Looking at Arsenal now, with sell out crowds week after week, and a bulging trophy cabinet, it is hard to imagine that once there were just eleven players with no pitch and no kit. Back in 1886 a group of workers at The Woolwich Armaments Factory in South East London had a brief meeting and so the history of Arsenal Football Club began.
Their first ever match was a 6-0 victory, and was played under the name of Dial Square, a name which was held for a short time until such time as Royal Arsenal was decreed a better and more suitable name. The team continued for some years much as our current day Sunday League teams play, with friendlies and regional competitions in the South London area, and largely made no real impact on the footballing world, however the course of history was already truly under way, and the progression of Arsenal had begun.
It was around this time that the red kit was introduced, apparently a borrowed kit from Bournemouth, the red which, of course, we continue to wear to this day, albeit a different shade. The origin of the cannon comes from the sign above the entrance to the original factory, and although the shape and design has altered slightly over the years, it is as close as it can be to the original.