In this history pod, Tim talks about Arsenal player from 1960-66 and England World Cup winner George Eastham. Eastham’s transfer to Arsenal from Newcastle in 1960 was one of the most controversial in English football history as he went on strike for over a year to secure it. His contract at Newcastle had expired but this was during the ‘retain and transfer’ era when clubs owned player registrations indefinitely. Eastham went on strike and sold cork for a year to secure the move. Then he took Newcastle to court to end the ‘retain and transfer’ system which changed football transfers forever, giving players leverage and agency over their own futures. Eastham was also one of the first players to request a pay rise when the maximum wage was abolished in 1961. After his career, he moved to South Africa and defied apartheid to coach young Black childre ...