LET THERE BE LIGHT

Tomorrow evening will see the anniversary of the first official match to be played under floodlights at Highbury on September 19th 1951. Herbert Chapman had the idea to play under lights having seen this happen in Belgium, before the War, so he had some built. The Football League typically did not like the idea of floodlit matches, deeming the cost a disadvantage (today a match was cost about £300 for electricity-that's only 50 pies and pints), so the stuffed shirts did not give permission for league games to be lit. No wonder looking at these chaps (or chimps) at Cardiff City!

The match at Highbury was a friendly against Israeli club HapoelTel Aviv, which the Gunners won easily 6-1. 44,000 fans saw Tom Whittaker's team give an illuminated exhibition and everyone had fun. See below the scene at Highbury.

South Liverpool had lights at Holly Park in 1949 and Headington (now Oxford) United in 1950

The Dell had floodlights built permanently in October 1950 and they were first used by the Saints against Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic in a friendly, whilst the use of lights at Swindon Town against Bristol City on 2^nd April 1951 claims to be one of the first sanctioned matches.

The first FA Cup tie under lights was between Kidderminster Harriers and Brierley Hill Alliance on 14^th September 1955.

The first floodlighting in an international in England took place at Wembley on November 30^th 1955 against Spain, which the home team won 4-1, with the lights on for the final 15 minutes. However the first floodlit match at out national stadium was on October 26th 1955 between teams etched from London and Frankfurt.

On the 22^nd February 1956 at Fratton Park, Portsmouth played Newcastle United in the first league game to be held under lights after the FA changed their mind in June 1955.

By this time Wolverhampton Wanderers had the bright idea and made money by inviting a South Africa XI to their ground and even the great European sides such as Honved and Moscow Spartak to play exhibition matches at Molyneaux.

The last club to install lights in the FLeague was Chesterfield, as late as 18^th October 1967.

Lighting can be dated back to 1878 at Bramall Lane and even further back to Darwen FC who had lighting of sorts installed to help them play during the dark months.

Have a look at http://footysphere.com/tagged/floodlights for even more stuff to brighten your day.