Charles Murray Buchan (22 September 1891 – 25 June 1960) was more than just an English footballer—he was a football thinker, a pioneering journalist, and a respected broadcaster. Born in Plumstead, London, Buchan’s football journey began in 1909 when he joined Woolwich Arsenal as an amateur. Early disagreements over expenses led him to Northfleet United and then Leyton, where he further honed his game. In 1911, Sunderland spotted his talent, and it was on Wearside that Buchan would become a household name, setting records and building a legacy as one of the era’s most elegant and effective centre forwards.
Buchan’s years at Sunderland were nothing short of legendary. Between 1911 and 1925, he was the club’s leading scorer in seven out of eight seasons (excluding wartime), and remains Sunderland’s all-time League goalscoring record holder with 209 goals. He helped secure the First Division title in 1913 and featured in that year’s FA Cup Final. Frequently described as the best footballer in the country, he was first capped by England in 1913, ultimately playing six times for his country and scoring four goals. Alongside football, he even played cricket for Durham during the 1920 Minor Counties Championship.
World War I put Buchan’s career on hold. He served first with the Grenadier Guards, then the Sherwood Foresters, earning the Military Medal for bravery and rising to temporary second lieutenant by the war’s end. Returning to Sunderland, Buchan continued to excel until 1925, when Dave Halliday succeeded him. Arsenal, seeking leadership and goals, brought Buchan back that year. The transfer fee was innovative: £2,000 upfront, plus £100 for each goal he scored in his first season. Buchan made an immediate impact, netting 19 league goals and debuting in a North London derby against Tottenham.
Buchan’s footballing mind was as sharp as his finishing. Working closely with Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman, he helped develop the WM formation—a tactical revolution that shaped English football for decades. The new system moved the centre half back into defence and changed the way teams approached both attack and defence. Buchan captained Arsenal to their first FA Cup final in 1927, and retired in 1928 at age 36, scoring 56 goals in 120 games for Arsenal. At retirement, only Steve Bloomer had scored more top-flight goals. Today, Buchan still ranks among the league’s most prolific scorers.
Retirement didn’t slow Charles Buchan down; he quickly became a leading football journalist for the Daily News (which later became the News Chronicle) and a familiar voice on BBC radio commentaries. Around 1933, Buchan began editing the News Chronicle Football Annual, transforming it into an essential resource for football fans with its detailed league tables, team line-ups, fixture lists, and results, published in both Northern and Southern editions for broad appeal. His editorial leadership and growing reputation were reflected by his name appearing prominently on the cover, and his involvement with the annual stretched into the late 1950s, cementing its status as a staple of British football culture. In 1947, Buchan also co-founded the Football Writers’ Association, further solidifying his influence on the game’s media landscape.Welcome! This Work-in-Progress was started on 27/09/2025. There’s a lot of great content still to come as I continue researching and writing. Please check back soon for updates and new posts! This story is unfolding here before it finds its way to print…