Full back Edris “Eddie” Hapgood was signed in October 1927 for £750 by Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal after being spotted playing for Southern League Kettering Town, making his debut that December at Birmingham City. By 1929 he had become Arsenal’s regular left back and played over 30 games a season in every season throughout the 1930s. His first Arsenal trophy was the FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town in 1930, and although a loser in 1932 against Newcastle, he won the Cup for a second time in their narrow 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in 1936. But of course he was a lynchpin of their 5 League Championship titles of the 1930s, in 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1938. World War Two came with Hapgood aged 30 and doubtless it prevented him from further honours and restricted his career Arsenal appearances to 443, with 2 goals. In addition to four appearances for The Football League he was a regular in the England team after his first selection against Italy in May 1933, winning 30 caps until the War and missing very few internationals, being captain of his country 21 times. After the War he became manager of Blackburn Rovers in June 1946 but resigned in February 1947. He then coached at Shrewsbury before becoming manager of Watford in February 1948 being sacked in March 1950. He then enjoyed 6 years as manager of Bath City.
