Racing in the stripes, Arsenal in the all-red shirts.
The famed red shirts with white sleeves did not debut until 1933.
November 11, 1930: It is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of "The Great War," sometimes called "The World War" -- though not yet "World War I." To symbolize the alliance between Great Britain and France, a benefit football match (soccer game) is played between the largest teams in each country's capital.
Arsenal F.C., of North London, had just won the FA Cup for the 1st time, and were about to begin a stretch of winning the Football League 5 times in 8 seasons. Racing Club de France, of Paris, so named because they were formed by members of a bicycle-racing club, had won some minor trophies, but had only won the title in France's national league in 1907. Nevertheless, they were the most popular team in Paris.
So the managers of the teams, Herbert Chapman of Arsenal and Jean Bernard Levy of Racing, set up the "friendly" as a benefit for war veterans, on the anniversary, at Racing's home, Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, which had been the main stadium for the 1924 Olympic Games.
In the game, Jack Lambert -- no relation to the later American football linebacker of the same name -- scored 4 goals, as Arsenal won, 7-2. Seeking revenge, Racing invited Arsenal back one year later, and this time, Arsenal again won, but only 3-2.
The matches brought Arsenal international fame, and its first very close link with France. There are stories of the French press giving Arsenal players nicknames such as Le Feu d’Artifice (The Firework) for Cliff Bastin, and La Miracle for Alex James.
The games continued, alternating between the Yves-du-Manoir and the Arsenal Stadium, known as Highbury for its neighborhood, until 1962. In 1935, Racing avoided defeat for the 1st time, drawing with Arsenal, 2-2. It took until 1952 for Racing to emerge victorious, 2-0. In the meantime, Racing won Ligue 1 in 1936, and the Coupe de France in 1936, 1939, 1940, 1945 and 1949.
In the 1960s, French football went through a major financial crisis. At Racing, the creation of a "team of stars" -- what Spanish team Real Madrid would later call "Galactico" -- fell apart in a way that such grand rescue schemes have a habit of doing whenever they turn up in football. Racing tumbled down the divisions of the French league, and by 1970, a new team became the biggest one in the national capital, named Paris Saint-Germain.
Today, having gone through several name changes, the old club is named Racing Club de France Football. They still play at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, and are in the Championnat National 2, France's 4th division.
On November 11, 2011, in commemoration of Armistice Day/Veterans Day here, the U.S. and France national teams played a friendly at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Unfortunately, and with some irony, it was ruined by a German. Jürgen Klinsmann, once one of the great strikers, was then the manager of the U.S. team, but could not pick a lineup. France won, 1-0.
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November 11, 1930 was a Tuesday. Baseball was out of season. Football was in midweek. The NBA hadn't been founded yet.
There were 3 games in the NHL that night. The New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Quakers, 3-0 at the Philadelphia Arena. This was the 1st NHL game played in Philadelphia, and it was a harbinger of things to come, as the Quakers had the worst season in NHL history, and then folded due to the Great Depression. I have a separate entry for this event.
The New York Americans lost to the Boston Bruins, 1-0 at the Boston Garden. And the Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Maroons, 2-0 at the Ottawa Auditorium.
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