Football Ambassador

by Eddie Hapgood

Signed by Herbert Chapman from Kettering Town for £950, Eddie Hapgood, the part-time milkman, joined Arsenal in 1927 and made a total of 440 appearances in both league and cup before retiring in 1944. In addition he captained England for 34 of his 43 international caps.
Football Ambassador was the first football autobiography and was written at the end of a long and successful career for both club and country.
Hapgood tells the story of his career, introduces the great players of his era and recounts his experiences with Arsenal and England with both honesty and a touch of humour.
Eddie Hapgood remains sixteenth on Arsenal’s all-time appearance list, a central figure in the side that dominated English football in the 1930’s, a true gentleman and an Arsenal legend.

Genres: History

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1945

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating biography of football between the wars when sportsmen were gentlemen and playing well was more important than money. Captain of Arsenal and England, Eddie Hapgood joined the RAF during the war and continued playing, wherever he was asked to, to keep up morale. The cast of characters includes Alex James, Cliff Bastin, Stanley Matthews, Stanley Rous, Herbert Chapman, George Allison .... No substitutes allowed, so if you were picked and could walk onto the field, you played until you dropped. And then got up and gave it another go until your team won.

[GARY SIMPER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't usually read autobiography's but I did enjoy this account from Eddie Hapgood.
Short chapters about incidents and memories of his time as a footballer for Arsenal and England. Shows how much the game and society has changed. Would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Arsenal and its history in the 1930s.

[Ben Langleben · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main purpose of this autobiography is to make fans aware of an arsenal and England legend of his era, and contrast the celebrity lifestyle of his war era with that of today's players. The poor writing can be forgiven for someone plying a different type of trade, but an editor's hand in organising this book is sorely missed. There are is discernible sequence or arrangement of chapters, nor often any notable linkage between the anecdotes shared in each.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reprint of an autobiography written in 1945. A good insight into football at the time which is light years away from today