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One of football's global giants, with a squad which boasts World Cup winners, it might come as a surprise to hear that the founder of Arsenal football club is actually buried in Coventry.

But the story of a remarkable man, and the life that he led has something of a sad ending.

Because, despite founding the 13 time First Division and Premier League winners, David Danskin came to rest in an unmarked grave in London Road Cemetary.

How did this happen, and how did one of the pioneers of English football end up in Coventry in the first place?

This strange but fascinating tale came to light thanks to the research of Ian Woolley, Chairman of the Friends of London Road Cemetery, and Lionel Bird, Coventry City historian.

And it all started north of the border.

The Gunner from Fife

David Danskin's life started a long way away from North London, in Scotland.

He was born in Burntisland, Fife, on January 9, 1863, and after leaving school, he became an apprentice engine fitter, before qualifying as a mechanical engineer.

Even in his youth, David was a keen footballer, playing for local side Kirkcaldy Wanderers.

This would ignite a passion in the Scotsman, who would go on to leave Scotland in 1885 at the age of 22, having secured employment at the Royal Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, where he worked in the Dial Square workshop.

Just one year after settling into life in Woolwich, he married Georgina Harradon, and together the couple had three children.

Colleagues to teammates

Despite leaving his hometown team behind, David's passion for the beautiful game remained strong.

In October 1886 he asked several work colleagues if they were interested in forming a team.

Together with around 15 work mates, the group came together and all donated a sixpence apiece to fund the club. David himself contributed three shillings, a football was purchased, and the club became known as Dial Square FC.

Their first match took place on December 11 against Eastern Wanderers FC. David was appointed captain, and the team ran out 6-0 winners.

But Dial Square FC wouldn't last long as a name - as the members met up on Christmas Day at the Royal Oak pub and decided to change the name to Royal Arsenal.

Retirement, and a move to the motor city

By 1890, David Danskin's football career was at an end - believed to be as a result of leg injuries that he had suffered, and a heavy work schedule.

This wasn't to be the only change in his life.

Leaving the Royal Arsenal factory, he became self-employed and started his own bicycle business in Plumstead, London.

His shop proved to be a huge success, and in 1907, he sold the business for £550 - which would be worth around £64,000 today.

David would then move to Coventry - having landed a job as an examiner at the Standard Motor Company.

He moved into a two-bedroom semi-detached house in North Street, Upper Stoke - just a stone's throw from the Rose and Woodbine pub.

In what is a quirky coincidence, he happened to be close neighbours with Samuel Bullivant, the former Coventry City FC player and trainer.

Tragedy, new beginnings and health issues

Tragedy would befall David and his family in 1916, as Georgina would die.

But two years later, he would find happiness once more, marrying Rosie Richardson, a work colleague on his inspection team. Together, they had three children.

In 1936, David suffered a serious health scare, as he was admitted to Gulson Road Hospital after aggravating an old football injury falling while running for a tram.

He was later diagnosed with gangrene, and the affected leg would require amputation. Upon hearing this news, David said: "I've got two legs now and if I'm going to die, I'll die with two legs".

While recovering in hospital, Arsenal reached the FA Cup Final on April 25, facing Sheffield United.

From his hospital bed, the matron allowed him to listen to the match coverage on national radio - and Arsenal would go on to win 1-0 at Wembley that day, thanks to a Ted Drake goal.

Effects of the Blitz and late life

Due to his health problems, David was forced to retire from work. He received a company pension of ten shillings a week - a substantial amount in those days.

Unfortunately, like many Coventry residents, David's home was badly bomb damaged during the B litz of November 1940 .

But in that home was David's steel trunk, which contained his football jerseys, medals and family photographs. This, was completely destroyed.

Due to the damage, he was forced to move out immediately, and went to live with his daughter Ellen Dickenson in Kenilworth.

In 1942, he was admitted to Warwick Hospital, where he would remain until his death on August 4, 1948, at the age of 85.

Three days later, he was buried at London Road Cemetery, in Coventry.

Given that he founded Arsenal , nicknamed the Gunners, it seems almost fitting in many ways that he was buried just a few feet away from two brave Gunner soldiers, Horace Bennett and Walter Cooper, who served in the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War.

In the same cemetery lies the founder of another football club.

William "Willie" Stanley, the founder of Singer Football Club - who would later become Coventry City FC is also buried in the same cemetery, but that's not where the similarities end.

They both left their family homes to seek work in another city.

They played for the football clubs which they founded.

They were qualified engineers, and both owned a bicycle business during their lifetime.

And both were buried in unmarked graves.

In 2007, local historian Lionel Bird located Stanley's grave, and helped raise money to provide a headstone to commemorate the man.

Today, he has called for David Danskin to receive the same recognition.

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Away from the city, he has received recognition.

To commemorate his role in Arsenal's history, the Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club dedicated a blue plaque to David, near his birthplace in Burntisland.

The club too, have paid their respects - when two of David's great-grandchildren delivered the match ball ahead of an Arsenal game at the Emirates, as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.

Newspaper interview

David was interviewed by the Midland Daily Telegraph in 1931.

He gave details of how Dial Square was formed and about his football/work activities in Coventry:

* When he retired from playing football he qualified as a referee in London.

* He was involved in local football in Coventry and was chairman of Stoke Albions F.C. Under his guidance the club had won the Midland Daily Telegraph Junior Cup, the Leamington Hospital Cup and the Bedworth Charity Cup.

* He was a keen supporter of Coventry City until he became disillusioned with the way the club was being run. He said:"What they want is a manager given full scope and then we should see an improvement in every direction."

* When he first came to Coventry he spent six years employed at the Ordnance Factory and the Maudsley Motor Works prior to joining the Standard Motor Company.

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