Arthur Chandler
Encyclopedia
Arthur Clarence Hillier Chandler was a professional footballer in the 1920s and 1930s. He is most famous at Leicester City
, where he is the club's all time record goal scorer, with 273 goals, though he also played for Queens Park Rangers
and Notts County
.
As well as being Leicester's record goalscorer, Chandler also holds the club records for being Leicester's oldest goalscorer (39 years and 34 days), scoring the most goals in a single top flight season (34, a record which he achieved twice), scoring the most top flight goals for the club (203), scoring the most hat-tricks or greater (17), the most consecutive matches scored in (8 matches between 6 December 1924-10 January 1925) and thee joint record for the most goals in a single game (6 goals vs Portsmouth
on 20 October 1928). Remarkably, despite his goalscoring feats, Chandler never scored a penalty. He took 2 penalties in his career, both of which were saved.
He was part of the Leicester side which finished in the club's highest ever league finishes of First Division
runners-up in 1928-29
and in third place in 1927-28
.
in the summer 1923 to bolster his attack after Leicester had narrowly missed out on promotion by goal average. He made 118 consecutive appearances (a then club record) from his club debut in a 1–1 draw vs Hull City
on the opening day of the 1923–24 season (also debuting that day was fellow future Leicester great Hugh Adcock
). He registered his first two goals two days later in a 5–0 victory over Stoke City
." Chandler went on to net 27 goals in his debut season for Leicester, despite the club finishing in a disappointing 12th position. Though it was his second season in which Chandler really started to express himself. Forming a lethal goalscoring partnership with Johnny Duncan
, the pair scored an incredible 62 league goals between them as Leicester won the Second Division
title and Chandler claimed the Second Division Golden Boot, beating team-mate Duncan by 2 goals to the award.
Under the stewardship of Hodge and later Willie Orr Leicester established themselves as a strong First Division
force, with Chandler heading a lethal forward line which also included Ernie Hine
and Arthur Lochhead
(the three of them would go on to score nearly 550 goals for the club between them and all three still sit among Leicester's top 5 goalscorers of all-time). In 1927–28
and 1928–29
as the club finished in its highest ever league finishes of 3rd and 2nd respectively, now in his mid 30s Chandler reached the top of his game, hitting 34 league goals in both seasons, still a club record for the most goals in a single season in the top flight. It was also at this time in which Chandler played his most famous game: On 20 October 1928 Chandler scored six goals against Portsmouth
in Leicester's biggest league win, a 10–0 Division One
victory at Filbert Street
. The event has become known as "the six swans" among Leicester fans, because five swans flew over Filbert Street
that day just after Chandler had scored his fifth of these goals. A sixth swan then flew over several minutes later and Chandler promptly responded scoring his sixth goal of the afternoon.
Chandler remained at the club until June 1935, although not a first team regular in his final few seasons due to his age, he become the club's oldest goalscorer when he netted his final goal for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 29 December 1934 aged 39 years and 34 days. He had a brief spell at Notts County
before retiring.
Chandler stayed on at Leicester after his career ended in 1936 in a variety of backroom roles. He died at his home in June 1984.
Individual honours
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, where he is the club's all time record goal scorer, with 273 goals, though he also played for Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
As well as being Leicester's record goalscorer, Chandler also holds the club records for being Leicester's oldest goalscorer (39 years and 34 days), scoring the most goals in a single top flight season (34, a record which he achieved twice), scoring the most top flight goals for the club (203), scoring the most hat-tricks or greater (17), the most consecutive matches scored in (8 matches between 6 December 1924-10 January 1925) and thee joint record for the most goals in a single game (6 goals vs Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 20 October 1928). Remarkably, despite his goalscoring feats, Chandler never scored a penalty. He took 2 penalties in his career, both of which were saved.
He was part of the Leicester side which finished in the club's highest ever league finishes of First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runners-up in 1928-29
1928-29 in English football
The 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
and in third place in 1927-28
1927-28 in English football
The 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:...
.
Leicester City
Chandler was already 27 years old when he was signed by Peter HodgePeter Hodge
Peter Hodge was a Scottish football manager who managed Raith Rovers, Stoke City, Manchester City and most notably Leicester City...
in the summer 1923 to bolster his attack after Leicester had narrowly missed out on promotion by goal average. He made 118 consecutive appearances (a then club record) from his club debut in a 1–1 draw vs Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on the opening day of the 1923–24 season (also debuting that day was fellow future Leicester great Hugh Adcock
Hugh Adcock
Hugh "Hughie" Adcock was an English footballer.-Career:-Club:Adcock played for Ravenstone United, Coalville Town, Loughborough Corinthians Bristol Rovers, Folkestone and Ibstock Penistone Rovers and most famously Leicester City.He made his debut for Leicester on the same day as club record...
). He registered his first two goals two days later in a 5–0 victory over Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
." Chandler went on to net 27 goals in his debut season for Leicester, despite the club finishing in a disappointing 12th position. Though it was his second season in which Chandler really started to express himself. Forming a lethal goalscoring partnership with Johnny Duncan
Johnny Duncan
Johnny Duncan was an American skiffle star. He was born in the Windrock coal mining camp overlooking the town of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, and became a British skiffle star in 1957 with the hit record "Last Train to San Fernando",-Brief biography:Johnny Duncan entered the United States Army and...
, the pair scored an incredible 62 league goals between them as Leicester won the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title and Chandler claimed the Second Division Golden Boot, beating team-mate Duncan by 2 goals to the award.
Under the stewardship of Hodge and later Willie Orr Leicester established themselves as a strong First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
force, with Chandler heading a lethal forward line which also included Ernie Hine
Ernie Hine
Ernest "Ernie" William Hine was a professional footballer, who played for Barnsley, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town and Manchester United....
and Arthur Lochhead
Arthur Lochhead
Arthur Lochhead was a Scottish football player. He played as a forward.Lochhead started his career with Heart of Midlothian before transferring to Manchester United in a swap deal in 1921, with Hearts exchanging him for £530 and Tom Miller...
(the three of them would go on to score nearly 550 goals for the club between them and all three still sit among Leicester's top 5 goalscorers of all-time). In 1927–28
1927-28 in English football
The 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:...
and 1928–29
1928-29 in English football
The 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
as the club finished in its highest ever league finishes of 3rd and 2nd respectively, now in his mid 30s Chandler reached the top of his game, hitting 34 league goals in both seasons, still a club record for the most goals in a single season in the top flight. It was also at this time in which Chandler played his most famous game: On 20 October 1928 Chandler scored six goals against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in Leicester's biggest league win, a 10–0 Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
victory at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
. The event has become known as "the six swans" among Leicester fans, because five swans flew over Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
that day just after Chandler had scored his fifth of these goals. A sixth swan then flew over several minutes later and Chandler promptly responded scoring his sixth goal of the afternoon.
Chandler remained at the club until June 1935, although not a first team regular in his final few seasons due to his age, he become the club's oldest goalscorer when he netted his final goal for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 29 December 1934 aged 39 years and 34 days. He had a brief spell at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
before retiring.
Chandler stayed on at Leicester after his career ended in 1936 in a variety of backroom roles. He died at his home in June 1984.
Leicester City statistics
Arthur Chandler's record in his 13 years at Leicester.| Season | Club | Division | League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 1923–24 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
42 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 24 |
| 1924–25 1924-25 in English football The 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
42 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 48 | 38 | ||
| 1925–26 1925-26 in English football The 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:... |
First Division Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
38 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 26 | |
| 1926–27 1926-27 in English football The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:... |
34 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 29 | ||
| 1927–28 1927-28 in English football The 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:... |
41 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 34 | ||
| 1928–29 1928-29 in English football The 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
40 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 34 | ||
| 1929–30 1929-30 in English football The 1929–30 season was the 55th season of competitive football in England.-Events:The Wednesday officially changed their name to Sheffield Wednesday prior to the start of this season.... |
38 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 32 | ||
| 1930–31 1930-31 in English football The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated.... |
37 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 18 | ||
| 1931–32 1931-32 in English football The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
33 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 36 | 14 | ||
| 1932–33 1932-33 in English football The 1932–33 season was the 58th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | ||
| 1933–34 1933-34 in English football The 1933–34 season was the 59th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 11 | ||
| 1934–35 1934-35 in English football The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... |
23 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 9 | ||
| Total | 393 | 259 | 26 | 14 | 419 | 273 | ||
Honours
Club honours- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
runner-up 1928–291928-29 in English footballThe 1928–29 season was the 54th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour... - Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions 1924–251924-25 in English footballThe 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
Individual honours
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
top goalscorer 1924–251924-25 in English footballThe 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...