Arsenal captain Joe Mercer gold No.6 shirt from the F.A. Cup final v Liverpool at Wembley 29th April 1950, Hope Brothers Ltd/Solus Sports, long-sleeve

Arsenal captain Joe Mercer gold No.6 shirt from the F.A. Cup final v Liverpool at Wembley 29th April 1950, Hope Brothers Ltd/Solus Sports, long-sleeved, badge with cloth badge inscribed 1949-50 Soon after joining Arsenal in late 1946, Joe Mercer became club captain. As captain, he led Arsenal through their period of success in the late 1940s and early 1950s, helping to haul his side from the lower end of the table to win a League Championship title in 1947-48 and to win an F.A. Cup in 1950, the year he was also voted FWA Footballer of the Year. Mercer led Arsenal to a Cup final in 1952, which they lost 1-0 to Newcastle United, but the following year the Gunners bounced back to win the 1952-53 Championship. A broken leg in two places after a collision with team-mate Joe Wade in a match against Liverpool on 10th April 1954 ended his playing career. He then embarked on a successful managerial career. Provenance: Christie's 3rd April 2007 lot 8.