Woolwich Arsenal team from their first season in the Football League in 1893-94, photographed at the Manor Ground, Plumstead, £650 at Graham Budd.
Shown above is a ‘very scarce photograph’ of the Woolwich Arsenal team from their first season in the Football League in 1893-94, photographed at the Manor Ground, Plumstead, with hand-written identification of players.
It has been suggested that the image was prior to the match against Stoke on April 29, 1893, which was the last game that the club played under the title Royal Arsenal (the name that had followed Dial Square FC, the title when the club was formed in 1886). Arsenal moved north of the river in 1913.
Sold in the Christie’s Scotland Football Memorabilia auction in November 1996, at Budd’s sale it went within estimate at £650.
A Woolwich Arsenal v Manchester United black and white postcard, portraying action from the match played at Plumstead on March 16, 1907, publisher unstated but probably Goldthorpe, Photo Chemist, Plumstead, also sold within estimate at £550.
Season ticket
Woolwich Arsenal FC season ticket from 1893-94, £3200 at Graham Budd.
Best performer, though, was a season ticket from 1893-94.
With green covers and gilt-tooled initials WAFC, the ticket in the name of Mrs C Tarrant was cut at four corners. It took £3200 (estimate £1500-2000).
