Arthur Chandler
Rivalled only by Arthur Rowley for the title of City's greatest-ever marksman - 'Channy' notched the highest aggregate; the other Arthur had the better scoring ratio - this Cockney centre-forward was an inspired purchase by Peter Hodge, especially as he had a mere 18 senior goals to his credit before arriving at Filbert Street, had been regarded by QPR primarily as a support player, and on grounds of age alone might have been regarded as past his peak.
Hard and courageous, but resilient too - Arthur made a then-record 118 consecutive appearances from the date of his City debut - he bulged nets in both top Divisions with strikes delivered from every angle and distance, though oddly enough for such a sure-shot, never contributed a single penalty goal to his career total. (Against Chelsea in Septmber 1924, he had one saved by B. Howard Baker).
He equalled Fred Shinton's long-standing seasonal scoring record for the club in the 1925 promotion drive, and eclipsed it with 34 goals in both 1928 and 1929; also equalled Johnny Duncan's record of six goals in a game (v. Portsmouth in October 1928, while inauguating the legend of the six swans flying overhead); and clearly deserved the international recognition that was inexplicably denied him.
Three times Arthur played in the annual England trial game (once for the North v. South; twice for The Rest v. England) and each time he scored; but a single appearance for the Football League - when they met the Scottish League at Filbert Street in 1927, and when for once 'Channy' failed to register a goal - and a place on the 1929 FA tour of South Africa (which brought him a haul of 33 goals from 16 games, including six in the three 'Test Matches') were his only tangible honours.
There was a shrewd tactical side to Arthur's game as well: it was his eager suggestion that the end-of-season friendly at Port Vale in May 1925 be played under the revised offside rule soon to come into force - he scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 win. A consistently cheery character, Arthur hung up his boots after adding half a dozen goals to his haul as a Magpie, but was then involved in one backroom capacity or another with City until well past retirement age. In this sense, Arthur's true honour was in embodying for successfive generations of City players and fans the very best traditions of both the club and the game: a status recognised by the club when it eventually installed in the Filbert Street boardroom a cabinet displaying items of 'Channy' memorabilia.
The record-hogging rivalry of Chandler and Rowley in the City scoring stakes extends further. Chandler scored the most home goals (173 at Filbert Street, against Rowley's 163), while Rowley claimed 102 from away games to pip Channy's 100. Both men take the club laurels for scoring against individual opponents: Chandler scoring 15 times against each of Aston Villa and Newcastle United, and Rowley totalling 15 against Bury. Chandler scored a hat-trick or better on 17 occasions; a feat managed 16 times for City by Rowley.
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