At the Football League Management Committee meeting in Glasgow, permission was given to Woolwich Arsenal to change the club's name to The Arsenal.
Athletic News - Monday 30 April 1928
ARSENAL’S NAME.
A Reply to Sir Henry Norris.
Sir Henry Norris asks whether I am a shareholder in the Arsenal F.C.
I am not — in the sense of holding scrip and drawing dividends. But in the sense that I pay approximately £2 10s. a season with no dividends or scrip — only the pleasure of watching the team — I am shareholder.
Sir Henry quotes the difficulty he had to raise capital. In the first place Islington is purely a working-class borough, where the only people who had money to spare were the more prosperous tradesmen.
Sir Henry admits, as he must, the big and loyal support the club received from the people who might afford a sixpence where any more was impossible. And the tradespeople, what did Sir Henry offer to induce them to buy shares?
When the directors were asked to change the name and take that of the borough, the most they would was "Arsenal,” which was not even half a load, for the name speaks tor itself.
Had Sir Henry offered shares in say, "Islington Boro' F.C.,” he would have found the tradespeople and such others as could afford rallying round the name, but there was no feeling - borough or personal — in Arsenal, no interest at all for the name so easily connected with Woolwich.
If the present directors feel there is no desire tor the change of name among their supporters, let them in the next home match programme print a coupon asking this question, and stating the proposed name.
I will willingly collect, count, and convey them.
Arthur R. H. Smellie, 38 Lesley Street, Barnsbury N.7.
Daily News (London) - Wednesday 27 November 1929
"LONDON CITY," ARSENAL DREAM OF A NEW TITLE.
"LONDON CITY," ARSENAL DREAM OF A NEW TITLE.
For some time past, representations have been made to the Arsenal Football Club to change their name in view of the fact that the headquarters are now so far removed from Woolwich, where the organisation had its origin. A suggested title has been "London City."
Up to the present, however, Arsenal have not taken any steps to change their name, and Mr. T. Charnley, secretary of the Football League, denied a statement published last evening to the effect that application had been made to that body for the necessary permission.
Mr. F. J. Wall. secretary of the Football Association. also stated that he had received no such representations for sanction, and pointed out that if Arsenal desired to alter their name application would have to be made through their County Association. Certainly, the London Football Association have not been notified of Arsenal's reported intention.
Formed in 1886, as Royal Arsenal, the club became a limited company in 1893, having changed its title to Woolwich Arsenal two years previously.
In 1914, following the removal of the club, lock, stock and barrel to the present home at Highbury, the name was changed to plain Arsenal.
Regarding the suggested change of the name of the club, this has been denied in official circles. The project is not a new one by any means. The change should have been made when Arsenal first came to Highhury.
Sporting Times - Saturday 30 November 1929
NEW NAME FOR THE ARSENAL F.C?
Famous Club may be Known as “London City.”
The suggestion has been made in certain quarters that the Arsenal F.C., renowned for the purchase of expensive stars, has applied to the official body for permission to change its name to London City.”
The club in question, however, has officially denied that any such application has been made. From a statement made by the club's manager, Mr. Herbert Chapman, however, it can be taken for granted that the Arsenal favour the change, and realises its superior claim to the title.
The Sporting Times confidently forecasts that such application will be made in the near future, and that next season the new name will be used.
Sporting Times - Saturday 07 December 1929
IF THE ARSENAL CHANGES ITS NAME
PROBABLE OPPOSITION BY OTHER LONDON CLUBS.
Famous Teams That Have Altered Their Titles.
By THE SCRIBE.
As announced in last week's Pink 'Un, there is every probability of the Arsenal changing its name to London City. It is a curious fact that since the institution of the Football League there has never been a club with London in its title, though in the early days the F.A. Cup there was a side known as London Swifts, who reached the semi final stage in 1886, only to knocked out by Blackburn Rovers. At the present time, of course, we have the famous amateurs, the London Caledonians.
Opposition.
If the Arsenal do apply for permission to change to London City, it is possible that there may be some opposition from certain of the other Metropolitan sides, but except in the case of Queen’s Park Rangers, I think it will be agreed that the remaining London clubs are more or less appropriately named after the districts in which their grounds are situated.
Old Names.
Glancing through old records, it will be seen that few clubs have changed their names during the last forty years. One or two, like Stoke, have made slight additions, such as adding City, while Leicester dropped the attractive sounding Fosse, and substituted the more imposing, but more hackneyed, City. Strangely enough, both the big Manchester clubs changed, the United formerly being known as Newton Heath, and the City as Ardwick. Birmingham were originally called Small Heath, while Gillingham played as New Brompton until the end of the 1911-12 season.
Will Arsenal Change Name?
Now that the Arsenal football team has taken a sporting distinction to London by winning the English Cup the suggestion of a change of name for the club to "London" may be revived (hinds the London correspondent of the "Glasgow Herald").
"The present name is meaningless for a club that has its headquarters at Highbury in North London, he thinks.
Formerly it was called 'Woolwich Arsenal' and played on a ground near the establishment of that name. Many years ago, however, it transferred itself to the Highbury district, dropping at the same time 'Woolwich' from its name.
If Newcastle, Sunderland, Liverpool and Birmingham, to mention a few, can give their names to football clubs, London ought surely to come into line."
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