Yesterday's blog (which more than usual readers logged into was a celebration of 9 April, the day
that England played Scotland at Wembley, in 1938......the first match to be shown live on television. The BBC had expanded from radio into television in 1936. For the first several months, the only football they showed included a recording of Arsenal's 1936-37 season opener against Everton and a short live exhibition in September 1937 between Arsenal's first team and reserves. Experimenting?
This first full "live match" shown by the BBC was the final game of the 1938 British Championship.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-7fkUVPNOc
You should watch this, even if it's just for amusement......
Home Championship, played at Wembley Stadium. England had already taken the honours; their wins over Ireland and Wales left them with four points, while Scotland had managed only a single point after a draw with Ireland and a loss to Wales. The match was for honour, as always against the Scots, especially at home in London. A packed house turned out for the match and saw Scotland take an early lead from inside forward Tommy Walker, which turned out to be the only goal of the day.
Live broadcasts continued, with the next one being the FA Cup Final between Huddersfield Town and Preston North End the following month.
England's next match was in the Olympia Stadion, Berlin against Germany, with 105,000 watching, including Hitler and his chums. The English players were advsed by the FA Officials to do the German salute.
Cliff Bastin might be known to you; he had a hearing issue and so did not go to fight during the war, but served as an ARP, being stationed on top of Highbury Stadium. He also played matches in the war-time league to boost civilian morale. In 1941, Fascist Italian propoganda was broadcast on Rome Radio, which contained a bizarre claim that Bastin had been captured in the Battle of Crete, and was being detained in Italy. Clearly the Italians were unaware that Bastin was deaf and had been excused service!
He played 21 times, scoring 12 goals for England but suffered from injury, which curtailed his international career.
Born in Exeter, he played for the home club briefly and soon became an Arsenal favourite making 350 apps for the Gunners between 1929-47 and scoring 184 goals, the third highest Arsenal goalscorer. He played in THE FAMOUS Arsenal team under Herbert Chapman, winning the First Division League title in 1931, the treble from 1933, 1934 to 1935 and also in 1938, with FA Cup wins in 1930 and 1936.
Live broadcasts continued, with the next one being the FA Cup Final between Huddersfield Town and Preston North End the following month.
England's next match was in the Olympia Stadion, Berlin against Germany, with 105,000 watching, including Hitler and his chums. The English players were advsed by the FA Officials to do the German salute.
Cliff Bastin might be known to you; he had a hearing issue and so did not go to fight during the war, but served as an ARP, being stationed on top of Highbury Stadium. He also played matches in the war-time league to boost civilian morale. In 1941, Fascist Italian propoganda was broadcast on Rome Radio, which contained a bizarre claim that Bastin had been captured in the Battle of Crete, and was being detained in Italy. Clearly the Italians were unaware that Bastin was deaf and had been excused service!
He played 21 times, scoring 12 goals for England but suffered from injury, which curtailed his international career.
Born in Exeter, he played for the home club briefly and soon became an Arsenal favourite making 350 apps for the Gunners between 1929-47 and scoring 184 goals, the third highest Arsenal goalscorer. He played in THE FAMOUS Arsenal team under Herbert Chapman, winning the First Division League title in 1931, the treble from 1933, 1934 to 1935 and also in 1938, with FA Cup wins in 1930 and 1936.
Due to his youthful looks, Bastin was known as "The Boy". When he retired he went home to Exeter and (yes you guessed it) ran a pub. A stand at St James' Park, Exeter is named after Cliff and he is remembered in the English Football Hall of Fame, Manchester.
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