Leslie Knighton -Arsenal, monkey glands and modern recruitment

Albert Leslie Knighton was born in Church Gresley, Derbyshire on the 19th March, 1887. He was christened in the mining villages church of St George and St Mary on the 19th June, his parents being Clarissa and Albert, the local schoolmaster. After his playing career was curtailed prematurely, Leslie Knighton ventured in to the world of coaching and management. He had spells as assistant at Manchester City and Huddersfield, where he also had the role of caretaker manager. 1919 saw his appointment as the secretary-manager of Arsenal, a position he held until 1925 and the appointment of Herbert Chapman. He had a difficult time at Highbury, with spats with the board, footballs first doping scandal and a less than enjoyable time on the pitch. There were some brighter moments, particularly in player recruitment, with Knighton signing players such as Jimmy Brain and Alf Baker.

Following his dismissal by Arsenal, the south coast beckoned, taking the managerial seat at Bournemouth until 1928. He then moved to Birmingham City, taking them to the F.A. Cup final in 1931, before the bright lights of London came calling again in 1933, this time it was Stamford Bridge and Chelsea. He managed Chelsea until 1939 and his tenure saw his modern scouting and recruitment techniques bring in names such as Joe Bambrick and Billy Mitchell. He also initiated pioneering medical treatments at the club, including the Hollywood rejuvenating monkey gland injections.

Following his resignation and World War II, Knighton managed Shrewsbury Town from 1945 to 1948. He retired to Bournemouth, passing away in May, 1959. His ashes were scattered within the gardens of Bournemouth Crematorium and no memorial currently exists.

Sam Raybould – Liverpool’s early goalscoring machine

Sam Raybould is rightly regarded as an Anfield legend. Born in Staveley, Chesterfield, Raybould played for a variety of local sides, including Derby County, before joining Liverpool in January 1900 for the sum of £250.00. He would go on to record a number of firsts for the Reds, becoming the first Liverpool player to score 30 goals in a season, as well as its first player to net 100 goals, the 100th coming in the match against Nottingham Forest in October, 1905. He was an integral part of both the 1901 and 1906 league title winning sides and still sits 10th in Liverpool’s all-time leading scorers. He netted 130 goals for Liverpool, before leaving the club in 1907. After playing for several clubs, including Woolwich Arsenal, Raybould eventually ended his playing career at his village team Barlborough United, hanging up his boots in 1915.

The small Derbyshire village of Barlborough is where Sam sadly passed away in December, 1953. His cottage no longer stands, having been knocked down to meet the needs of the expanding M1 motorway, but his grave can be found in the village churchyard.

*Special thanks to the Barlborough Heritage Centre.