Cliff Bastin

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Lore & Background

Bastin's journey began at Exeter City, where he scored two goals in his second match against Newport County. His talent was so evident that Herbert Chapman signed him despite initially watching Watford's Tommy Barnett. At Arsenal, Bastin became a near ever-present figure over the next decade, playing over 35 matches every season up to 1937–38. His strategy relied heavily on cutting into the penalty box from the left wing, supported by playmaker Alex James. This partnership fueled Arsenal's dominance, securing five First Division titles and two FA Cups. When Ted Drake arrived in March 1934, Bastin adapted his role, moving to inside-forward during the 1935–36 season to replace an injured James, scoring six goals en route to the FA Cup Final win. Later, he even played at right half by request before returning to left wing for the 1937–38 title.

In Their Own Story

The 1929–30 season marked Bastin's immediate impact, making 21 league and 8 cup appearances. By age nineteen, he had already secured a League title, an FA Cup, and an England cap, becoming the youngest to achieve all three. His 1930–31 campaign saw him score 28 goals, while 1932–33 and 1933–34 saw him finish as top scorer with 33 and 15 goals respectively. The famous "Battle of Highbury" stands out in his international career, where England defeated the 1934 World Cup-winning Italian team 3–2; Austrian coach Hugo Meisl had previously remarked that Austria could win the tournament if they possessed Bastin. During the Second World War, Bastin served as an ARP Warden on top of Highbury with Tom Whittaker due to failing a military hearing test from deafness. He played 241 unofficial wartime games, scoring 70 goals, before his right leg injury curtailed his post-war career.

Reader's Guide

Cliff Bastin's tenure at Arsenal spanned from October 1929 to September 1946, with retirement announced in June 1947. He played on the left wing for most of his career, a position where he scored 150 league goals, a record that stood until Henry surpassed it in February 2006. His total of 178 official goals made him Arsenal's all-time top scorer from 1939 until Ian Wright surpassed him in 1997. Bastin won the FA Cup twice (1929–30, 1935–36) and the First Division five times (1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38). He also played in the Charity Shield victory over Sheffield Wednesday in October 1930. His international career included a debut against Wales in November 1931 and his final appearance against France in May 1938, where he scored his tenth goal via penalty.

Did You Know?

• Herbert Chapman signed Bastin in May 1929 after watching him play against Watford, even though Chapman was originally there to scout Tommy Barnett.
• At age nineteen, Bastin became the youngest player ever to win a League title, an FA Cup, and earn an England cap simultaneously.
• Austrian coach Hugo Meisl believed Austria could have won the 1934 World Cup if they had Cliff Bastin on their team.
• Bastin served as an ARP Warden stationed on top of Highbury stadium during the war because he failed the army hearing test due to deafness.
• His last appearance before retirement was an away match against Manchester United on 28 September 1946, and his autobiography was ghost-written by Brian Glanville in 1950.