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#7 Arsenal\'s mysterious promotion to the First Division in 1919
Arsenal had controversially joined the first division of English football in 1919, although they had only finished 6th in the second division in the season before World War I.
The first division was being expanded from 20 to 22 teams in 1919 and the two new entrants were selected by annual general meeting of the Football League. According to past precedent, the place would be given to the two teams who would otherwise have been relegated; these teams were Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. Instead, one place was given to Chelsea – who were victims of a betting controversy and a ballot was called for the other.
The candidates for the ballot were 20th placed Tottenham Hotspur and from the second division Barnsley (who had finished 3rd), Wolves (4th), Birmingham (5th), Arsenal (6th), Hull City (7th) and Nottingham Forest (18th).
The league voted for sixth-placed Arsenal because club Chairman Sir Henry Norris argued that Arsenal should be promoted for their “long-service to football league”, having been the first league club from the south. The League board agreed and Arsenal was given entry into the first division after the voting at the expense of Spurs who were relegated.
This was the starting of Arsenal’s long-standing rivalry with Spurs. Also, the argument that was raised – “long service to football league” should have favoured Wolves because they had finished two points ahead of Arsenal and were the founder members of the football league.
It was alleged that there were backroom deals or even bribery by Sir Norris that led to Arsenal getting promotion.
