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Product Description
Product Description
In 1910 the financially impoverished Woolwich Arsenal FC were taken over by Henry Norris, who at the time was also Chairman of second division Fulham. This much, and Norris attempt to merge the two clubs, is well known and well documented. Indeed Arsenal fans have every reason to feel grateful to Henry Norris for it was he who took the Gunners to Highbury, who fought for justice for Arsenal in the match-fixing scandals of the pre-war years, and who established the modern Arsenal under Herbert Chapman. But what has never been clear is why Henry Norris bought Woolwich Arsenal in the first place. There was no financial advantage, no footballing advantage (the club were bottom of the First Division when Norris took over) and indeed, no other benefit to Norris that is obvious to the modern eye. Making the Arsenal is the first ever book which aims to explore what happened to this world-famous football club one hundred years ago, as it tells the tale of one journalist s attempt to find out exactly what Henry Norris was up to - and why. Set firmly amidst the contemporary events of the 1910 miners strikes, the spy paranoia, Dr Crippen, the anarchist threat and the violence surrounding the Suffragette movement, the book tells the story of Jacko Jones of the Daily Chronicle who uses his position to untangle and finally expose the extraordinary events that surrounded the birth of the modern Arsenal FC.
About the Author
Tony Attwood, author of Making the Arsenal, is an Arsenal season ticket holder, the Committee Member of Arsenal Independent Supporters Association responsible for AISA s Arsenal History project, and a contributor to both the Highbury High fanzine and the Arsenal Player Database on Arsenal.com. Tony also edits two daily blogs. UNTOLD ARSENAL fervently supports the Wenger revolution and draws on a team of top writers to provide daily news and analysis of all things Arsenal. WOOLWICH ARSENAL tells the day to day story of the club 100 years ago.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A fantastic book.The main character is one you really warm to and the banter between him and his boss is simply hysterical.The author very cleverly entwines fiction around real events of 1910 such as the parliament act of 1911,the suffragette movement, Welsh miners strikes and the worries over imminment war with Germany.Rarely has an historical novel given me such a feel for the era it is set in.You really get a feel for London in 1910.
There is also no need for you to be a football fan to enjoy the book,the story of Arsenals last days in Woolwich before moving to become North Londons biggest club is merely a backdrop-you could be a football-hater and still enjoy this book.
There is also no need for you to be a football fan to enjoy the book,the story of Arsenals last days in Woolwich before moving to become North Londons biggest club is merely a backdrop-you could be a football-hater and still enjoy this book.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
And no, I am not an Arsenal supporter and not even a committed football fan. So why did I read this book and why did I find it impossible to put down?
I bought it as a Xmas present for a friend who is a life-long Arsenal supporter and a compulsive reader. I thought I would have a sneak preview and before I knew it I was totally engrossed in the story and just had to read to the end. I wanted to know who dunnit.
I can't say that I understood all the footballing references or the significance of what was going on to today's premier league - but that did not matter, and for me it was a jolly good story. I loved the four main characters as they muddled and laughed their way through the story - a most unlikely bunch of amateur sleuths. I loved the historical setting of London in 1910 and the way the author weaves the issues of the day into the story - the suffragettes, murder trials, contemporary novels, miners riots, class issues......
For me it had everything - sound historical background, romance, likeable heroes/heroines, dastardly villains, gentle humour and a good mystery.
I bought it as a Xmas present for a friend who is a life-long Arsenal supporter and a compulsive reader. I thought I would have a sneak preview and before I knew it I was totally engrossed in the story and just had to read to the end. I wanted to know who dunnit.
I can't say that I understood all the footballing references or the significance of what was going on to today's premier league - but that did not matter, and for me it was a jolly good story. I loved the four main characters as they muddled and laughed their way through the story - a most unlikely bunch of amateur sleuths. I loved the historical setting of London in 1910 and the way the author weaves the issues of the day into the story - the suffragettes, murder trials, contemporary novels, miners riots, class issues......
For me it had everything - sound historical background, romance, likeable heroes/heroines, dastardly villains, gentle humour and a good mystery.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
`Making the Arsenal' proved to be a very good read that I thoroughly enjoyed over the Christmas break. It `chronicles' the events of 1910, a year in which Woolwich Arsenal Football Club were in financial difficulties. The book indirectly charts the fortunes of the football club. It follows the story of a journalist, Jack Jones as he builds his career by writing observational commentaries and satires for his newspaper the Chronicle. Jack is the football correspondent for the paper, with a soft spot for Woolwich Arsenal. Jack has a background of spying from his days in the Boer War and access to friends in `high places'; from a shared escapade with Winston Churchill and from his `well-connected' in `Society' colleague, the young photographer Edward. Hence, Jack is perfectly placed to provide insight and commentary on the issues of the day.
The reader is cleverly transported back to the life and times of Edwardian Britain. The fear of spies from Imperial Germany (an emerging rival to the British Empire); the campaign for votes for Women by the Suffragettes; the strikes by coal miners in Wales are but three themes woven into the plot. It is a plot that allows Jones to explore the political and class tensions that pervaded Britain at the time. Masons, Anarchists, Suffragettes, Unionists and Liberals suffuse the narrative as the book provides a commentary on the social history of Britain some 100-years ago.
The book is written in the style of a mystery/thriller. The central theme of the plot is Jones's desire to discover the motive behind Sir Henry Norris's interest in becoming owner of Woolwich Arsenal Football Club. Many of the people recorded in the book are real historical figures: George Leavey (Tailor and the largest benefactor of Woolwich Arsenal FC), Sir Henry Norris (Owner of Fulham FC, MP and future owner of Arsenal FC), Archibald Leitch (Architect for a multitude of Football Stadiums, including Highbury) are each well known and documented for their role in Arsenal FC's history.
Through Jones's diary we learn about the football fans' experience in 1910. How the pervading off-side rule led to dull low scoring games and falling attendances on the terraces that often fell into disrepair. It is heartening to learn that the wit, humour and `suffering' of the typical football fan has barely changed over a century.
Being an avid Arsenal fan and someone who tends to read a lot of non-fiction titles I bought the book anticipating a rather sober factual account of the origins of Arsenal FC. What I received was far richer than I anticipated. The book is a veritable potpourri of themes and textures that transports one back to a bygone age. As a `football' book, conceptually it is extremely creative and it is very well written, painting a vivid and vibrant account of London in the early 20th Century. Hence, I would compliment Tony Atwood on this book and would highly recommend it.
The reader is cleverly transported back to the life and times of Edwardian Britain. The fear of spies from Imperial Germany (an emerging rival to the British Empire); the campaign for votes for Women by the Suffragettes; the strikes by coal miners in Wales are but three themes woven into the plot. It is a plot that allows Jones to explore the political and class tensions that pervaded Britain at the time. Masons, Anarchists, Suffragettes, Unionists and Liberals suffuse the narrative as the book provides a commentary on the social history of Britain some 100-years ago.
The book is written in the style of a mystery/thriller. The central theme of the plot is Jones's desire to discover the motive behind Sir Henry Norris's interest in becoming owner of Woolwich Arsenal Football Club. Many of the people recorded in the book are real historical figures: George Leavey (Tailor and the largest benefactor of Woolwich Arsenal FC), Sir Henry Norris (Owner of Fulham FC, MP and future owner of Arsenal FC), Archibald Leitch (Architect for a multitude of Football Stadiums, including Highbury) are each well known and documented for their role in Arsenal FC's history.
Through Jones's diary we learn about the football fans' experience in 1910. How the pervading off-side rule led to dull low scoring games and falling attendances on the terraces that often fell into disrepair. It is heartening to learn that the wit, humour and `suffering' of the typical football fan has barely changed over a century.
Being an avid Arsenal fan and someone who tends to read a lot of non-fiction titles I bought the book anticipating a rather sober factual account of the origins of Arsenal FC. What I received was far richer than I anticipated. The book is a veritable potpourri of themes and textures that transports one back to a bygone age. As a `football' book, conceptually it is extremely creative and it is very well written, painting a vivid and vibrant account of London in the early 20th Century. Hence, I would compliment Tony Atwood on this book and would highly recommend it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Football Fiction: Where did it all go?
Say "Football fiction" to the average reader and you will almost certainly get a blank look. I did my own bit for the genre by re-publishing "The Arsenal Stadium Mystery" (which... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2009 by Arsene W
Why bother with history?
What is the point of writing about football history? And even if you answer that question, what is the point about writing football history in a fictional form? Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2009 by Mr. A. L. Attwood
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