http://www.footyfrenzy.co.uk/ en-us Football info@footyfrenzy.co.uk 2009 footyfrenzy The Dial as they were originally known in 1886 was formed by the employee’s - notably, David Danskin, of a munitions factory in Woolwich, London. The Dial adopted various names, these included Royal Arsenal and in 1891 when they turned professional, they became Woolwich Arsenal. In 1893, they decided to sign up to the Football League and spent their first 11 years in the second Division. In 1904 saw them promoted to Division one where they stayed for a further 10 years but the Club financially was in a mess. In 1910, their saviour came in the form of a Mr Henry George Norris, a business man and Politian who made his money from property development. Unfortunately though in 1913 they were relegated back to Division 2. It was around this time that the shrewd Henry Norris’s desire to move the Club to a new ground in a superior location was realized. Highbury also known as “The Home of Football” became The Arsenal or Arsenal, as they were now known, new home. With this move also created a rivalry with local Football Club Tottenham Hotspurs, which is a strong today as it was back then. Other factors made this bitterness between these two Clubs even more raw, with allegations made towards Henry Norris, but these just remained as rumours http://www.footyfrenzy.co.uk/arsenal%20canvas.html 23 Oct 2009 11:56:09 GMT football info@footyfrenzy.co.uk Like numerous Football Clubs up and down the country, Tottenham Hotspur’s foundations originate in the School and Cricket paternity. The “Hotspur” is believed to be linked to a gentleman named Sir Henry Percy alias Harry Hotspur who existed in the 1500’s and whose descendants were quite wealthy landowners. “Hotspur Football Club”, as it was known became “Tottenham Hotspur Football and Athletic Club”, in 1884 to stop the confusion and also to have a more unique name than that of a similar local club that went by the title of “London Hotspur” Their first ground so to speak was the Tottenham Marshes in Greater London, a natural wetland. They then shifted to Northumberland Park in 1888, a location more suitable for spectators and where they could charge gate fees. A set back for Tottenham was when they received no votes which would of allowed them to join the Southern League. This was reversed when in 1895, the Club turned professional and Spurs started to attract bigger crowds at games and with this, a bigger venue was required, so in 1899 the Club moved to their new ground at High Road which is now the famous White Hart Lane which as brought many football gifts to fans http://www.footyfrenzy.co.uk/tottenham%20picture.html 23 Oct 2009 12:08:11 GMT football info@footyfrenzy.co.uk On the 14th March 1905 at the public house The Rising Sun – today called The Butchers Hook – on Fulham Road, London, businessman Henry Mears along with others formed a football club and named it, Chelsea. Fulham would have been the ideal title; unfortunately this had already been taken. Prior to this in 1904, Mears had purchased Stamford Bridge Athletics Ground with the intentions of having Football Clubs play their games there, in particularly Fulham, whom declined. With this, Mears decided to create his own football club. Like countless other clubs, Chelsea attempted to play in the Southern League but with - and no surprise – Fulham and other Clubs objecting they were refused. Friend and colleague of Mears, Fred Parker then applied for Chelsea to play in the Football League. With some good talking and persuasion by Parker to the appropriate individuals Chelsea were acknowledged to the Football League on May 5th 1905. Scottish football player and manager John Tait Robertson, was employed as Chelsea Manager and wasted no time in searching for talent for the Club, one of these been the huge 6ft 4”, 22 stone, William “Fatty” Foulke who had already tasted success with Sheffield United, winning the FA Cup. Chelsea did not get off to the best of starts, loosing their first game away against Stockport County 1-0 on the 2nd September 1905. Their first home game though had a sweeter result when they beat Liverpool 4-0. For their first season in the Second Division, they did make a decent challenge and managed to finish third. In January 1907, Robertson departed for Glossop, a Football Club based in Derbyshire. Behind closed doors, Chelsea’s Board of Directors typically over ruled the Manager on squad setup and players to play; for Robertson and appropriately so that was the role of Manger and his position became untenable. A Mr William Lewis stepped into Robertson’s shoes for a time been. He was Chelsea’s first Club Secretary and started out as a Football Referee. Unexpectedly, Lewis guided Chelsea to promotion at the end of the season, helped by the football gifts and the first player to score 100 goals for the club, George Hilsdon. Lewis was replaced by Chelsea’s longest serving manager, David Calderhead. He served the club for an astonishing 26 years and with such a lengthy spell at Chelsea, there should have been more achievement to his credit. Even his son, David junior spent time at Chelsea as a player while his Father managed. In total Calderhead oversaw Chelsea play in 966 games. http://www.footyfrenzy.co.uk/chelsea%20picture.html 01 Nov 2009 17:17:53 GMT football info@footyfrenzy.co.uk Certainly, Manchester United Football Club’s size and popularity on the world stage of football is none other than colossal. Nearly every decade football gifts have been established and encouraged at the club before let loose for the world to see. However, this is has not always been the case. In 1878 at Newton Heath, Manchester, once farmlands that turned to the industrial revolution in keeping with the times, railway men and like many formed their own football teams. Newton Heath Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway FC or Newton Heath L&YR FC was the beginning of a rather special moment in English football history. Their first playing ground, which in fact was nothing more than a field on North Road and shared with local cricketers before acquiring a more stadium like venue 15 years later at Baker Street, Clayton. 1 year prior to this, the club had signed up for the Football League and had amended their name to the shorter, Newton Heath FC. What was adverse for the club in 1902 and very much could have been the end was the debt they seemed to accumulate. It is believed that bailiffs closed the Baker Street ground until the some of £2.500 was paid. There is a congenial story connected to this but how factual it is remains unclear. The club captain, Harry Stafford, apparently attending a fundraiser with his St. Bernard dog was asked by a gentleman named John Henry Davies, a wealthy brewery owner, if he cared to sell the animal. Stafford refused the offer but then took the conversation to the subject of Newton Heath and the problems it faced. Regardless of how true this is, what is true is Davies did become chairmen after making a large financial donation. Davis changed the colours of Newton Heath from green and gold to red and white and furthermore decided on a new name, Manchester United FC. The clubs first few seasons were spent in Division 2 but they always managed to finish in the tables top half. In 1904 and for a record transfer fee at the time for United they signed the football gifts of Charlie Roberts for £750 from Grimsby Town. Roberts did have an impact on the club when in the following season they finished second and got their promotion to Division 1. Other players United signed were detrimental to Manchester City been punished for over paying players. Many players were... http://www.footyfrenzy.co.uk/manchester%20united%20picture.html 07 Nov 2009 14:04:38 GMT football info@footyfrenzy.co.uk