1886–87 Royal Arsenal F.C. season

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Dial Square / Royal Arsenal
1886–87 season
Chairman None
Manager None
None None
None None
Top goalscorer League: None
All: Unknown
Highest home attendance Unknown
Lowest home attendance Unknown
Home colours
1887–88 →

This was the first season of the club that was to become Arsenal F.C.

The club was formed by David Danskin and other workers from the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Early games were played under the name Dial Square.

Home games were played on an area of Plumstead Common that is now bordered by Heavitree Road, Waverley Crescent and St John's Terrace. Players used The Star Inn public house in Jago Close as a dressing room.[1]

The club's first match was against Eastern Wanderers on 11 December 1886. The match was played on a piece of scrap land in what is now Tiller Road on the Isle of Dogs.

In his book "Forward, Arsenal!", Bernard Joy gave the team line-up for first match as: Beardsley, Danskin, Porteous, Gregory, Bee, Wolfe, Smith, Moy, Whitehead, Morris, Duggan. However, in 1953 Robert Thompson claimed that he played in the first game (along with Wells in place of Morris and Duggan) and scored the first goal. Further, it has been found that Fred Beardsley played for Nottingham Forest in the F.A. Cup that day.[2]

Thompson also claimed to have suggested the name Royal Arsenal. From Thompson's account, it appears that the first game played as Royal Arsenal was against Millwall Rovers on 5 February 1887.

Club officials

Committee members

Jack Humble was probably involved with the club during the season.

Players

Players that were reported as having played for Dial Square / Royal Arsenal during the 1886–87 season include:

  • David Danskin (captain)
  • Fred Beardsley (vice-captain)
  • Joseph Bee
  • James Crichton
  • Robert Crichton
  • Charles Duggan
  • John Gellatly
  • Thomas Gregory
  • Alfred Morris
  • James Moy
  • Richard Pearce
  • Duncan Porteous
  • Richard Price
  • George Smith
  • Robert Thompson
  • Thomas Wells
  • G Whitehead
  • Frank Wolfe

Matches

All matches that Dial Square / Royal Arsenal played during the 1886–87 season were friendlies. Significant matches were:

  • 11 Dec 1886 v Eastern Wanderers (A) – the club's first ever game
  • 8 Jan 1887 v Erith (H) – the club's first home game
  • 5 Feb 1887 v Millwall Rovers (A) – the club's first game under the name Royal Arsenal

Statistics

Date Ground Opponent Score[3]
11 Dec A Eastern Wanderers 6–0
8 Jan H Erith 6–1
15 Jan H Alexandra United 11–0
22 Jan H Eastern Wanderers 1–0
29 Jan A Erith 3–2
5 Feb A Millwall Rovers 0–4
12 Feb A Alexandra United 6–0
26 Feb H 2nd Rifle Brigade 0–0
12 Mar H Millwall Rovers 3–0
26 Jan H 2nd Rifle Brigade 0–1

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Arsenal goals come first

External links

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