{"product_id":"woolwich-arsenal-1913-14","title":"Woolwich Arsenal 1913\/14","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoolwich Arsenal — The Foundry Club\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoolwich Arsenal were founded in \u003cb\u003eOctober 1886\u003c\/b\u003e by a group of munitions workers at the Royal Arsenal in \u003cb\u003ePlumstead\u003c\/b\u003e, south-east London. Originally known as \u003cb\u003eDial Square\u003c\/b\u003e, the club quickly adopted the name \u003cb\u003eRoyal Arsenal\u003c\/b\u003e, before becoming \u003cb\u003eWoolwich Arsenal\u003c\/b\u003e in 1893.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the outset, the club was deeply entwined with the industrial identity of the area. The Royal Arsenal was one of the largest armaments complexes in the world, and football provided recreation, pride, and cohesion for a skilled working community whose labour quite literally armed the British Empire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWoolwich Arsenal entered the \u003cb\u003eFootball League in 1893\u003c\/b\u003e, becoming \u003cb\u003ethe first London club\u003c\/b\u003e to do so. Their early League years were played at the \u003cb\u003eManor Ground, Plumstead\u003c\/b\u003e, where large crowds gathered despite difficult travel for visiting northern clubs. Financial pressures, isolation from the League’s northern heartlands, and declining attendances eventually forced drastic action.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003cb\u003e1913\u003c\/b\u003e, Woolwich Arsenal relocated north of the Thames to \u003cb\u003eHighbury\u003c\/b\u003e, shedding “Woolwich” from the name in 1914. Though controversial, the move saved the club and laid the foundations for what would become one of the most influential institutions in English football.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis image deliberately references the \u003cb\u003eWoolwich era\u003c\/b\u003e: the industrial strength, martial discipline, and muscular athleticism that defined the club long before Highbury glamour or Chapman’s modernisation. The figure is not an individual player, but an archetype — the Arsenal man as worker-athlete.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"186\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"whitespace-normal\"\u003eWoolwich Arsenal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e — 1913\/14\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"188\" data-end=\"436\"\u003eThe \u003cstrong data-start=\"192\" data-end=\"210\"\u003e1913\/14 season\u003c\/strong\u003e marked a pivotal moment in the history of Woolwich Arsenal. It was the club’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"289\" data-end=\"327\"\u003efinal campaign south of the Thames\u003c\/strong\u003e, played at the Manor Ground in Plumstead, and a year that brought profound change both on and off the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"438\" data-end=\"919\"\u003eFinancial difficulties, declining attendances, and the logistical challenge of competing in a largely northern league had placed the club under severe strain. Despite a respectable mid-table finish in the Second Division, it was clear that Woolwich Arsenal’s future could not be secured in their original home. In the summer of 1913 the club made the controversial decision to relocate to \u003cstrong data-start=\"827\" data-end=\"839\"\u003eHighbury\u003c\/strong\u003e, north London — a move that would ultimately redefine its identity and destiny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"921\" data-end=\"1258\"\u003eThe team of 1913\/14 embodies the \u003cstrong data-start=\"954\" data-end=\"993\"\u003elast expression of the Woolwich era\u003c\/strong\u003e: resolute, disciplined, and shaped by the industrial roots of the Royal Arsenal. Their deep red shirts and uncompromising style reflected a club forged in armaments factories rather than drawing rooms — a working-class institution built on effort and organisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1521\"\u003eWithin a year, the outbreak of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"1295\" data-end=\"1314\"\u003eFirst World War\u003c\/strong\u003e would bring competitive football to a halt, closing the chapter on Woolwich Arsenal entirely. What followed was rebirth, reinvention, and the emergence of a new Arsenal — but the foundations were laid here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1635\"\u003eThis image captures a club on the threshold of history:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1635\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1581\" data-end=\"1635\"\u003ethe end of Woolwich, and the beginning of Arsenal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct details:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will only pay shipping\/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscounts are given for multiple purchases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSize: A3, A4, A5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle Sided\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePaper: 400gsm premium art stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrint quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFinish: Unframed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWatermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully packaged for safe delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAny issues please contact me at \u003ca href=\"mailto:paul@worldvintagecolours.com\"\u003epaul@worldvintagecolours.com\u003c\/a\u003e by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Vintage Colours","offers":[{"title":"A3","offer_id":47255370432704,"sku":"Woolwich Arsenal 1913\/14 A3","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4","offer_id":47255370465472,"sku":"Woolwich Arsenal 1913\/14 A4","price":7.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A5","offer_id":47255370498240,"sku":"Woolwich Arsenal 1913\/14 A5","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/8242\/7840\/files\/297x420-WoolwichArsenal191314.jpg?v=1768998481","url":"https:\/\/www.worldvintagecolours.com\/products\/woolwich-arsenal-1913-14","provider":"World Vintage Colours","version":"1.0","type":"link"}