An Arsenal Legend Was Born: On This Day 26th September
Fifty-six years ago in 1958 Kenny Sansom was born in Camberwell, London, and would eventually go on to become one of Arsenal and England finest full-backs of all time.
Despite well-publicised recent hardship Sansom is regarded as one of Arsenal finest defenders in the club’s history and everyone is delighted to see him back in fine shape.
He started his career with Crystal Palace in 1975 and played for the Eagles as they rose from the Third Division to the First Division. The left-back's form did not go unnoticed as he earned a place in the England squad in 1979 and a move to Arsenal a year later as Clive Allen moved in the opposite direction.
During his eight year stay at Highbury Sansom was a mainstay at left-back becoming an almost ever-present and was so in his first two seasons, the first of which he was named Player of the Year.
He was also picked as part of the Team of the Year for an astonishing eight consecutive seasons between 1979/80-1986/87, his last year with Palace and his penultimate year with Arsenal.
In his time with the Gunners Sansom had to remain patient to see his good form rewarded in terms of trophy as the team won the League Cup in 1987, though that was to be his single honour won whilst at Arsenal.
After playing 394 games for Arsenal, scoring six goals Sansom left for Newcastle United in 1988. He remains Arsenal's second most capped player making 77 international appearances whilst at the club, just two short of Patrick Vieira.
Following on from Newcastle, Sansom played for QPR, Coventry, Everton, Brentford and Watford before retiring in 1994. He is also England's second most capped full-back of all-time winning 86 caps.
Also on this day
1903 – Arsenal beat Bristol City away 4-0 as the team finished as runners-up to Preston North End in the Second Division
1914 – Arsenal, again in the Second Division, beat Hull 2-1 at Highbury in the last season before the Football League was suspended due to the First World War
1925 – Leeds United were beaten 4-1 at Highbury in another season in which Arsenal finished runners-up. This time it was in Herbert Chapman's first season and was in the First Division
1932 – Scotsman Frank Robert "Tiger" Hill made his Arsenal debut in a friendly against St. Johnstone
1938 – Ted Drake scored a brace as Arsenal beat Preston North End 2-1 in the Charity Shield
1953 – Cardiff City were beaten 3-0 in what turned out to be a disappointing season as the side finished 12th
1970 – The Gunners fell to a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City, the team's heaviest defeat in the double-winning season
1981 – Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford
1989 - Quirkily, current Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs was also born on the same day as the legend who once occupied his position and shirt number
1991 – Joe Hulme, who won four First Division titles with the club and played over 300 times for Arsenal died aged 87
1998 – Having won the double the previous season Arsene Wenger's men fell to their first defeat of their title defence losing 1-0 at Hillsborough in the game Paolo Di Canio pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground
2003 – As Arsenal went the entire 2003/04 campaign unbeaten Newcastle United were beaten 3-2 at Highbury
2012 – Two years ago, in a League Cup tie against Coventry at the Emirates Arsenal won 6-1
Happy Birthday Kenny and Kieran!
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