Arsenal V Newcastle At Highbury (1919) 

That old film was amazing ! COYG

30th August 1919. Arsenal kick off in the First Division after being elected at the AGM. How did this happen? Firstly *The players of Liverpool and Manchester United fixed a game in 1915 that saved United from relegation. *The two clubs escaped demotion because they claimed it was the players and not them. *West Brom proposed that it would be unfair to relegate Chelsea, who finished second bottom and that the division be expanded to 22 clubs. * Chelsea were unanimously re-elected to the First Division. * Logic would have dictated keeping Tottenham, who finished bottom of Division one in 1915 too, or replacing them with Div 2 third placed Barnsley but instead it was thrown to an open election. * In addition to these two teams, the sides who finished 4th-7th in Div 2 put their names forward along with highly ambitious Nottingham Forest, despite being 18th in Div 2 in 1915. * Barnsley came third, Tottenham second in the election but Arsenal 5th in Div 2 in 1915, won the election by a huge margin, thanks largely to putting in the effort to win hearts and minds of the other clubs in advance. None of the clubs were actually allowed to plead a case on the day as was the norm with elections. * Contrary to modern belief, it wasn't considered a scandal by media, clubs or fans in 1919. The election was fair and square and Arsenal, in the eyes of everyone at the time, won their place in the top flight like any other club. * What nobody envisaged back then was that they would become the first and still only club to complete a calendar century of top flight Football. * That record will stand until at least 2054, but considering Everton's current precarious position, might not be matched until Liverpool potentially achieve their century in 2063. As for the match? Newcastle won it 1-0.

Wow so good to see footage from that long ago.

To think that everyone there has now passes on!!

Arsene Wengers first season at the club.