Charlie Preedy
Encyclopedia
Charles James Fane Preedy (11 January 1900 – February 1978) was an English
football
goalkeeper
.
One of six children, Preedy was born in Neemuch
, Madhya Pradesh
, India
, where his father was serving with the Royal Artillery
. The family returned to Eltham, London
, in 1907 where he attended Gordon School. He began playing football as a youth, turning professional in 1924 with Third Division South
Charlton Athletic
, where he became the club's regular keeper and made 131 league appearances in four seasons. Preedy moved to Wigan Borough
in 1928 and spent a single season there, playing 41 league matches, before moving to Arsenal
in May 1929. He was not initially the Gunners' first team goalkeeper, instead mainly playing as understudy to Dan Lewis
, Arsenal's regular keeper. Preedy made his Arsenal debut on September 7, 1929, against Sheffield Wednesday
, and kept a clean sheet as Arsenal won 2-0.
Preedy kept his place after that match but was dropped after a 2-5 defeat to Aston Villa
in November. After that, he was often left out of the team in favour of Lewis, but after Lewis was injured in a 6-6 draw against Leicester City
, Preedy was picked to play in the FA Cup
Final against Huddersfield Town
at Wembley Stadium
. Preedy kept a clean sheet and Arsenal won the match 2-0 in front of 100,000 spectators, the first of Arsenal’s many successes over the years. He was presented with his winner’s medal by King George V
.
Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman
was never happy with any of his goalkeepers and in an attempt to fill the role signed both Gerard Keizer
and Bill Harper
in the 1930 close season, and then Frank Moss a year later. Despite intense competition for the goalkeeper's place, Preedy made 25 appearances in the 1930-31
and 1931-32
seasons, but not enough to win a League Championship
medal in the former. After an entire season spent as Moss's understudy, Preedy left Arsenal for Bristol Rovers
in 1933, having played 40 matches for the Gunners. After a season with Rovers he moved to Luton Town
and finished his career with non-league Margate
in 1935. He then followed in the footsteps of his elder brother Jack, and became a London taxi
driver. He died in 1978.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
One of six children, Preedy was born in Neemuch
Neemuch
Neemuch or Nimach is a town in the Malwa region in state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Neemuch shares its north eastern border with state of Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarters of Neemuch District. Nimach is an abbreviation of "North India Mounted Artillery & Cavalry Headquarters"...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where his father was serving with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. The family returned to Eltham, London
Eltham, London
-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
, in 1907 where he attended Gordon School. He began playing football as a youth, turning professional in 1924 with Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, where he became the club's regular keeper and made 131 league appearances in four seasons. Preedy moved to Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
in 1928 and spent a single season there, playing 41 league matches, before moving to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in May 1929. He was not initially the Gunners' first team goalkeeper, instead mainly playing as understudy to Dan Lewis
Dan Lewis (footballer)
Daniel "Dan" Lewis was a Welsh football goalkeeper, who is most notable for his time playing for Arsenal. He kept goal for Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final where a mistake by him saw Cardiff City win the cup.-Playing career:...
, Arsenal's regular keeper. Preedy made his Arsenal debut on September 7, 1929, against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, and kept a clean sheet as Arsenal won 2-0.
Preedy kept his place after that match but was dropped after a 2-5 defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in November. After that, he was often left out of the team in favour of Lewis, but after Lewis was injured in a 6-6 draw against 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...
, Preedy was picked to play in the 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...
Final against Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Preedy kept a clean sheet and Arsenal won the match 2-0 in front of 100,000 spectators, the first of Arsenal’s many successes over the years. He was presented with his winner’s medal by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
was never happy with any of his goalkeepers and in an attempt to fill the role signed both Gerard Keizer
Gerard Keizer
Gerard Pieter Keizer , also known as Gerard Keyser, was a Dutch football goalkeeper. As well as being highly successful in his native country, he was also one of the first players from outside Great Britain or Ireland to play in English football.Keizer joined Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 16, and...
and Bill Harper
Bill Harper
William "Bill" Harper was a Scottish goalkeeper who played for, among others, Hibernian, Arsenal, Fall River Marksmen and Plymouth Argyle. He also represented Scotland in 11 full internationals.-Early years:...
in the 1930 close season, and then Frank Moss a year later. Despite intense competition for the goalkeeper's place, Preedy made 25 appearances in the 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....
and 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...
seasons, but not enough to win a League Championship
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....
medal in the former. After an entire season spent as Moss's understudy, Preedy left Arsenal for Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in 1933, having played 40 matches for the Gunners. After a season with Rovers he moved to Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and finished his career with non-league Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
in 1935. He then followed in the footsteps of his elder brother Jack, and became a London taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver. He died in 1978.
External links
- Gunners Greatest 50 Moments at arsenal.com. Preedy is pictured wearing white.