Coming a fortnight before his 56th birthday, Herbert Chapman’s death 75 years ago was premature but there was something appropriate about it. He was, as so many men are, killed by the thing he loved.

He had caught a chill watching his Arsenal side at Bury on New Year’s day but decided to see their next opponents, Sheffield Wednesday, the following afternoon. He returned to London with a high temperature but ignored medical advice and went to watch the reserves play. He retired to bed on his return but by then pneumonia had set in and he died on January 6 1934.