The Great 1919 Stitch-Up: How Barnsley Were Robbed and Arsenal Got Lucky

The year was 1919. The The Great War was over, football was back, and Barnsley were about to take their rightful place in the First Division. Or so we thought. What actually happened was one of the greatest injustices in football history, a stitch-up of scandalous proportions, orchestrated by none other than Sir Henry Norris—football’s original pantomime villain. This bloke could sell snow to the Eskimos and still charge them extra for delivery. And his masterpiece of skulduggery? Getting Arsenal into the top flight at the expense of Barnsley.

A Quick Recap of the Dodgy Dealings

Before World War I, the Second Division finished with Derby and Preston securing the top two spots and automatic promotion. Barnsley, finishing third, had every reason to believe they’d be next in line for the First Division expansion. After all, it made sense: you either keep the two relegated teams (Chelsea and Tottenham) up, or you promote based on league position. Logical, fair, straightforward.

But that’s where Sir Henry Norris came in, wheeling and dealing like a dodgy second-hand car salesman with an overcoat full of fake Rolexes. He knew Arsenal, who had finished FIFTH (yes, fifth!) in the Second Division, had no business even being in the conversation. So, what did he do? He played puppet master, schmoozed, lobbied, and possibly even greased a few palms to get Arsenal elected into the First Division.

The Liverpool-Manchester United Fixing Scandal – The Convenient Diversion

Just when you think the story couldn't get any murkier, there’s the little issue of match-fixing. In the final pre-war season, Manchester United had beaten Liverpool 2-0 in a result that was, shall we say, suspicious. Fixed, more like. This dodgy game meant Chelsea were unfairly relegated.

Norris, always the opportunist, jumped on this like a dog on a dropped steak. He championed Chelsea’s case to stay up, and while everyone was nodding along in agreement, he quietly whispered in a few ears that Arsenal should be the next team to join the top flight. Suddenly, Liverpool and Manchester United weren’t about to make a fuss—if they did, their own dirty laundry would be aired for all to see. Check-mate, Norris.

The Big Vote: Democracy, My Arse

When the vote came around, Norris had already done the damage. His Arsenal buddies had worked the room, cutting deals, making promises, and probably throwing in the odd backhander. The result? Chelsea stayed up (fair enough), Derby and Preston got promoted (no arguments there), and Arsenal—somehow—were voted into the First Division.

Tottenham, who finished 20th in the First Division, were kicked down a league, and Barnsley, who actually had a rightful claim, were left with nothing but a sense of bewilderment and injustice. Imagine turning up for a raffle when you bought the most tickets, only for some bloke with a single stub to walk off with the grand prize. That’s what happened.

What If Barnsley Had Rightfully Gone Up?

Had Barnsley been promoted in 1919, everything could have been different. First off, Oakwell would have seen a boom. Bigger crowds, better players, and a chance to establish themselves as a powerhouse of northern football. With that top-flight credibility, the club could have become a serious force, drawing in talent from across Yorkshire and beyond. Leeds United? Sheffield Wednesday? They’d be playing catch-up to Barnsley, the region’s dominant club.

The 1920s and 30s: The Rise of Barnsley

With a strong foundation, Barnsley might have built on their FA Cup triumph of 1912, adding further silverware in the roaring twenties. Their reputation as a hard-nosed, tough-tackling team would have made them formidable. Imagine the Tykes, rather than Arsenal, becoming the club that the footballing world looked to. A Barnsley dynasty of top-half finishes, FA Cup runs, and perhaps even a league title or two wouldn’t have been beyond the realms of possibility.

Post-War Football: Barnsley in Europe?

With Arsenal out of the picture, the football landscape in the post-war years would have looked very different. Barnsley, already established in the First Division, could have become one of the clubs leading English football into the new era. Picture European nights at a 50,000-seater Oakwell, floodlights illuminating the town as European giants arrived in South Yorkshire, only to leave with nothing but bruises and regrets.

The Barnsley-Weaved England Team

If the Tykes had been a dominant force, their players would have featured far more prominently in England squads. Imagine a World Cup-winning team with a Barnsley core. The talent from the club would have shaped English football on the international stage, proving that Yorkshire, not London, was the true home of footballing excellence.

Arsenal: A Forgotten Name in Football

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s fortunes would have gone in the opposite direction. Without their dodgy promotion, they may have languished in the Second Division for decades. Perhaps they would have drifted into obscurity, forever overshadowed by their north London rivals Tottenham. Instead of a global powerhouse, they might have been a lower-league club remembered only in trivia quizzes and the dusty pages of football history books.

The Real Villain of Football

Sir Henry Norris eventually got what was coming to him. Later in life, he was caught up in another scandal involving dodgy financial dealings at Arsenal and was booted out of the club. He disappeared from football in disgrace, but his backroom deception left a permanent stain on the game. Arsenal, of course, never looked back. But Barnsley? We were robbed. And we’ll never forget it.

Final Thought: Let’s Keep the Fire Burning

This isn’t just history—it’s part of who we are. Barnsley fans don’t forget an injustice, and this was the biggest of the lot. So next time someone tells you Arsenal are a “big club,” just remind them: they got there thanks to a bloke who’d probably have sold his own grandma if it meant an extra quid in his pocket. Meanwhile, Barnsley—true, honest, and never favoured by the establishment—are still fighting, still standing, and still proving that you don’t need backroom deals to build a legacy.

And if you ever get the chance to vote on something that matters in football? Do the right thing. Because Sir Henry Norris wouldn’t.