Herbert Chapman was born on January 19, 1878 at Kiverton Park in Yorkshire. He was one of seven children.
Chapman became the greatest football manager of his age, winning four Division One League Championships and two FA Cups, with Huddersfield and Arsenal. A third Arsenal title arrived months after his premature death, 13 days short of his 56th birthday.
But Chapman’s management teeth were cut with the Cobblers, who he took to the Southern League title in 1908/09. And as a player, he had already served at the County Ground …
Early clues were thin on the ground. At the age of 12.
Chapman followed family tradition by beginning his working life in the pits – a job he abandoned six years later to join a firm of ticket printers for 10 shillings a week. Then, he began his football career with Stalybridge.
When Chapman arrived at Northampton from Worksop as a professional in 1901, the bustling forward had also played for Grimsby and Swindon. Though only 5ft 7in tall. Chapman stood o~t and after starring in an FA Cup tie against Sheffield United, he moved there for £350.
A recurring knee problem saw him join Notts County for £300 and though he arrived back at Northampton in 1904, he was still on County’s books. So when Tottenham offered £50, the nomadic Chapman was off again. The lure of the player-manager’s job brought Chapman back in April 1907.
He turned the club round with the introduction of players such as McDiarmid, McCartneyand Lewis. But his prize capture was Edwin Lloyd Davies who cost £400 and inspired the Cobblers to the Southern League title the following season.
Ambition took Chapman to Leeds in 1912. He re-built a club struggling in the second division to one challenging for promotion at the outbreak of the Great War. Chapman went to Huddersfield
in 1919, firstly as club secretary, but after eight months he was appointed manager. His first season in charge (1921/22). saw Huddersfield win the FA Cup, beating Preston 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Huddersfield lifted the title three years running from 1923/24 but by the third occasion, Chapman had joined Arsenal , ironically runners-up to Huddersfield in 1925/26. There his success continued.
As a man, Chapman had boundless energy, yet was a strict disciplinarian, though friendly and jovial.
A story handed down bears testament to the man. At Arsenal, Chapman insisted all his staff said ‘goodnight’ to him each evening… hence no-one dared leaving to 10 minutes after their time.
Chapman’s passion for watching football ultimately cost him his life. After travelling north to watch two matches, he took in a game at Guildford the falling day but retuned home with a chill from which he never recovered. He passed away at 3 am on January 6, 1934.