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.
Reviews:
".....interesting and entertaining........a very welcome addition to anyone interested in Arsenal's history". Arsenal World
".....memorable account of life at Highbury during the club's golden inter-war period." Jem Maidment, Ham & High
"Every Arsenal fan should read Hapgood’s story and so should the players" A Cultured Left Foot
