GRIMSDELL, Arthur (1911-29)
Position: Half back
Height: 5ft 10ins
Weight: 12st 2lbs
Born: Watford, Hertfordshire, 23 March, 1894
Died: Watford, Hertfordshire, 12 March, 1963
Signed from Watford April 1912
Transferred to Clapton Orient August 1929
Also played for: Watford St Stephens, St Albans City, Watford, Clapton Orient, England
Spurs Record:
Debut: 20 April, 1912 v Bolton Wanderers (FL) (h) won 1-0
Appearances: League 324, FA Cup 36
Goals: League 26, FA Cup 1
When we signed Arthur Grimsdell from Watford in April 1912, he was a raw 18-year old former schoolboy star. He grew to be captain of England, the finest half-back in the country and, at the time, possibly the finest the country had produced.
When he arrived at White Hart Lane, Grimsdell was regarded as one for the future but he was plunged straight into our League side and did not look out of his depth. He began the following season as reserve centre-half but was called up to the first team in December 1912, just before Peter McWilliam was appointed manager. McWilliam had been an exceptional half-back himself and soon recognised that while Grimsdell possessed great defensive qualities, his attacking prowess meant he had the potential to be every bit as good as McWilliam had been.
Given the freedom to roam where his instincts took him, Grimsdell developed in leaps and bounds. By November 1913, still well short of his 20th birthday, he was playing in an international trial and on the fringes of the England team but, as we struggled in 1914-15 and McWilliam sought to strengthen the defence, Grimsdell found himself out of the team. One of the first to enlist, he was not available to us throughout the First World War but when he returned, he had developed from a strapping youth to a powerful man, determined to make up for lost time and collected his first international honours in the Victory internationals of April and May 1919.
Having been cruelly denied our rightful place in the First Division, McWilliam set about building a team to take us straight back up and Grimsdell was at the centre of it. As we stormed away with the Second Division title Grimsdell dominated play from midfield, forever looking to attack and showing the power of his long-range shooting with an incredible 14 goals.
Appointed club captain in December 1919 he led us back into the top flight, to FA Cup success in 1921 and, two years later, to our highest finish - second in the Football League - with his reputation growing all the time. Forever involved in the thick of the action Grimsdell was masterful in defence but he believed attack was the best form of defence and it was going forward that he really excelled. His strength in the tackle, determination and aggression were his most obvious qualities but he had terrific skill on the ball and a fine tactical brain. He was an exceptional captain for both club and country, refusing to accept defeat and inspiring his men to keep going to the end. His mere presence seemed to lift his teams to a higher level.
Grimsdell was at the peak of his power in January 1924 when he suffered a knee ligament injury in an FA Cup-tie with Crystal Palace. The injury proved far more serious than first thought and rumours circulated that his career was over but, just as Grimsdell was a fighter on the pitch, so he was off it. It took the best part of a year but eventually he fought his way back and as Grimsdell returned to his best, so did we. Leading the First Division and at last looking a team that really could win the League title, disaster struck at Leicester in October 1925 when Grimsdell broke his leg.
It was a measure of his importance to the team that without our inspiration, we tumbled down the table. It was not until April 1927 that he returned again but the injuries had taken their toll and, although he continued to don the white shirt he had worn with so much distinction for another two years, he was never quite the same player again.
Released in April 1929, he joined Clapton Orient as player/secretary/manager but after only a year moved into coaching schoolboys before leaving the game altogether.