HERBERT CHAPMAN

THE NAPOLEAN OF NORTH LONDON

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The Sunday Express, published on January 7th 1934, reported the sudden death of Herbert Chapman, manager of the Arsenal Football Club, from pneumonia at his modest home, 6, Haslemere Avenue, Hendon, aged 59. I have covered Chapman's career and death in the past (see links above).

Chapman was "taken away" too early, a young man, with seasons in front of him, undoubtedly with more potential success.

His club, Arsenal, was meant to play Sheffield Wednesday in a league fixture at Highbury. He had caught a chill midweek watching a player at Bury FC and by the Friday, the chill had turned to pneumonia from which he could not recover. His death was reported in the lunchtime papers and news spread among fans making their way to ground. 50,000 stood before the kick off, bareheaded, in tribute to the great man, as trumpeteers sounded the Last Post.

The Sunday Express covered Chapman's death, his obituary and Chapman's final football article in the sports' pages. Always a pioneer, he urged the London Underground to change the local Tube Station from Gillespie Road to Highbury, the installation of floodlights, numbering of players shirts, rubber studs in boots, the building of better grandstands and better facilities for spectators. He was years ahead of his time, a man who spent sensible money in the transfer market, buying David Jack and Alex James for £20,000, both major additions to the Gunners' armoury.