A fascinating and historic file of Arsenal FC correspondence relating to Herbert Chapman's attempt to sign the centre-half Walter McMillen from Clifto
£2,000 - £3,000
A fascinating and historic file of Arsenal FC correspondence relating to Herbert Chapman's attempt to sign the centre-half Walter McMillen from Cliftonville FC in season 1932-33, an extensive collection of letters (typescript and some handwritten by Chapman) and telegrams, including a draft copy of a player's contract, the negotiations including the arrangement for Arsenal to play a special match against Cliftonville in Belfast (see lot 511 for the match ticket for this game), then the increasing difficulty in obtaining McMillen's signature, problems encountered with Irish League rules, and ultimately McMillen signing for Manchester United to the fury of Arsenal who demanded an Irish Football League enquiry, all-in-all a fascinating first-hand insight into the wheeler-dealing of the 1930s football transfer market