Arthur Chandler is one of the true legends of Leicester City. The picture above is unique and iconic having Bob Lee and Frank Worthington in the same frame. Celebrating Arthur’s 80th birthday back in 1975.
Rivalled only by Arthur Rowley for the title of being Leicester 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. He had a mere 18 senior goals to his credit before arriving at Filbert Street. QPR had regarded him primarily as a support player. Based on age alone, they thought he might have been past his peak. Hard and courageous, but resilient, too. Arthur made a then record 118 consecutive appearances from the date of his Leicester debut.
He scored in both top Divisions with strikes delivered from every angle and distance. Oddly enough for such a sure shot, he never contributed a single penalty goal in his total career. Against Chelsea in September 1924, he had one saved by B.Howard Baker.
He equalied Fred Shinton’s long standing seasonal scoring record for the club in the 1925 promotion drive. Eclipsed it with 34 goals in both 1928 and 1929, also equaled Johnny Duncan’s record of six goals in a game (v. Portsmouth, October 1928, while inaugurating the legend of the six swans flying overhead).
He clearly deserved the international recognition that was inexplicably denied him. Three times Arthur Chandler playted in the annual England trial game (once for the North vs. South, twice for The Rest vs. England) and each time he scored. A single appearance for the Football League, when they met the Scottish League at Filbert Street in 1927. 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. He played under the revised offside rule soon to come into force. He scored a hat trick in a 5-3 win. A consistently cherry character, Arthur hung up his boots after adding, half a dozen goals to his haul as a Magpie.
He was later in one backroom capacity or another with Leicester until well past retirement age. In this sense Arthur’s true honour was in embodhying for succesive generations of 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 itmes of “Channy” memorabilia.
The record hogging rivalry of Chandler and Rowley in the Leicester scoring stakes extends further. Chandler scored the most home goals (173 at Filbert Street, agains Rowley’s 103). Rowley claimed 102 from away games to pip Channy’s 100.
Both men take the club laurels for scroing against individual opponents. Chandler scoring 15 times agains each of Aston Villa and Newcastle. Rowley totalling 15 against Bury. Chandler scored a hat-trick or better on 17 occasions, a feat managed 16 times by Rowley.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Arthur Clarence Hillier Chandler
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 27.11.1895
- Birthplace: London
- Nation: England
- Caps / Goals: – / –
- Major League Career:
- 1920-23, Queens Park Rangers (78/16)
- 1923-1935, Leicester City (393/259)
- 1935, Notts County (10/6)
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