Product Description

Arsenal's on-field success has been well documented. But what has never been written before is the equally remarkable history of Arsenal's rebels, both on and off the pitch. Spanning almost 120 years, and set against a backdrop of turbulent social and political change, Rebels for the Cause assesses the legacy and impact of Arsenal's most controversial players, officials and matches. From hard men like '30s player Wilf Copping to the reformed wild ones of recent years such as Tony Adams, Jon Spurling highlights the infamous figures whose refusal to conform has made them terrace legends. Mavericks such as '80s star Charlie Nicholas and the 'King of Highbury' Charlie George are here, as are '70s lads Alan Hudson and Malcolm Macdonald. The book also focuses on the club's revolutionary founding fathers, David Danskin and Jack Humble, the terrifying '20s 'soccer Tsar' Sir Henry Norris and David Dein's controversial introduction of free-market economics to Highbury in the regressive '80s. Also investigated are the stories behind Arsenal's most infamous tabloid exposes. Featuring extensive interviews with 15 former players, Rebels for the Cause is an indispensable guide to the alternative history of Arsenal Football Club, shedding new light on the origins of the rivalry with Tottenham, on many of Highbury's cult heroes and on the struggle of several players to adapt to life outside the game.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2699 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

The Independent, December 11, 2003
"a riveting story"

Shoot Monthly, January, 2004
"fascinating stuff...tells the story of the darker side of Arsenal's history"

Highbury High, October 2003
"essential reading for all true Arsenal fans..."

Customer Reviews

Rebels for the Cause:The Alternative History of Arsenal.....
I read this book in just three days. In my opinion, this is the most thought provoking and intriguing history of the club to date. I had thought that it was just going to be a history lesson from Arsenal's boozy bad boys. But Spurling's conversations with Willie Young, Charlie Nicholas, Charlie George, Alan Hudson and Perry Groves adds a humorous and "laddish" edge to certain chapters.

But what makes Rebels For The Cause such a GREAT read, is the fact the Arsenal's "rebals" have come in such a variety of shapes and forms during the clubs long history.

It was facinating to read of the spectacular fall from fame of George Graham. The comments of Claude Anelka on his brothers controversial departure from the club. Plus insights into the clubs history from the players view point. I particularly enjoyed reading the fresh insight on the life and times of Sir Henry Norris, who in 1918, "bribed" the Football League to promote Arsenal, and relegate Spurs. The furore surrounding George Eastham's court case in the early sixties and the clubs 1945 match against Moscow Dynamos.

Spurling has delved deep into Arnenal's numerous disciplinary problems, his and the players' conclusions make for worrying reading. He shows that recent Arsenal manages have almost encouraged players to feel persecuted, as a way of fostering team spirt and their famed fortress mentality. This, together with the origins of the Gunners' rivalry with Tottenham and a look at the club's treatment by the tabloids makes for fascinating, if uncomfotable reading.

Rebals For The Cause is a MUST read book for ALL Arsenal fans.

A new perspective on the greatest club of all!
Another excellent book from the only Arsenal author, it seems, who can be bothered to find a fresh angle on the club’s past. “Rebels For The Cause” illustrates the point which most others publications seem scared to admit – that without Arsenal’s numerous controversial players and officials – the Gunners wouldn’t even exist, let alone be the world famous club they have become. I found the earlier chapters really fascinating, as they explain how Arsenal gained the “lucky” and “Bank Of England” labels, at a time of an economic depression in Europe. The new information on Sir Henry Norris goes a long way to explaining why Arsenal are disliked by almost everyone outside their own fan base.
As a supporter who started going in the 1970s, I found the chapters on Charlie George, Peter Storey and Willie Young really revealing and quirky. Some of the drinking stories will make you laugh out loud – or you might wince with pain as Spurling describes another ferocious Storey or Young challenge. The section on the 1977 pre season tour of Australia really gets the reader into the mindset of the rebel footballers from that era. The author is at his best as he minutely dissects the decline and fall of George Graham in the early 1990s.What makes startling is just how many of Graham’s former charges queue up to put the boot into their former manager.
“Rebels For The Cause” is a good deal more lively, honest and funny than any official history of the club. Buy it now !

Under the skin of a fascinating football club
Arsenal Football Club is a special club, as anyone who has played for them, managed them or supported them knows. This fantastic book examines the darker side of Arsenal's history. Spurling, in a lively and entertaining fashion, shows us how Arsenal's reputation as a persona non grata club ("no-one likes us, we don't care") developed. Aside from civic pride we learn the real reason why Tottenham don't like us. We read about Henry Norris who manipulated Arsenal's way into the First Division after the First World War. There are fascinating tales about Willie Young, Peter Storey and George Eastham. The most pertinent chapter is about George Graham. We learn about the paradox of the control freak who lost control as his team was involved in unsavoury incidents, on and off the field, whilst Graham himself was clearly incapable of demonstrating the high standards he demanded from his players, witness the controversial end to his reign as Arsenal manager. The chapters on the Wenger years demonstrate that Arsenal's "us and them" mentality has not faded away, despite the lack of homegrown players in the team. Spurling shows us that in almost 120 years of Arsenal FC, everything and nothing has changed. The media hate us, other fans hate us and Wenger is very adept at using media barbs, much like Mee and Graham, to inspire the team to greater glories. "Victory through harmony" is Arsenal's slogan but I think after reading this book it should be "Victory through adversity". If you're an Arsenal fan, you must own this book.