Arsenal Football Club began life when a group of workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team in late 1886. The Club played under the name of Dial Square. Their first match was a 6-0 victory over Eastern Wanderers, on December 11, 1886. Soon after, the name Royal Arsenal was adopted and the Club continued playing in friendlies and local cup competitions for the next few years.
Interestingly, it now seems that the club did change its name immediately after that first match, and became Royal Arsenal in time for the second game. There's quite an ongoing debate happening on the Arsenal History site (www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk) about early historical facts like this.
There's also a particular debate about what happened in 1910 when Fulham took over Arsenal, with the aim of creating Fulham Arsenal - but the league turned this down.
The whole story of that development is told in the book "Making the Arsenal"
Interestingly, it now seems that the club did change its name immediately after that first match, and became Royal Arsenal in time for the second game. There's quite an ongoing debate happening on the Arsenal History site (www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk) about early historical facts like this.
ReplyDeleteThere's also a particular debate about what happened in 1910 when Fulham took over Arsenal, with the aim of creating Fulham Arsenal - but the league turned this down.
The whole story of that development is told in the book "Making the Arsenal"