pen] Millar,
• GREETINGS FROM
Despite the close relationship between the clubs, since Dr Marshall’s
brief time at Arsenal, there had been just a single player to have directly
moved between the clubs.
In 1946 a slightly shy Scandinavian gentleman turned up at Highbury’s
marble halled reception. He introduced himself as Albert Gudmundsson, he was
currently working in
█ THE
BUSINESS OF ARSENAL █
• RESULT
Arsenal had just published their Trading Results for the end of
1961-1962:
• Arsenal made a profit of £15,025, down from £31,232 the previous year.
• Gate receipts were up £7,000.
• The main increase in expenditure from the previous year was player wages.
Of course, in 1961 the
£20 maximum wage came to an end and salaries plus bonuses and benefits to players had risen from £45,425 in 1961-1962 to £61,252.
• BONUS TIME?
At the time of this game the Islington Gazette revealed that Arsenal
were to introduce various incentive schemes for their players. Including £1 for
every 1000 spectators over a 20,000 crowd. (Arsenal’s lowest home gate in
1962-3 was 32,289.).
With the demise of the maximum wage and perhaps indicative of a response
to the shifting balance of power between player and club and brought about by
their very own George Eastham.
Up until 1963, players had to be cautious in negotiations as clubs were
able to operate the ‘retain and transfer’ system. Under this system a club
could hold on to a player until they wanted to transfer him, and if they so
desired hold on to him indefinitely. Giving clubs great power over the players.
█ GEORGE
EASTHAM, THE GAME CHANGER █
• PLAYER FREEDOM
AND PLAYER POWER
“So far as I am concerned, soccer
players are slaves, for my definition of slavery is the absence of freedom.
Professional footballers are not free to leave their clubs after any given
period, for, as everybody knows, they have only to be offered the minimum wage
to be retained.”
(Jack
Kelsey writing in his autobiography, Over The Bar published by Stanley Paul
1958)
Essentially, when in 1959 George Eastham refused to renew his contract
with
The upshot of this was the following:
At the end of a contract the club had the option of either offering the
player a new contract or to place the player either on the ‘transfer list’ or
award him ‘a free transfer’. In the case of a player being on the ‘transfer
list’ but the club refusing to transfer him, the player would be deemed to be
‘in dispute’ with the club. Either party could then appeal to the League
Management Committee and to an independent tribunal if the League were unable
to settle the ‘dispute’. The player could also appeal to the Committee if he
considered the transfer fee set for him, too high.
The rules were subsequently clarified that:
(1) A player on a ‘free transfer’ could be approached by any club.
(2) To sign a player already on a contract, only the club could be
approached.
(3) In the case of the above and the transfer being agreed the player would receive 5% of the transfer fee.
(4) But if a player requested a transfer, he lost his right to a share
of the transfer fee.
(5) If a player did not want to leave a club, he could not be
transferred against his will.
(6) No player could play for his new club in the same season if transferred after 16th March of that season. The 16th became better known as ‘Deadline Day’.
(7) Nor could a player who has already played in a round of a cup competition, play for his new club in a later round of the competition. He was deemed to have been ‘cup tied’.
█ IBROX WAGES
█
• SECOND CLASS
Rangers players despite their first class lifestyle were still receiving
second class wages. Roughly a basic wage of £40-£45 per week. Nor would the
club grant any player, regardless of how long they had been at Ibrox a lucrative
Testimonial match and the club could be ruthless when it came to paying off
their players at the end of their careers. Partly the thinking was that upon
retiring ‘success as a player with Rangers inevitably would mean success in
business’ and it is true that some players had gone on to enjoy successful
business careers. Some even started their businesses whilst playing, Bobby
Shearer was already building up a fleet of buses. Often great players would
receive money just for lending their name to a business and then of course
there were the opportunities to manage and coach.
• DOUBLE YOUR MONEY
Jim Baxter was keen to move to
Ultimately Jim Baxter signed
on for one more year. Like all of the Rangers team, he loved playing in a great
winning team and the adulation and passion of the Ibrox crowd. Nobody wanted to
give that up, but there was resentment towards the board for abusing their
loyalty and intelligence.
Given the first class cult of the Ranger and not to mention the huge
turnover generated at the turnstiles, salaries should have been at the very
least on a par with if not better than those received by top players in England.
A first class wage could only have enhanced the cult of the Ranger. Indeed it
might have helped attract the very best in
█ THE RANGERS
BOARD █
• FIVE A SIDE
The Rangers board usually consisted of five men, although up until 1957
they also had two Honorary Presidents. Like the coaching side it was all about
continuity.
Chairman John Wilson’s passing was mourned not just at Ibrox but in
New chairman John Lawrence was the obvious successor to John Wilson
Senior as he had previously held the vice chairman’s post. Lawrence was a
successful house builder specialising in mass housing projects for which his
companies had won commissions throughout the world. Like his predecessor he was
given to public service having served as a JP but above all was also a
fanatical supporter. John Wilson Junior was elevated to vice chairman. The
newcomer to the Rangers board was Matthew Taylor and the remainder of the board
comprised of two legendary former players in the shape of Alan Morton and
George Brown. Alan Morton was Struth’s first and finest signing, the former
left sided winger regarded by many as the best to have ever represented Rangers
and Scotland. George Brown, the former Rangers and Scotland left half and
captain combined his directorial duties at Ibrox with his daytime occupation as
a headmaster.
• PLAYERS ON THE BOARD
I actually think that it is a good thing for a football club to have a
legendary ex player on the board. They know the game and the club inside out
and also perhaps where mistakes have been made in the past. Loved by fans who
will take their comments seriously and the fans in turn will feel more
comfortable in their company. In turn, enabling the board to keep their finger
on the pulse of fans opinions. In business parlance, bringing industry
expertise and customer knowledge to the boardroom. The downside might be
insularity or that they think things should be the way they were in their day
but of course with time things change. Rangers had two ex legends. Maybe two
heads are better than one but if they disagree it’s back to square one.
█ WHEN GREAT
PLAYERS CAN’T MANAGE █
• POACHER TURNED COACH
How often has a great player and/or a great captain been tipped for an
illustrious managerial career upon their retirement after playing only to fail
spectacularly. I would say that the great player who has achieved everything
and been feted may lack the hunger and ruthlessness to succeed in their new
career. They may go into management unprepared and thinking that their existing
knowledge will carry them through. Sometimes they lack the communication
skills, or they may lack the ability to empathise and relate to lesser players.
They may simply expect players to have the same drive and desire that they did,
and not know what to do when they see a player who does not have it. Sometimes
they may mistakenly join the wrong club at the wrong time with the wrong players
and wrong directors. However there is one factor which any manager needs, which
you can’t influence however great a player you may have been. Luck. A
defender’s pass, a referee’s decision, an impossible save, a kick to your star
player etc… can make the difference between glory and failure.
█ WHEN
DEFENDERS TURN FANCY DANS █
• WHY DEFENDERS
TURNED MANAGERS CREATE ATTACKING TEAMS AND VICE VERSA?
Arsenal manager Billy Wright
was a perfect example of a former defender (and an exceptional one at that)
managing a team that scored and conceded prolifically. Surely at face value,
Arsenal regulars should expect to see less goals at either end? Wright of
course was first and foremost trying to make the most of the resources that he
inherited and that was attack minded. As a defender he was actually a very good
judge of forwards. He had spent his career playing against the finest at home
and internationally for England, so he was instinctively able to identify how
well Joe Baker would fit into his attack. Perhaps, he felt that as a defender
turned manager his weakness would be getting his team to score, so
subconsciously over compensated. Another interesting facet to this was his
personality and the situation he was in. He may have been a defender but he was
renowned as a ‘glamour’ figure, turning to management a team that scores goals
and entertains is more glamorous than one that defends. (Nobody at this time
would describe football in such terms as ‘sexy’.) There was also the situation
on the other side of North London, with Spurs renowned for their attacking play
and scoring a mountain of goals there may have been an intuitive pressure to
try to match them. Finally and every bit as important as the players he had at
his disposal, his philosophy of football was of course shaped by his former
managers and what he had seen and learnt on his football adventure.
Interestingly and conversely the whole thing could in another time and work the
other way around and the fancy dan player building a team based around defence,
discipline and organisation…
█ ARSENAL
CRICKET CLUB █
• OVER TIME
As we’ve seen Chapman was keen for his players to play professional cricket
in the summer. Professional cricketers on Arsenal’s staff in fact long predated
his arrival and the year round sporting life for some Arsenal players continued
long after.
Of the dozen men to hold the distinction of winning both England
football and cricket caps, Arsenal could boast two connections. Arsenal centre
forward Andy Ducat made his England football debut in 1910 and eleven years
later though no longer with the club made his one and only England cricket
appearance. Right sided gunner, Arthur Milton won his one and only football cap
in 1951 and made his international cricket debut in 1958 whilst with Bristol
City.
Arsenal’s
Aside from the
█ RANGERS
SMASHING GOLF CLUB █
• PAR OF THE COURSE
Scot Symon of course held the distinction of Scottish international caps
for both sports but his preferred form of relaxation was playing golf and not
surprisingly he showed a natural aptitude for the game. Top flight footballers
have often had a talent for cricket and golf, I suspect due to natural eye to
ball coordination. Though one day Scot didn’t! The story that he was once
accosted by an angry housewife for breaking a greenhouse window with three of
his players desperately trying to stifle their laughter is true.
He also encouraged his players to relax by playing golf and the Rangers
team had the privilege of playing at some of
█ SOME
ARSENAL TRIVIA █
• THOSE DECO DAYS
• When
Arsenal and Huddersfield came out together for the 1930 Cup final it was the first
time that teams had ever come out side
by side at a major game.
• The
1927 Cup Final between Arsenal and Cardiff was the first to carry Radio
commentary and to broadcast a live goal on air. (The commentator... George
Allison.)
• Arsenal
were fined £250 by the football League in 1936 for resting injured players
between cup ties on their way to winning the FA Cup. (Squad rotation?)
• The
first live football match shown on TV was from Highbury on 16th September 1937.
It featured a practice match between Arsenal and Arsenal Reserves.
•
In 1934-35 Arsenal were the first club to generate annual gate receipts in
excess of £100,000.
• Arsenal’s
Bernard Joy was the last amateur to play for England. Versus Belgium in May
1936.
• Arsenal
goalkeepers wash their new shirts before playing in them. The practice dates
back to the 1927 Cup Final when Arsenal Keeper Dan Lewis blamed his slippery
• In
the 1930’s Arsenal used Margate as a nursery club.
• Former
England Winger Jock Rutherford who played for the Gunners between 1913 and 1926
found his place in the team under threat from a youngster, namely his son John
who joined in 1924!
•
THE ARSENAL STADIUM MYSTERY
A comedy/thriller film from
1939, it contained footage from Highbury of the game against Brentford who
doubled as ‘the Trojans’ on 6th May 1939. Fourteen cameras were used to film
action shots from Arsenal’s 2-0 victory. (Are you watching Sky TV?) Later on
the Arsenal players turned out for close up shots by playing against a team of
Oxford and Cambridge University players and George Allison showed real ‘Oscar’
potential in his role! Eerily, that game against Brentford was the last
official game before the outbreak of War. Records from the first few games of
1939-40 have been officially ‘expunged’ from the record books.
█ COMMUNITIES
AND REFEREES █
•
HEARD IT ON THE GRIPEVINE
Hearing that Islington schoolboys
were unable to find a suitable venue for their Thomas Pear Trophy Final,
Arsenal kindly invited them to use their training ground at
Bob Wall, the Arsenal secretary felt aggrieved at some of the refereeing decisions Arsenal had suffered during the season. He was quoted in the Islington Gazette, “We have had bad luck with referees this season. Linesmen who dictate to referees that’s another thing we have noticed in away games particularly. And it has often been to our disadvantage.”
█ WE’RE GONNA
WIN YOUR LEAGUE █
• A BRITISH LEAGUE
Alex Fraser general secretary of the Rangers Supporters Association
penned an article for the 1963-1964 Supporters Association Annual in
expectation and aspiration for a British League. He bemoaned that Rangers (and
indeed the Old Firm) did not receive from their away games a cheque anything
near in value to those received by Scotland’s smaller clubs when they visited
Ibrox. In response to those clubs who depended on their visits to
█ JIM BAXTER █
• HOW GOOD WAS JIM BAXTER?
Perhaps the answer to this question could be found on
• THE ORIGINAL
PLAYBOY !
Most commentators nominate George Best as the original ‘playboy’ or ‘pop
star’ footballer. The truth is that ever since football was played there have
always been players who to use the euphemism have led ‘unconventional’
lifestyles. Five years before George Best, Jim Baxter was setting a new
standard. Off the field, he wore the best clothing of the time and led a 24/7
party lifestyle. The focal points booze (especially bacardi), women and
gambling. Ken Gallagher’s biography tells of his amazing penchant for partying
but also reminds readers of ‘Slim Jim’s’ amazing gifts with a football.
• SYMON’S QUANDRARY
For Scot Symon this represented a new problem. Traditionally any Ranger
living this sort of lifestyle would be dropped and a replacement found. However
in terms of style there simply was no replacement at Rangers or in
Yet Baxter had made some very powerful enemies at the club, most notably
the directors who were appalled by both his behaviour and rebellious challenges
to their authority. He also fell out with a number of the senior professionals
at Rangers. Not only had they been subject to the traditional rigorous
discipline at Ibrox, they felt that there was one law for Jim and one for the
rest. Notably in terms of: attitude to training, demeanour and the latitude
given to the younger man to make income through columns and endorsements. Some
felt that he would not give 100% in matches against poorer opposition and
sometimes he would try to make them look inferior. Such was Baxter’s
self-confidence and cockiness that he ‘tried it on’ a couple of times with
Harold Davis and had to be rescued by Symon!
Certainly had Rangers not been as successful during this period, things
would have boiled over. Yet with younger players starting to replace the senior
professionals the situation was alleviated to some degree. The fans mainly
agreed with Symon’s ‘live and let live’ opinion and demanded his inclusion. The
younger ones seeing in Baxter, someone living out their wildest dreams. Some criticised
Symon as that by letting Jim do his own thing, he was preventing him from fulfilling
his potential in the longer term. But, disciplining as strong a character as
Jim Baxter would also be tricky as he would accept the punishment and carry on
regardless. Trying to curtail his extravagances would probably not have made
him a better player in the short term, indeed he strikes me as someone who
thrived on living life on the edge. Had Rangers dropped him, there was also the
probability that he would take his skills elsewhere, so Symon’s policy was
probably the shrewdest option.
• WHAT WOULD I HAVE DONE?
The abolition of the maximum wage in
With regards to Jim Baxter specifically, if he could dominate a game on
the left side of midfield think what he could have done slightly more central
in the middle. In terms of play Baxter was not as naturally gifted in the
middle of the park, yet by making him work at his game: improving his right
foot, heading and tackling he may have taken less for granted and worked
harder. I think for Jim, it was all too easy and he needed a challenge. For me
a three man midfield of Billy Stevenson (sold on to make way for Baxter),
Baxter in the middle and John Greig would have been simply awesome.
P O
S T S
C R I
P T
█ JACK KELSEY
█
• SHOPKEEPING AND GOALKEEPING
Jack went on to manage the Arsenal lottery and club shop and finally
retired from Highbury in 1989. He enjoyed a great rapport with Arsenal fans
both young and old, from those lucky enough to have watched him at his peak to
those not even born when he retired from playing. When he took over
responsibility for retailing souvenirs, Arsenal had just one small shelf of
goods. By 1985 Arsenal had a main shop, 5 matchday kiosks and stocked 250
different items. Part of the reason for the expansion was that fans felt
comfortable to approach Jack with new ideas for products.
What a shame though, that nobody tapped into Jack’s goalkeeping
experience. I’m certain that this friendly character and a parent himself would
have been a fantastic coach for talented young goalkeepers.
Sadly he was unable to enjoy his retirement, he died just three years
later in 1992 aged just sixty two. One of Arsenal’s finest ever servants on and
off the field.
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