Eddie Hapgood

Football, Football player

1908 – 1973

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Who was Eddie Hapgood?

Edris Albert "Eddie" Hapgood was an English footballer, who captained both Arsenal and England during the 1930s.

Hapgood was born in Bristol and started his footballing career in the mid-1920s as an amateur playing in local football, before getting his big break at Kettering Town in the Southern League. He was signed by Herbert Chapman's Arsenal for £950 in 1927. Initially a thin and fragile player, Arsenal's trainer Tom Whittaker forced him to take up weight training, and abandon his vegetarianism, and Hapgood eventually became known for his physique and power. He supplemented his footballer's maximum wage by fashion modelling and advertising chocolate.

Hapgood made his Arsenal debut on 19 November 1927 against Birmingham City but was initially used as backup for left back Horace Cope; he didn't become Arsenal's regular left back until early 1929, but after that he made the position his own, right up until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He played 35 or more matches in every season in that period, earning a reputation as an elegant and unruffled defender. Hapgood went on to succeed Alex James as Arsenal captain, leading the side to the league title in 1937-38, whilst personally winning five League Championships and two FA Cups.

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Born
Sep 24, 1908
Bristol
Nationality
  • England
Lived in
  • Bristol
Died
Apr 20, 1973
Leamington Spa

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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