Proven Innocent Not Good Enough For The FA
In the mid-1920s a legendary Arsenal player was suspended by the Football Association in a bizarre episode that went on to play a part in four Arsenal directors, including chairman Henry Norris, being banned from the game for life.
In October 1924 the Athletic News reported that Jock Rutherford’s name was being used on a betting coupon issued by Turf Betting Limited (TBL). This contravened the Football Association’s rule 42 regarding active players being involved in gambling.
Two weeks later it was reported that Rutherford had issued a writ against TBL for using his name without his permission. Under normal circumstances the FA would have suspended Rutherford from playing pending an investigation, however as he had started legal action they accepted that it was likely he hadn’t actually been involved with TBL.
At the end of May 1925 Jock decided that, at the age of 40, his playing days were over and announced his retirement from the game and had decided to become a licenced victualler (i.e. running an off‑licence) in addition to owning his newsagent shop in Gillespie Road.
Less than two months later Arsenal signed Charlie Buchan from Sunderland and Jock started to have second thoughts about his retirement. He fancied another season, forming a right-wing partnership with the 33 year-old Wearside legend, so he asked Arsenal’s new manager, Herbert Chapman, if he would re-sign him. Despite his advancing years, Chapman was aware of Rutherford’s age-defying vigour and was more than happy to oblige.
Then the problems started.
The FA refused to grant Rutherford’s playing registration due to the ongoing dispute with TBL. On 9 August Arsenal chairman Sir Henry Norris stepped in and made a statement saying that the FA’s actions were unfair:
Norris’s words fell on deaf ears and Rutherford’s registration remained unsanctioned by the FA.
The following month Jock sold his newsagent in Gillespie Road that he’d owned since he joined Arsenal in 1913, and moved to Seaford on the south coast. This might have been seen as him deciding to quit the game but he confirmed that: “I hope to be playing for The Arsenal again very shortly.” This, despite him reaching the grand old age of 41 on 12 October.
Rutherford’s day in court finally came on 29 October. It was an open and shut case as TPL’s representative confirmed in a letter dated 2 October 1924 that they agreed that Rutherford’s name shouldn’t have been used on the coupons. Why the FA hadn’t accepted this, heaven knows. He was awarded £50 damages and costs (which would play a major part in a much bigger story 18 months later).
So, that was it, all sorted. Except, it wasn’t. Despite his vindication, as demanded by the FA, by 9 November they still refused to process his playing registration stating that their investigation was still ongoing.
On 14 November, Rutherford’s name appeared in the line-ups for the Arsenal game against Bury. It wasn’t Jock, though. It was his son John (junior) who made his solitary appearance for the first team.
On 12 December 1925, an entry appeared in Arsenal’s cashbook showing a payment of £147 8s 2d to Rodgers, Gilbert & Co, the solicitors that represented Rutherford in the court case against TPL. It appears that the costs awarded to Rutherford were not sufficient to pay his legal fees. Rutherford didn’t have the money to pay the outstanding fees so the Arsenal directors agreed to pay them. Following an investigation by the FA in 1927, it was deemed that this payment was contrary to the rules of the FA and was one of the charges that the club was found guilty of, resulting in life bans being given to four directors.
Back to 1925 and the FA’s investigation into Jock continued to rumble on. A decision was due on 12 December but that date came and went. Finally, on 11 January 1926, the FA came to a decision. The committee in charge of the investigation recommended that his playing registration be sanctioned forthwith but even then it was not straightforward. An amendment to the report proposed that he should be banned from playing and/or managing in England sine die, which went to a vote and was, thankfully, rejected.
Five days later, Arsenal fans were treated to the Rutherford-Buchan right-wing combination in the 3-2 home win against Manchester United in which Buchan scored. Jock assisted one of Jimmy Brain’s goals and also hit the post.
Having been run through the mill for more than a year, it’s a pity that Jock only played three more games for Arsenal’s first team. In his final game against Manchester City on 20 March 1926 he was 41 years and 159 days old making him the oldest player to play in an Arsenal first team game, a record that still stands today and is unlikely to be beaten. Even then he wasn’t finished as he joined Clapton Orient in August 1926, retiring at the end of the 1926-27 season and coming out of retirement again in 1928 to play for Tunbridge Wells Rangers. When he eventually retired for good he ran an off-licence at 19 Calabria Road which is now a café named La Maison Highbury.
Copies of our books Royal Arsenal – Champions of the South and Arsenal: The Complete Record 1886-2018 are still available from the publishers.
First class article. Thank you so much. So the FA was a bunch of twats even then.