On this day in 1911, John Charles Peart signed for Woolwich Arsenal as a professional.

Peart, who was was also associated with Croydon Common and Margate, played over 60 times before and after the war.

Not to be confused with Stoke and Notts County forward, John George Peart, from the same era, our John Peart was a left-back. Born in 1887, he broke into the Woolwich Arsenal first team in 1910/11 after rising through the reserves.

After signing his professional contract with Arsenal on 11 January 1911, he played his first senior match exactly two months later against Everton, which we won 1-0.

Peart left the club following the season Arsenal got relegated (1912/13) after losing his place, choosing to join Croydon Common FC of the Southern League.

John Charles Peart
Source

However, he returned to Arsenal after the war after Croydon Common folded – the only club from the Southern League to do so.

During Peart’s final game for Arsenal on 2 May 1921, he played at right-back for the first and last time against Liverpool at home. It was his only game of the season and we drew 0-0. Prio to that he had been a left-back.

He then left for Margate.