He also holds the record for the most goals scored in a top flight game in English football, with seven against Aston Villa in December 1935.

A former centre forward, Drake has been described as a "classic number 9" and as a "strong, powerful, brave and almost entirely unthinking" player who "typified the English view.

Born in Southampton, Drake started playing at Winchester City, whilst continuing to work as a gas-meter reader.

After only one full season, his bravery and skill attracted the attention of Arsenal's Herbert Chapman, who tried to persuade Drake to move to north London.

[4][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Arsenal, with George Allison now in charge, renewed their interest and Drake eventually decided to join the Gunners.

With two more goals in the FA Cup and Charity Shield, Drake scored 44 in all that season, breaking Jack Lambert's club record, one that still holds to this day.

[4][5][6][7] Despite being injured regularly (he was a doubt up until the last minute for the 1936 Cup Final), Drake's speed, fierce shooting and brave playing style meant he was Arsenal's first-choice centre forward for the rest of the decade, and he was the club's top scorer for each of the five seasons from 1934–35 to 1938–39.

[14] However, Drake's career would not last long into peacetime; a spinal injury incurred in a game against Reading in 1945 forced him to retire from playing.

He introduced scouting reports and a new, tougher, training regime based on ballwork, a rare practice in English football at the time.

[18][6][4] These included John McNichol, Frank Blunstone, Derek Saunders, Jim Lewis and Peter Sillett Within three years, in the 1954–55 season, Drake had led Chelsea to their first league championship triumph.

The championship-winning side was gradually broken up, to be replaced by the crop of youngsters emerging from the club's youth team, such as Jimmy Greaves, Peter Brabrook and Bobby Tambling, for whom Drake was an aloof figure.