There were concerns about crowd safety at night, and clubs and supporters navigating late-night midweek travel in an era before motorways and high-speed trains. 

Within the game, there was also a desire to protect the traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off time - or earlier during winter months - and a fear that greyhound racing track owners, who strongly promoted their own popular night events, were seeking to control the agenda. 

With the country also in the midst of the Great Depression, there were also concerns about limiting energy output across Britain.

However, Chapman knew that the idea of floodlit football had legs, and in his book argued: "Once launched, I predict that its development will be rapid."

Although he doesn’t give specific dates, Chapman travelled to Brussels at some point in the early 1930s to observe Belgium play Sparta Prague in a friendly match. 

Despite the terrible weather and a waterlogged pitch, Chapman noted that the field "was illuminated by lights fixed to five standards running down one side behind the spectators; rays of 20 powerful lamps were thrown across the pitch at different angles. The light in fact, was almost perfect." 

Chapman then made the short journey to Holland where he watched a trial match at The Hague. Although the set up was different – this time there were four standards placed at all four corners of the ground – Chapman noted that in his opinion ‘both fields were splendidly illuminated.’ 

As for whether night football on chilly evenings would lead to reduced enjoyment for spectators, Chapman argued: "The Belgian and Dutch people followed the play with marked enthusiasm."

Like European club competitions, Chapman’s brainchild didn’t become a reality until the 1950s. On September 19th, 1951, the ground hosted its first major fixture under floodlights. 

Tom Whittaker’s side thrashed Hapoel Tel Aviv 6-1 as a packed Highbury was brilliantly lit up for the first time. As to the issue of whether spectators enjoyed the experience, the programme editor later noted: "A considerably better view was enjoyed than on a number of poor Saturdays when strained eyes were peering into the falling gloom just before the final whistle."

Floodlit matches between clubs from different countries now illuminated post-war football, in a way that Herbert Chapman would have heartily approved of.