Cliff Bastin

Cliff Bastin

Fading memories, or simply the youth of voters, means that polls to determine football's 'greatest' can easily be skewed towards the modern game. However, some players transcend those boundaries - and Cliff Bastin is among them.
His heyday was the 1930s but, nearly 80 years on, Bastin is still remembered with affection and still commands respect from fans of all ages.
Of course, Bastin's name registered with fans who started watching Arsenal as recently as 1997 because it was in September of that year when Ian Wright eclipsed the great man's goalscoring record for the Club. Thierry Henry, of course, has since pushed Bastin down to third place in that illustrious chart.
Nonetheless, Bastin's haul of 178 goals in 395 games is a remarkable tally, particularly for a player who operated as an 'outside left' in Herbert Chapman's all-conquering side.
Alex James to Bastin to the back of the net was so often the route to glory for that legendary team thanks to Chapman's innovative tactics. While other sides relied on wingers to provide goals for their centre forward, Arsenal's wingers cut in from the flanks to latch onto a regular supply of through-balls from Scottish international James. No one profited more than Bastin.
His scoring record certainly vindicated Chapman's decision to sign Bastin when he was just a teenager. The Arsenal manager spotted him playing for Exeter City and, although the 17-year-old had played just 17 times for the Devon club, Chapman was so impressed he signed him at the end of the 1928/29 season.
'Boy' Bastin played the rest of his career at Highbury. He made 21 appearances in his first season - ending that campaign with an FA Cup winner's medal - and was soon a regular fixture in the side.

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