1/9
OTD 1939 final major #Arsenal game for Eddie Hapgood, one of the finest full-backs ever to have represented the club.
Born in Bristol in Sep 1908, he joined the Gunners in Oct 1927 from Kettering Town aged 19 for a fee of £1,000 what turned out be a real bargain.
OTD 1939 final major #Arsenal game for Eddie Hapgood, one of the finest full-backs ever to have represented the club.
Born in Bristol in Sep 1908, he joined the Gunners in Oct 1927 from Kettering Town aged 19 for a fee of £1,000 what turned out be a real bargain.
2/9
Lightly built and a vegetarian, #Arsenal trainer Tom Whittaker put Hapgood on a new diet (yes, including meat) and to build up more muscle.
So having featured three times so far, 15 months after joining, he became basically ever present for over a decade in Jan 1929.
Lightly built and a vegetarian, #Arsenal trainer Tom Whittaker put Hapgood on a new diet (yes, including meat) and to build up more muscle.
So having featured three times so far, 15 months after joining, he became basically ever present for over a decade in Jan 1929.
3/9
With Cliff Bastin, Hapgood is the other player who won all The #Arsenal first seven ever trophies during the 1930s; five league championships and twice the FA Cup.
He captained the club the last two seasons before the Second World War after Alex James' retirement in 1937.
With Cliff Bastin, Hapgood is the other player who won all The #Arsenal first seven ever trophies during the 1930s; five league championships and twice the FA Cup.
He captained the club the last two seasons before the Second World War after Alex James' retirement in 1937.
4/9
Hapgood was only 30 when the war began, so we can only guess just how much more impressive his records would be without the conflict.
He played 440 games for The #Arsenal scoring twice and featured 99 times in the wartime. Eddie was also very much a full England int'l.
Hapgood was only 30 when the war began, so we can only guess just how much more impressive his records would be without the conflict.
He played 440 games for The #Arsenal scoring twice and featured 99 times in the wartime. Eddie was also very much a full England int'l.
5/9
30 England caps, captaining his country 21 times, first time in the 'Battle of Highbury' in Nov 1934 against Italy.
Fittingly for today, Hapgood skippered The Three Lions in 13 more games at wartime, lastly v Wales 80yr ago in Feb 1943 with The King George VI present.
30 England caps, captaining his country 21 times, first time in the 'Battle of Highbury' in Nov 1934 against Italy.
Fittingly for today, Hapgood skippered The Three Lions in 13 more games at wartime, lastly v Wales 80yr ago in Feb 1943 with The King George VI present.
6/9
From off the field, Eddie was (I'm not an expert) a very hansom bloke, who I read earned a few extra quids for modelling. That he was nicknamed 'Happy' sounds fair.
After retiring from playing in 1946, he managed Blackburn, (short stint player coaching Shrewsbury Town)..
From off the field, Eddie was (I'm not an expert) a very hansom bloke, who I read earned a few extra quids for modelling. That he was nicknamed 'Happy' sounds fair.
After retiring from playing in 1946, he managed Blackburn, (short stint player coaching Shrewsbury Town)..
7/9
..Watford and Bath City before a career as a warden of a Youth Hostel at Weymouth. Hapgood retired to Royal Leamington Spa in 1970.
It was there where Edris Albert Hapgood passed away almost exactly 50yr ago on Apr 20, 1973. He has two blue plaques to his name.
..Watford and Bath City before a career as a warden of a Youth Hostel at Weymouth. Hapgood retired to Royal Leamington Spa in 1970.
It was there where Edris Albert Hapgood passed away almost exactly 50yr ago on Apr 20, 1973. He has two blue plaques to his name.
8/9
The first is in Bristol, where a street was named after him in 2009 and the second was unveiled in 2021 at Leamington where he died.
There's also just recently published book Eddie Hapgood Footballer From Beyond the Touchline, written by his daughter Dr Lynne Hapgood.
The first is in Bristol, where a street was named after him in 2009 and the second was unveiled in 2021 at Leamington where he died.
There's also just recently published book Eddie Hapgood Footballer From Beyond the Touchline, written by his daughter Dr Lynne Hapgood.
9/9
I'll end with Lynne's words at the book unveiling:
"My father was a great footballer but it was his remarkable leadership, his unfailing integrity and his public fight for justice that meant fans never forgot him."
As ever, do correct, add.. if so. Thanks for reading! 💟
I'll end with Lynne's words at the book unveiling:
"My father was a great footballer but it was his remarkable leadership, his unfailing integrity and his public fight for justice that meant fans never forgot him."
As ever, do correct, add.. if so. Thanks for reading! 💟
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