Arsenal Football Club 1894-95 Mixed Media by Charlie Ross

Arsenal Football Club 1894-95

by Charlie Ross

Canvas Print

$63

Framed Print

$81

Art Print

$17

Poster

$17

Metal Print

$69

Acrylic Print

$77

Wood Print

$48

Tapestry

$39

Throw Pillow

$27

Fleece Blanket

$48

Duvet Cover

$107

Shower Curtain

$73

Bath Towel

$37

Jigsaw Puzzle

$40

Tote Bag

$24

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Zip Pouch

$26

Portable Battery Charger

$47

Yoga Mat

$60

Greeting Card

$4.45

Spiral Notebook

$15

iPhone Case

$25

Beach Towel

$37

Round Beach Towel

$70

Weekender Tote Bag

$43

Coffee Mug

$15

Men's Clothing

$32

Women's Clothing

$32

Youth Clothing

$28

Toddler Clothing

$26

Baby Clothing

$30

Title

Arsenal Football Club 1894-95

Artist

Charlie Ross

Medium

Mixed Media

Description

This photograph shows the Woolwich Arsenal team during the 1894-95 season (their previous name of 'Royal Arsenal' was still being used as late as 1896).

Back Row: O'Brien, Powell, McAvoy, Hollis (Trainer), Jenkyns (Captain), Davis, Boyle.
Middle Row: Crawford, Mills, Hare, Gordon, Buchanan, Mortimer.
Front Row: Howatt, Storer, Caldwell, Ward.

The club was initially called Dial Square, after one of the workshops at the vast Royal Arsenal munitions factory at Woolwich. The first Arsenal side was a works side. It was further bolstered by recruiting players who had played at higher levels in the North, Midlands and Scotland who had come to work at the site, and who brought fresh skills and techniques.

The club had its first game against Eastern Wanderers on 11th December, 1886. Each man provided his own kit and they wore shirts and trousers of different colours. Three had shin guards and nearly all the boots were ordinary pairs, with bars nailed across the soles.

Dial Square won the game 6-0 but the players were not pleased with the quality of the pitch. At a meeting soon afterwards, the men decided to rename the club Royal Arsenal. The club also agreed to play their home games on Plumstead Common and to change into their football kit at the nearby Star public house.

The men could not afford to buy a complete football kit and so team member Fred Beardsley decided to write to his old club, Nottingham Forest, to ask them if they could help. They generously agreed to send a complete set of red shirts.

The team continued to make progress and won the London Charity Cup in 1890 and the London Senior Cup in 1891. That year it was decided to change the club name from Royal Arsenal to Woolwich Arsenal.

However, it was not until 1893 that Arsenal was elected to the old Second Division of the Football League. In their first season Woolwich Arsenal finished in 9th place in the Division.

The best player at that time was Harry Storer, the goalkeeper. In April 1895 he was chosen to play for the Football League against the Scottish League and therefore was the first Arsenal player to win representative honours.

The following season Caesar Jenkyns, the Captain, became the club's first International player when he was selected to play for Wales against Scotland.

Unfortunately both players were soon to be transferred. Storer was sold to Liverpool in December 1895 and Jenkyns went to Newton Heath (later Manchester United) in May 1896.