along the banks of the River Thames I sit

Once upon a time, a long, long (well not that long ago) a small group of Scots sowed the seed for that which would grow into one of the most famous names in football.

 Curious? stay tuned . . .

A fine fettle of a gentleman named David Danskin, originating from Burntisland in Fife, worked at the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich. This Scot, a football man in an area dominated by rugby and cricket, decided he'd start a team and with the help of three friends, Elijah Watkins, John Humble and Richard Pearce, this he did. 

It was - allegedly - the arrival in Woolwich of two Nottingham Forest players, Fred Beardsley and Morris Bates, that spurred Danskin into action. The "word" got around town as they say and around fifteen men came forward, each prepared to pay sixpence to help with the start up cost for a club. (actually they needed the funds to buy a ball, can't play without a ball you know)

(Still have no clue as to what exactly a "sixpence" is, for that matter a ha'penny, farthing or that other coin from the days of yore, a shilling, but I as usual digress)

Danskin added another three shillings himself and the lads bought a football. The date was October 1886 (I think) The club arranged its first game for December, but they had not decided on a name, nor did they have a 'formal' kit and, well, nowhere to play. 

Consequently, Danskin and company were referred to as Dial Square - after one of the factory's workshops - and crossed the Thames to play Eastern Wanderers on the Isle of Dogs.

Dial Square won 6-0 and afterwards on Christmas Day 1886 met in the Royal Oak pub, located next to the Woolwich Arsenal station. Beardsley solved the teams kit problem by seeking help from his contacts at Nottingham Forest, receiving either a few or a complete set of red shirts, the actual number is debatable:

as pretty much everything is regarding the early days of "The Arsenal Football Club" really.

Whilst they sat in the Royal Oak, the founding fathers decided on a new name for their squad. They combined the name of the pub with their place of work, resulting in (drumroll please) - "Royal Arsenal". This was considered far grander than 'Dial Square' 

The club also agreed to play their home games on Plumstead Common and figured they could change into their football kit at the nearby Star public house.

All of this (and the subsequent remainder of the "story") is pretty boring unless you're an Arsenal supporter and if you are you know already so I'll not put the rest of the world to sleep by going on

(yeah I know, I can hear you all cheering in relief)

The photo is of an homage to that gallant band of footie pioneers, it's located down from Steffi's flat on the Arsenal and one of the few pieces of public art on the grounds that technically has nothing to do with munitions:
 
"After all, It is an "Arsenal"" She reminds me, with a look that would deaden a clown's smile full stop