Continuing our series of looking to create the Greatest Ever Arsenal team we move onto Goalkeepers this week. There will be information about various keepers during the week and a vote on Saturday to determine Arsenal Arsenal’s number 1.
1. James Ashcroft: 1900–1908
James was our keeper for 8 seasons and played in 303 games.
Born in Liverpool he played his youth football with Wilbyn’s United FC, Anfield Recreation Club and Garston Copper Works, all in Liverpool. He began with Everton FC Amateurs in 1897 and joined Gravesend United FC in the 1899 close season.
In June, 1900 he was signed for the Gunners by Harry Bradshaw, our manager from 1899 to 1904. He was the first Gunner to keep goal for Arsenal in the top flight, the first to play international football for England, winning 3 caps, the first to play in over 300 games and the first to play in 8 consecutive seasons while starting in over 30 games each season.
He made his first-team debut in the third game of the 1900/1 season at Burton Swifts after which he didn’t miss a game for more than four years, playing in 154 consecutive games, before sitting out the trip to Blackburn in October 1904. From his first game on he only let in 26 goals in the next 34 games, including 17 clean sheets and six consecutive games without conceding a goal. In 1903/4 he let in 22 goals in 34 games including 20 clean sheets.
The 1904/05 season was the Club’s first in Division One after they had won promotion the previous May and Jimmy remained the regular No 1 as Arsenal secured a top -10 finish in the top flight.
He secured another Arsenal goalkeeping first in 1906 after starting the Club’s maiden FA Cup Semi-Final against Newcastle. Arsenal lost that game and suffered the same fate a year later when Sheffield Wednesday beat them at the same stage of the competition with Ashcroft again between the posts.
He passed away in 1943 aged 64.
2. Dan Lewis 1924-1931
Dan was our keeper for 7 years and played in 167 games
Dan was born in Maery, Glamorgan, and after playing for clubs in his area moved to Clapton Orient before joining Arsenal in 1924 he made his debut in a 3-2 victory over Everton in November that year.
Dan worked in the coal mines before taking up football and was a popular choice for Herbert Chapman; but was forced to fight for his place throughout. When Chapman arrived in 1925 he competed for the No. 1 shirt with Jock Robson and Bill Harper; eventually becoming the first choice keeper after they departed in 1926 and 1931 respectively.
The most infamous moment of Lewis’ Arsenal career was the 1927 FA Cup Final against Cardiff City at Wembley it was the Gunners’ first Cup final, which we lost 1-0 due to an error by Lewis. In the 74th minute, Cardiff striker Hughie Ferguson hit a tame shot straight at Lewis, who dived down to make what should have been a comfortable save. However, Lewis fumbled the ball as he gathered it, and it slipped between his body and the crook of his elbow; Lewis turned around and tried in vain to reclaim the ball but only succeeded in knocking it with his elbow into the back of the net.
Flickering Pathe newsreel footage shows Lewis, a hapless Chaplinesque figure in baggy shorts, go down on his knees to gather Ferguson’s shot, only for the ball to slip between his body and the crook of his elbow. As his calamity unfolds, in slow motion, the greasy leather ball appears to wriggle through his grasp like a slippery salmon.
On receiving his losers’ medal from King George V, a disgusted Lewis reportedly cried “This is not for me,” before flinging it as far as he could into the Wembley crowd. “According to legend, the entire Arsenal team went back out on to the pitch afterwards and got down on their hands and knees to look for it.” Years later Lewis’s Arsenal team-mate, Bob John, reflected: “Poor Dan. I don’t think he was ever the same again.”
Another version of the story is that Lewis’s son Dave, an Arsenal fan, has kept the solid gold artefact at his Hertfordshire home since his father’s death in 1965. “He said, it has a little dent in it possibly caused by my dad chucking it across the dressing room,” One wonders where the truth actually lies?
Lewis blamed his brand new jersey for the error, saying the wool was too greasy for him to grip the ball properly; since then, according to club legend, no Arsenal goalkeeper has played in a new jersey before it is washed first.
He remained the number one for another three seasons playing in 95 games. He missed out on playing in our 1930 FA Cup Final victory over Huddersfield (our first trophy) after getting injured in a game against Leicester City. He was transferred to Gillingham in 1927.
3. Frank Moss 1931-1937
Frank was our keeper for 6 years and played in 161 games.
He signed for Arsenal from Oldham Athletic in November 1931.
Moss immediately took the first-team keeper’s jersey from Charlie Preedy and was a near regular for the Gunners for the next four seasons; he won a hat-trick of First Division titles 1932-33, 1933-34 and 1934-35 he also played in the 1932 FA Cup Final which Arsenal lost to Newcastle United after a controversial equaliser from Jack Allen where the ball went behind the goal-line and out of play before being crossed back in for Allen to score.
Moss also played five times for England, making his debut on 14 April 1934 against Scotland at Wembley keeping a clean sheet as England won 3-0. His final match for England was the “Battle of Highbury” match against World Champions Italy on November 14th 1935 at Highbury, in which seven Arsenal players started the match; England won 3-2.
Moss is the only Arsenal goalkeeper to score in a first-class match. On 16 March 1935, in a First Division match against Everton, Moss dislocated his left shoulder; with no substitutes allowed in those days, Moss was forced to play the rest of the game on the left wing and incredibly, he scored Arsenal’s first goal in a 2-0 win.
4. George Swindin: 1936– 1954
George played in 297 games over an 18 year career, which included WW11.
Swindin was born in Campsall, Doncastor, and Yorkshire. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City where he played 26 times before being signed by Arsenal in 1936 for £4,000. He played seventeen games in 1937-38 the most of Arsenal’s three keepers, and won a First Division medal.
WW11 interrupted his career somewhat, but Swindin continued to play through the war for Arsenal, whilst acting as a PT instructor for the Army.
By the time first-class football had resumed after the war, he became Arsenal’s undisputed No. 1, and stayed there for the next six seasons. He was a commanding keeper who was especially known for his aerial ability and assured handling of crosses, as well as his strong physical resilience. He won his second League title in 1947-48 he also played in two FA Cup finals; winning against Liverpool in 1950 but losing to Newcastle in 1952.
By 1952-53 he was beginning to show his age, and another talented keeper, the Welshman Jack Kelsey took his first-team place. Nevertheless, George in played 14 matches that season as Arsenal won the title again, giving him his third Championship winner’s medal.
Despite his excellent form for Arsenal, he was never capped by England.
Written by GunnerN5 and compiled by Gooner in Exile
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Fascinating synopsis of some of our past goalkeepers, GN5.
Thank you, again. 🙂
Difficult to know what to make of them in terms of comparisons, especially as I had not heard of most of them.
But they were all Arsenal Keepers so are AOK with me!
Brilliant work GN5 and an education for me. The more I read of these early players, the more respect I have for them. Just how did they manage to go so many games without getting injured – its a mystery.
I know that because most teenagers wear trainers these days, the army has had to break them into square bashing slowly because so many were getting hairline fractures etc. This is because their bone density and resilience was poor due to the cushioning effect of modern footwear.
As for heading those heavy old balls, I’m very surprised there were not more players coming down with dementia type conditions.
Any way, back to the post, great pics and great honest players for whom money was not the be all and end all.
Great work indeed…
Im with RA tho as it is very hard to compare people you have never seen…
From what i can tell Moss was the most successful, Dan Lewis had a great head of hair on him.. but George Swindon was in goals and kept a clean sheet when the germans brought their blitz offence to London in the Inter Toto(lotarian) Cup 1940
Gn5. That is a fantastic read. I especially enjoyed the Dan Lewis shirt story.
If it is true about washing the shirt prior to playing it is a wonderful testament to The Arsenal, and a reminder to the current GK of his place in history
Never having seen any of these chaps play I am reduced to a preference for the name.
Ashcroft: Well…. Richard Ashcroft of Verve fame. His “The drugs don’t work” about the slow death of his father haunts me – so it’s a No for James.
Lewis: The name of an ex-best friend and accountant who systematically cheated me out of thousands of pounds – so a definite No to young Dan.
Swindon: Aaah The West Country s***hole. and Don Rogers 1969. Definite No.
Moss. Makes me think of the Rolling Stones and also Naomi Moss who was a brilliant kisser. Both fond memories.
So, after exhaustive research and statistic-based emotional comparison Frank gets my vote out of these 4 fine men. 😀
Excellent work Gunner N5 and GiE, again.
For those who don’t know… you can enlarge each pic by clicking on it. Click TWICE on the Swindin pic to assess the badge of the opposition… name the team!
Big Raddy SwindOn 🙂
Morning all, thank you for your positive comments. It’s either a very quiet day or I’ve bored folks silly with the oldies.
George Swindin was the very first Arsenal goalkeeper that I was fortunate enough to see play,(in 1947), that season he played in all 42 league games, letting in only 32 goals and Arsenal went on the win the Division One Championship – he really was good.
Even after all of the research I did I’m still finding pieces that I wish I had included in players profiles – like this piece………
After the war Swindin returned to Arsenal and played in a FA Cup tie in January 1946 when West Ham United scored six against him. Swindin was expected to be dropped – but Tom Whittaker, the manager, who had been in the RAF with Swindin commented:
“When a pilot crashes, you don’t keep him on the ground for a time; you send him up again at once, so that he regains his confidence. That’s what we are doing with George Swindin.”
Wow GN5, these are epic posts, thank you very much.
Unlike Raddy, I never saw any of these in the flesh, but its great to read so much detail about our history.
Do Northerners make better goalies? I think the answer must be a “yes”.
Evonne will like Moss, as he’s a Northerner AND he has a side parting. Therefore he is nailed on for one vote already 🙂
Love this line under Swindin: “WW11 interrupted his career somewhat”. That’s the thing about World Wars, they don’t half play havoc with one’s diaries.
GN5
Whittaker sounds seriously old school. Pilot crashes his Spitfire and breaks both legs, but is immediately scrambled to regain his confidence, despite not being able to drive the bloody thing properly as he couldn’t reach the sodding peddles.
MD,
Kelsey will really like our next group of goalkeepers – they start off with his hero, none other than “The cat with magnetic claws” – Jack Kelsey.
MD89,
They simply used “sticky tape” and sent them back up, and they were probably docked pay for losing a valuable aircraft……….
GN5 🙂
Wasn’t Peter Bonetti “The Cat”?
What an interesting read.
I’m genuinely surprised at the records of some of the early guys (Ashcroft letting in only 26 in 34 games, for example). I always imagined that in the early part of the 20th Century the games all finished with scores of 9-6, 8-3 and the like.
I suspect it’s going to be hard for any of these old timers to grab the jersey in our all-time team, but both Moss and Swindin were part of very successful teams.
Have to say, I do like a Keeper in a cap. Wasn’t Bob Wilson our greatest ever sporter of said headgear?
Changing tack for a moment, I saw Eddie Izzard last night and he did a very funny sketch about the guys who used to rush on with the bucket and sponge.
Pulled muscle? Spongey water.
Snapped tendon? Spongey water.
Broken led? Spongey water.
Rocky,
Ashcroft actually holds the club record for the lowest goals against per game – in the 1903/4 he played in all 34 games and only let in 22 goals which was a meagre .65 per game.
It’s a real shame that players who were that good will probably end up with only a few votes.
GN5
I’ll vote for him if you like, as my only realistic alternative is Seaman, and given that I could never vote for a man with a pony tail and tash, I’ll be struggling when the day of reckoning comes.
Gn5
When you do the “vote day” will you be giving us stats like the ones you just mentioned for Ashcroft? (ie percentage goals conceded per game across their Arsenal career)?
I’m not necessarily expecting it (seems like a massive amount of work 😦 ) but just curious…
Rocky,
Go and do your own shagging stats — as if GN5 hasn’t done enough!! 🙂
Rocky,
I really wanted to include some stats in their profiles but I was unable to find enough definitive data that was authentic, especially with the earlier players.
Rasp and GIE are looking after the vote day posts, so personally I am not in a position to add to or change them.
But Rasp, on the subject of voting day I would prefer if bloggers were able to cast votes for two players and not just one – is that possible?
AHA,
it looks like I have the protection of a personal “blogging guard”
Hi GN5, that Corky is nothing but a loquacious task master! 😀
I know RA , yesterday in his anagram post, I commented…
“O very slick” – which is really “RockyLIves”
Gn5. Few comments does not mean little interest. No.3 in Top of the Blogs.
Oi Redders!
I’m reliably informed that Gn5b wastes at least five hours a night sleeping. Hours that could be more usefully employed trawling through ancient Arsenal archives.
And there you are, letting him off easy.
I don’t know… youth of today! Tsk.
Gn5
I appreciated O Very Slick. Much better that Redders’ effort: Sicky Lover 😦
Hi GN5,
I’ve just experimented with the polls and find that multiple voting is possible but only for 3,4,5,6 etc … strangely 2 is not an option?
Vote for two keepers!!!
Crikey, that means I have to not vote for Seaman twice.
Tough being a hairist 😦
Rasp,
As long as it does not allow multiple votes for the same player 3 might be a better option than 1 – my concern is that the votes will be heavily weighted towards the later more well known players and the greats from the past will be overlooked.
What do you/others think?
Thanks for that BR, I have no idea how to access that type of information myself.
Rocky
“GN5b”. The Man has a double. Explains everything 🙂
Funny you should say that Rocky as for most of my life I went to bed at 1:00am and rose at 5:00am.
It started when I was 11/12 years old, for us to survive my Dad had to work two jobs and did not get home until 11:00pm at night from
his second job. I always waited up for him and we played a few games of darts before going to bed – I was up at 4:00am for my milk round which was followed by a newspaper round.
My business life was also very hectic and I continued my habit of 4 fours sleep. Now the I’m retired, and no longer a young retard, I sleep a little more.
Rocket,
Damn! MickyDidit-allegedly got there before me.
A twin GN5, aka (a) and (b). Of course this changes everything, Rocky, so both barrels for the lazy statisticians!!
Back to work in the statistics mine for you GN5a and GN5b. 🙂
Disclaimer:
“Sicky Lover” is the brainchild of Ian Ure Face, aka ‘The Cornish Comedian’, who is really rather good at anagrams.
My own effort, which should be preserved for posterity, was a dignified ‘Corky Veils’.
GN5,
Your desire to even out the voting does you credit.
I do not know if WordPress would allow it, but, if so, someone who strongly favoured say Jack Kelsey could, perhaps, vote for him three times.
This would make the resultant disparity between him and (say) Seaman, who, because of Rocker’s dislike of hirsutism, is likely to score null point, as everyone is likely to capitulate to his inverse proclivities in these matters, or at least be adversely influenced by his charming and amoral sophistry.
No wait! Hirsutism relates to women with unusually hairy appurtenances, so maybe Seaman should really be described as a hairy caterpillar — what have you got against hairy caterpillars then Rock Hard? Hmm?
I’m worn out — so, color me gone!! 🙂
Sorry GN5, but I don’t know any of these guys. So on appearances along Dan Lewis has my vote, what a handsome devil 🙂
And this is our award for being the good guys:
“As well as finishing the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season on a high with the 1-0 victory away to Newcastle United that guaranteed them fourth place and a chance to qualify for the UEFA Champions League Arsenal also claimed a significant award. Arsene Wenger’s team finished on top of the Fair Play League for the Barclays Premier League for the season, edging out Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool” . We are The Arsenal!!
Top of the Fair Play League. That has got to be a trophy!
Absolutely Raddy
In Poland we say: ‘in absence of fish, crab is a fish’ 🙂
Evonne
In China they have a weird beard called Grasshopper who says equally weird shit, but they still gave him A’s at school.
It’s a strange old world, eh
evonne 😀
‘in absence of fish, crab is a fish’
I like this, very clever and obviously very practical.
Who’s got crabs?
In Scotland last week, we said “In the absence of lobster, fire up the bangers”
Same thing really 🙂
What tremendous work in collecting this information. Of these keepers I’ve only ever heard of Swindin, while Moss who was part of the first great Arsenal side was probably overshadowed in legend by the outfield players. This is going to be a really hard one to vote on.
I’m with GN5 about having voting for more than one candidate. Isn’t that what was originally proposed? In any case, I think it’ll allow me to feel less guilty about leaving someone out 🙂 Wish there was a way to give a weightage to the votes but now I’m being greedy.
Love the effort and love the journey these articles take us on.
P.S. There’s an error in the part about Lewis. Right at the end it says he transferred in 1927. This threw me for a bit because I thought I’d read the whole thing wrong 🙂
LB
Hate to say this, but I thought about you on holiday.
Went over something called “Bealach nam Bò” or “The Pass of the Cattle”. Monster climb and very lean sinewy looking cyclists there were there.
Then, on return journey, stopped for the night with friends in The Yorkshire Dales in a village where The Tour de France will pass through next year.
Here we go
Cracking stuff, GN5.
James Ashcroft
Dan Lewis
Frank Moss
George Swindin
Random pic
3rd time I’ve attempted to post a reply from Costa Del Porthleven, like the med down here this week and the shellfish and swimmy fish are plentiful. Not quite worked out eating times as surprisingly for a tourist resort most good eateries have a lunch and dinner service, guess that’s why the clever Cornwally’s invented cream teas.
Enough if my summer holidays and onto today’s keepers.
The Lewis keeper legend is definitely true I remember Bob Wilson discussing it and think he nearly played the 71 cup final with an unwashed jersey.
Lewis started a long line of Arsenal keeper final mishaps, not sure it makes him great and for me a little to cavalier looking in that picture.
Moss I wouldn’t like to meet down a dark alley, and I’d guess most CFs would be fearful of putting one past him in case he came to see them after the game 😀
For those worrying about era splits I have made sure there will be a split, afterall Seaman, Lehmann and Almunia would not be our greatest 3 keepers 😀
Here’s our greatest keeper in a cap. 🙂
Apologies, GN5, my comment thanking you for the post is in moderation because of too many links, so thanks again.
yeah Micky, it is weird all right! In china they like their pig in sweet and sour sauce, whereas here some like to take them for walks 🙂
Talking about delusional – that Maurinho is off his head! What the feck is he talking about – he and Chelsea are made for each other, like a marriage!! Must be a marriage of convenience for everybody knows Abramovich wanted Guardiola’s babies!!
GN5 – this is amazing:
“On 16 March 1935, in a First Division match against Everton, Moss dislocated his left shoulder; with no substitutes allowed in those days, Moss was forced to play the rest of the game on the left wing and incredibly, he scored Arsenal’s first goal in a 2-0 win”
friendly troll,
There were certainly no wimps allowed to play back then. It makes me chuckle to even think of them lying on the pitch writhing in fake pain – the pitches were so disgusting that, on many, they had to remove the cow dung before kick off.
Interesting Gn5
At White Hart Lane the manure doesn’t leave the pitch until after the final whistle… 🙂
good old days, GN5, when men were proper men, not wimps with manicured nails, plucked eyebrows and more jewellery then Elton John
That’s Yorkshire?
Blimey, if you had told me that was the Pyrenees I would have believed you. Just goes to show how little I know about that place in fact come to think about it, the only time I have ever been to Yorkshire was to see Arsenal at Hillsborough.
Thanks for that Micky.
It’s also nice to know that I am in your thoughts when you’re away. lol
AKB – REALLY?? Wenger has actually said ‘we will be looking to add one or two super quality players for next season’ ??? That’s superb
Huddersfield supporters were just saying that their dream is just one season in Premiership, because they would love to go to the Emirates, Old Trafford, Anfield. In that order. No mention of Etihad or Bridge, or WHL. Me is proud again
Chas
Brilliant footage.
Check out the ref’s bow tie in the first clip!!!!
Morning All
Superb chas
Quick Raddy, while no-one’s looking, any gossip?
🙂
Raddy,
I haven’t seen a paper or any TV in a few weeks, so help me out.
Last gossip I read about on here was Evonne mentioning Wayne Rooney. Has AW really mentioned an interest?
Just been on to Sky Transfer Gossip bit.
“A move to Tottenham cannot be ruled out” says Damiao’s agent. Also, there is interest from Napoli.
That’s that then 🙂
Plus, if I interpret some news like that, it follows that Napoli must be selling Cavani, which obviously means he heading to Arsenal.
Nice.
Trainspotter moment: The voice of the commentator in the first clip is surely John Arlott (of BBC Test Match Special fame).
Arlott was post WW2, so how was he doing a voice over in 1927?
Micky. Sagna wants to stay at AFC and is in negotiations but has not ruled out a move back to France (so nothing there!)
We missed out after chasing Neymar.
We missed out after chasing some winger who signed for MC
We are after, Julio Cesar, Jovetic, Villa, some bloke from Celtic, a French wonder kid, a bloke from Belgium and a man who looks like Elvis.
Raddy
Maybe he’s like that GN5 bloke, and has “a” and “b” versions of himself. Genetic engineering was considerably more advanced back then than some would imagine.
Excellent update Raddy.
Out of those I’d only be interested in that DM chap from Celtic that sounds like a Sushi Bar, and the one that looks like Elvis.
Jovetic is weak and feeble, Villa is past it and Belgiums are not right.
True about all 3, especially Belgians – can’t trust the blighters, you know.
I have been thinking how to incorporate Ox into our team and it is no easy process – the only way is for Arsenal to convert to the Total Football ethic of the Cruyff Dutch team.
There is a post in there but I can’t be bothered!
In two years time Ox will play wherever he likes.
Raddy
I’m not going to fall out with you over that Total Football nonsense, but if those gifted Dutch sides had spent less time hurtling about the pitch smoking dope and wife swapping, they might have actually won something.
Specialists is where it’s at.
No Micky. You need some blue sky thinking. TPIG’s height will surely make him a decent target man and Theo’s pace could make him a perfect sweeper CB.
Though I agree that Gerv would be a poor GK.
And what is wrong with dope smoking and wife swapping? 😉
That’s it Daddy, I’m not talking to people who use corporate babble terms like “blue sky thinking”.
You two are hilarious.
It’s like the Pete and Dud show on all things Arsenal.
Given your recent spate of meetings I thought such language would appeal!
Back to your GN5 twin theory.
You are correct in saying the Genetic engineering was far more advanced in the past. For example, women were made from some chaps rib.
That ‘rib’ experiment weng tragically wrong. You find me a woman that still looks like a rib and doesn’t (rightfully so) think herself superior to any man, ha
Ah LB, someone I can still talk to.
That “Cattle Pass” was in Scotland, not The Dales. It was right opposite Skye on the mainland, and apparently a big favourite of your sort 🙂
School run. Later.
Morning Guys, 🙂
Mucky Micky, how dare you say I am a lazy git and do not bring you transfer gumph?
Here’s something for you to masticate on.
–“Arsenal appear set on snapping up Europe’s best young talent, as ever – with Yaya Sanogo and Dan Crowley both set to be added to their ranks.
Now a third name is poised to join, with Sky Italia reporting that Arsenal are in pole position to sign Aleksandr Mitrovic from Partizan Belgrade, and is also reported in his home country of Serbia.
Mitrovic is a sensational talent, a striker who at 18-years-old is already a regular for his club.”
How do you like them bananas? 🙂
Trouble is bloody Maureenio will now step in and say he wants him — just to spite Arsene!!
Micky – I missed you terribly when you were bonding, don’t do it again!!
As for gossip – a reliable source (someone that claims to play golf with Moyes) told us that Jurgen Klinsmann was going to manage Everton! Bastard, we placed bets right left and centre at 20:1. He is 1000:1, slim chance don’t you think
maurinho is a wanker
Higuain, Cesc and Shrek to join Arsenal, certainty
Randy,
I am concerned about all this interchangeability.
Three weeks ago I had what was allegedly ‘a nice piece of rib’ at a junket in a golf club, and they had clearly sourced it from a piece of shoe leather!
I would have preferred a woman, if you are right – not sure about the Friendly Troll tho’, sounds like an emancipated Troll, and far too hard to handle, which brings me back nicely to my rib/shoe leather comment, (Evonne)! 😀
RA 🙂 thank you for the ‘too hard to handle’, I like that 🙂
Micky – the worst bit of ‘gossip’ was the news about Oz’s death.
Sorry BR, but having confirmed that he is alive and kicking, one has to laugh at your comment 🙂
Still not sure why Norfolk was surpised you wished a ‘dead’ person good luck?? Didn’t he hear about Hell ?
FT. Oz did indeed die – though it wasn’t “our” Oz he remains a member of our Gooner family
RA. I know what you mean about ribs. 😀
Apologies all, the door bell rang ……………. just gonna sort the new post, back in a minute
Come on kelsey, you’re on ……………
New Post …………………………
Diet Pills
Goalkeepers – Day 1 | Arsenal Arsenal