By Tony Attwood
Co-writing the book “Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed history” I came to realise very early on that some of the most important moments in our club’s history had been lost. Indeed there is an iconic moment in 1893 when one of the leading lights in the club says, “when the history of this great club comes to be written, this will be recorded as Arsenal’s most important moment” (or words to that effect).
And that moment has since been forgotten – not getting a mention in any of the hundreds of history books on Arsenal that have appeared since.
That moment – in which the newly created Woolwich Arsenal FC was almost destroyed by its local rivals Royal Ordnance Factories FC – is now restored to its rightful place in Arsenal’s history, by forming the opening of the new book. And I hope as we continue to develop Arsenal’s heritage through the Arsenal History Society, we will continue also to restore major events to their key status.
But somehow I think that will never be necessary with 26 May 1989. For that day, in which Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to win the league, will surely live in the minds of supporters for as long as their is an Arsenal FC.
You don’t need to have yet another re-telling of the events – but there is a little commemoration on the Arsenal History Site today. You might also like to note that we have an ever growing Database of Arsenal Anniversaries – and if you have any to add to it, please comment below.
The Arsenal History Society blog in case you are not familiar with it, covers any articles that those of us interested in our club’s history find interesting. For the most part these are anniversaries, and an ever growing review of Arsenal’s managers and what they did. I do hope you will take a look, and of course spare a moment to remember 23 years ago. Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2.
Tony Attwood
“For that day, in which Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to win the league, will surely live in the minds of supporters for as long as their is an Arsenal FC.”
“their” Tony?
Pernickety, are we, Gf60?
Hi there I am an Arsenal fan who moved to California in 1981 from Ilford Essex. My mother and father grew up as fan’s both went as teenager’s with there brother’s. They respected Chapmam. My mother went to the same spot at home game’s and knew the group of fan’s there. I just found out they started out as Dial Square, where could I get a copy of your book or if possible could you send me a copy as I am disabled with a brain trauma from a car crash. I have met a lot of Arsenal fan’s who when they see your book would love a copy, can you please let me know thank you.
@LRV,
Leave Gf60 alone. Gf stands for Grammatical freak (something like a control freak but better educated).
Hi there I grew up as an Arsenal fan who moved to California in 1981 from Iford in Essex. Both my mother and father went to the hon=me games as teenager’s with their brother’ before they met, they loved Chapman. I just found out they started out as Dial Square,where could I get a copy of your book or if possible could you send me a copy as I now read a lot as I am disabled from a car crash. I have met a lot of Arsenal fan’s in Los Angeles who would like to have a copy thank you
Thomas! It’s up for grabs noo-ooow!
THOMAA-AAS!
Right at the end!
Special stuff!
😀
up untill today i have chills whenever i watch that special moment..
Its up for grabs noooww
Ahh ’89! That was such a great end of season game. Seeing Dalglish on the sidelines last year made me want to watch the 2-0 win at Anfield again. No one thought we would win that game, especially not many in my full house of about 25 people. Good memories.
Speaking of Arsenal history, I spent some time with some old boys this afternoon and it might of been a bit of sunstroke, but a heated discussion took place about ‘footballer’ trains. And the gist of the argument between an Arsenal, Spud, Gillingham and Sheffield Wednesday fan was that years ago there were locomotives named after football clubs. The Spud fan insisted that Arsenal had used influence to get the train named after the spuds taken out of commission.
The Arsenal fan insisted over and over again that a) the Spuds never even had one made for them – they had one renamed in their honour. b) It was renamed again because Spuds were such a rubbish team. Apparently Arsenal had a train made for them and painted with our colours which remained in use until all trains were decomissioned in the 50’s/60’s. It peaked my interest and I was wondering does anyone know anything about it?
@ Gooner Gal,
Can’t imagine the railway companies, let alone BR, allowing an engine to be painted red and white (with blue and white wheels?). Once seen it would never have been forgotten.
I think the old codgers may have over-imbibed the Dubonnet. As an OAP myself, I regularly fantasise but in my case it usually involves beautiful females rather than trains.
89 was an horrific time for Liverpool. And only 11 days after.
Yesterday I woke up, and when I glanced at the calendar, I thought..Hmm..26th May..Something is there today. My thoughts went like, is it somebody’s birthday? Was I supposed to go somewhere today? Oh..no..26th May..Of course.. Anfield 89.. And I felt a glorious bliss.. And I wasn’t even an Arsenal fan until over 8 years after that event.
@ Nicky – haha, so your more (Benny)Hill than Hornby eh? I have to say though, from what I can gather from the Sheffield Wed fan, who had no vested interest in the argument, there were trains known as footballer trains, but according to him the Arsenal train was probably called the Woolwich or something and the Spuds one was probably just a nickname and not officially named after the club. The Gillingham fan just thought the whole suggestion of calling trains after football clubs was a pile of rubbish (but I not too sure he would of known too much about it anyway).
Never mind it was quite interesting afternoon all the same. Visiting the Arsenal museaum is still on my list of things to do.
Tony,
Will October 24 2004 be in that book?
@Gooner Gal,
When you visit the museum, look out for my WW2 football programmes which I donated many years ago. I recall that (for the info of visiting fans) some of them used to contain directions to the nearest air raid shelter….a sign of the dangerous times we lived in then.
Ah yes ,May 26th 1989 , how could I forget my first! My first Division one title as an Arsenal supporter.Had waited since 1971-72 for this and it was evertyhing I had hope for and more when we achive it and the manner by which we did it !
For me the moment I knew we would do it was when a clearly nervous Steve McMahon was unconvincingly trying to gee up the Liverpool team by informing them that there was only one more minute to go .
This, and the look on John Barnes’face ,made me sure that they were goners !I was smiling at this moment and a friend who was watching it with me had remarked about it and I told him that it was ours for the taking.
I had recorded the match and my housemate who was a Liverpool fan(and who did not watch it live)rewinded it a bit the next morning to see the final score and was in total shock and went off to work in a huff !
Did anyone go back to Malcolm Newton
(May 26, 2012 at 5:11 pm) ?
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