Tom Whittaker's purple & red Football Association 1925 Tour of Australia cap, embroidered F.A., ENGL...
Tom Whittaker's purple & red Football Association 1925 Tour of Australia cap, embroidered F.A., ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, 1925 This was the first-ever F.A. Tour of Australia and took place between 7th May and 3rd August. England won all 25 matches scoring 138 goals and conceding just 13. However, the tour proved disastrous for Arsenal's Tom Whittaker who sustained a career-ending injury when he broke a knee cap. Through his injury Whittaker developed an interest in physiotherapy and fitness training which he implemented as first team trainer at Highbury under Herbert Chapman and played a vital role in the successes achieved at Highbury. Whittaker was also a trainer to the England team and became Arsenal manager in 1947. The club won two Championships and a F.A. Cup under his leadership before his untimely death from a heart attacked in 1956 aged 58.