Football historian LEIGH EDWARDS profiles every Arsenal player from 60 post-war League seasons.
ADRIAN CLARKE
Ex-England Youth midfielder Adrian Clarke made his Premiership
debut in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at QPR in December 1994 when John
Jensen scored his long awaited first goal for the Gunners. Signing
professional at Highbury in July 1993, he helped Arsenal win the FA
Youth Cup in 1994 and made seven Premiership appearances. He was
loaned to Rotherham United prior to joining Southend United in
March 1997 but was unable to prevent them plummeting from the First
Division to Third. Following a loan spell at Carlisle United, he
joined Stevenage Borough in June 2000 and has since played for
Margate and Welling United.
FREDDIE CLARKE
Northern Ireland Under-23 left-back Freddie Clarke understudied
Billy McCullough whilst at Arsenal. He impressed with Glenavon
before following Jack McClelland to Highbury for £5,000 in
November 1960 and made his League debut in Arsenal's 5-4 defeat
at home to Aston Villa in March 1962. Helping the Gunners win the
Football Combination Cup and London Challenge Cup in 1962/63, he
played 26 First Division games prior to rejoining Glenavon in
November 1965. Later reserve team coach at Glenavon and Bangor, he
spent 35 years as an accountant with Graham Construction and now
lives in Hillsborough, Co Down.
GAEL CLICHY
French U-21 left-back Gael Clichy was the youngest-ever recipient
of a Premiership winners' medal in 2003/04. Previously with
Cannes, he moved to Highbury for in August 2003 and made his
Premiership debut in Arsenal's 3-0 victory at Birmingham City
three months later. Suspension and injury to Ashley Cole gave him
further chances to impress and he appeared in the 2003/04 FA Cup
semi-final. He helped win the FA Community Shield in 2004 and
featured in the Gunners' triumphant 2004/05 FA Cup run, then
returned from a foot injury to appear in last season's
Champions League semi-final second-leg.
TOMMY COAKLEY
Scottish winger Tommy Coakley played in Arsenal's first-ever
League Cup match at home to Gillingham in September 1966. Starting
with Possilpark Juniors, he moved via Motherwell to Arsenal in May
1966 and made his League debut in place of Alan Skirton in the 1-0
win at home to Aston Villa three months later. He scored once in
nine First Division games for the Gunners prior to joining Detroit
Cougars in December 1967, then played for Morton and Chelmsford
City. Later managing Maldon, Bishop's Stortford, Walsall and
Blakenall, he was a bookmaker in Willenhall and now co-owner of
Swingers Golf Centre in Lichfield.
ANDY COLE
England Under- 21 striker Andy Cole played for Arsenal in the 1991
FA Charity Shield. Signing professional for the Gunners in October
1989, his only League appearance was as a substitute in the 4-1 win
at home to Sheffield United in December 1990. He moved to Bristol
City for £500,000 in July 1992 after a loan spell and joined
Newcastle United for £1,750,000 in March 1993. Sold to
Manchester United for £7,000,000 in January 1995, he amassed a
vast collection of honours including 15 full caps and joined
Blackburn Rovers for £7,500,000 in December 2001. He has since
played for Fulham, Manchester City and now Portsmouth.
ASHLEY COLE
England international left-back Ashley Cole was capped 51 times
whilst at Arsenal. Signing professional at Highbury in November
1998, he returned from a loan spell at Crystal Palace to make his
Premiership debut in Arsenal's 4-2 defeat at Newcastle in May
2000. He succeeded Nigel Winterburn in defence and starred as the
Gunners won the 'double' in 2001/02, also winning the FA
Cup twice more and the Premiership title again in 2003/04.
Recovering from injury to play in the 2006 Champions League final,
he netted eight goals in 156 Premiership games before joining
Chelsea in a deal involving William Gallas in August 2006.
ERNIE COLLETT
Long-serving wing-half Ernie Collett played for Arsenal either side
of the Second World War. Signing professional at Highbury in April
1933, he made his League debut in place of Wilf Copping in
Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Stoke City in October 1937. He helped the
Gunners win the League Championship that season and London
Combination on six occasions. Making 187 wartime appearances, he
assisted Brentford in the 1942 War Cup final and played 20 First
Division games for Arsenal before joining the coaching staff in
June 1949. Later scout until retiring in November 1979, he died in
a traffic accident five months later.
DAVID CORK
Versatile midfielder David Cork appeared for Arsenal in the
top-flight during the 1983/84 campaign. A former apprentice at
Highbury, he turned professional in June 1980 and made his League
debut in Arsenal's 3-1 victory at home to Watford in December
1983. He scored once in seven First Division games and also helped
the Gunners win the Football Combination in 1983/84. Moving to
Huddersfield Town in July 1985, he reunited with Mick Buxton at
Scunthorpe in February 1989, then helped Darlington win promotion
and played for Boston United and Worksop. He is now a machinist
with Norking Aluminium in Doncaster.
DAVID COURT
Versatile midfielder David Court played for Arsenal in the 1969
League Cup final. Signing professional at Highbury in January 1962,
he was given his League debut in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat at Aston
Villa eight months later and played in every outfield position
during his time with the Gunners. He netted 17 goals in 175 First
Division games and helped win the Football Combination shortly
before being sold to Luton Town for £35,000 in July 1970.
Later with Brentford and Barnet, he ran a delicatessen in Brookmans
Park, then was a compliance official for DBS Financial Management
and is now back at Arsenal as a coach.
FREDDIE COX
Outside-right Freddie Cox scored valuable goals in Arsenal's
1950 and 1952 FA Cup semi-final triumphs. He played for Spurs
either side of the Second World War and served as a Flight
Lieutenant in the RAF. Moving to Arsenal for £12,000 in
September 1949, he was an FA Cup winner in 1950 and a finalist in
1952, scoring nine times in 79 First Division games for the Gunners
prior to joining West Brom as player-coach in July 1953. He became
Bournemouth's manager in April 1956, then managed Portsmouth,
Gillingham and Bournemouth again and was a newsagent in Bournemouth
until his death in August 1973.
ALEX CROPLEY
Scotland international midfielder Alex Cropley was plagued by
injuries whilst at Arsenal. The son of former Aldershot favourite
Jack Cropley, he spent six seasons with Hibernian and was a
Scottish League Cup finalist shortly before moving to Highbury for
£150,000 in December 1974. He suffered two broken legs,
netting five goals in 30 First Division games for Arsenal prior to
joining Aston Villa for £125,000 in September 1976. A League
Cup winner in 1977, he subsequently played for Newcastle United,
Toronto Blizzards, Portsmouth and Hibernian again. He has since
been a publican and a taxi driver in Edinburgh.
