Product Description

Product Description
The first detailed history of Arsenal Football Club covering the period from the Club's humble origins in Woolwich in 1886; the move to Highbury in 1913; the successful decade of the 1930's under the guidance of Herbert Chapman and George Allison; the post-war
period under Tom Whittaker and ending with an account of the title-winning season 1952-3.
Told from the first-hand experiences of the author and by his reference to the Arsenal Football Club archives and library this book is a trip down memory lane for older Arsenal supporters and an Arsenal history lesson for the younger generation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74895 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-25
• Binding: Paperback
• 252 pages

Review
"This is a magnificent book.......... If you are serious about supporting Arsenal, about knowing Arsenal's history, and about venerating our past as well as our present, you need this". --Untold Arsenal (Arsenal Blog)7th Sept 2009

"Forward, Arsenal! is a superb history of the Club..........one that every Arsenal fan should own."
--A Cultured Left Foot (Arsenal blog) 24 Sept 2009

"This is a magnificent book.......... If you are serious about supporting Arsenal, about knowing Arsenal's history, and about venerating our past as well as our present, you need this". --Untold Arsenal (Arsenal Blog)7th Sept 2009

"Forward, Arsenal! is a superb history of the Club..........one that every Arsenal fan should own." --A Cultured Left Foot (Arsenal blog) 24 Sept 2009

"I commend you to read this if only for it's authenticity in depicting a bygone age...... Works well as both a labour of love and fascinating historical document"
--Arsenal World (Arsenal Blog) 9th November 2009

About the Author
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

About the Author
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

A graduate of the London School of Economics, Bernard Joy taught history at Spring Grove Grammar School in Hounslow, West London. At the time he was teaching, he played for the Casuals, captaining them to victory in the Amateur Cup Final in 1936. He won 10 caps for the England Amateur team and was captain of the Great Britain team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

It was in 1936 that he gained his full international cap for England in the match against Belgium. Although playing for Arsenal occasionally at that time, he was registered as a Casuals' player and he is recorded as a Casuals, not Arsenal player, for that match. He never turned professional and was the last amateur to win a full England cap; a record that will never be broken.

Before joining Arsenal in 1935, Joy played for Southend United between 1931 and 1933 and for Fulham in 1933 and 1934. He joined Arsenal in 1935, playing only one match that year in the Charity Shield and making his league debut against Bolton in April 1936. Until October 1937 Joy played mainly for the reserves, deputising for the established centre half, Herbie Roberts. When Roberts broke his Leg, Joy took his place in the side for the remainder of the 1937-38 season, gaining a First Division winner's medal and Charity Shield winner's medal also.

When war broke out in 1939, Joy signed up to join the RAF but still played for Arsenal during the war - more than 200 matches - winning an unofficial war time cap too. When peace broke out and first class football resumed, he played for the first part of the 1946-47 season but decided that his age was against him and retired; his last game being against Sheffield United on the 2nd November 1946. In all, he played 95 first class games for Arsenal.

After his retirement, Joy moved into journalism, writing first for the London Star and, eventually, the London Evening Standard. He was awarded the OBE for services to journalism in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Honours list in 1977.

Forward Arsenal was a real labour of love for him and he would have been immensely flattered that his book has been used as a reference in the Arsenal museums at both Highbury and more recently, at the Emirates. He would be delighted that the ideals of the Arsenal in his day are still those of the Club today.

Customer Reviews

A great book - well recommended.
This book is a reproduction of the original 1950s publication by Bernard Joy, the former Arsenal and England amateur footballer. I didn't have the original in my Arsenal collection and discovered the existence of this book quite by chance. I'm glad that I did.

Joy was a teacher during his playing career and a journalist thereafter and, unlike other books written by ex-footballers, I have a feeling that this is all his own work. He had assistance from the Club and, having full access to their archives, he was able to write what was the first detailed history of Arsenal FC.

The books starts, obviously, with the formation of the Club in Woolwich in 1886 and Joy discusses the main characters, the first matches and the early struggles that were overcome. He moves on to cover the reasons behind the move to North London, looks at the impact made by various managers such as Herbert Chapman, George Allison and Tom Whittaker and the success that was enjoyed by all three from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Joy finishes, in the appendices, with a look at the title-winning season of 1952-53 and also includes a detailed list of statistics, league and cup records, international and league representative details and other interesting facts.

Whilst this book does not contain the last 50+ years of Arsenal's history, it does cover the first 67 years extremely well and I discovered many new and fascinating facts. With its large number of pictures, it now fills an important place in my Arsenal book collection.

Well worth the money!

A must for any Arsenal fan !
I really enjoyed reading this book, which surprised me as I'm not an Arsenal fan (although do enjoy watching their football). It is surely a must for any Arsenal fan who wants to know the history behind their club, and I would suggest it is a very worthy read for anybody interested in the football world as it was. Adding to its appeal is the fact that it was written in the 50's, which often confused me when it referred to "the modern day" !

As well as the club origins, it gives key player/staff background, some "big" match commentary, photos and lots of stats. Certainly plenty to keep a footy lover like myself happy !!