Now when Arsenal were going to Finland (in 2013) to play a game for the first time in history, it bought up memories of 17-year-old boys visit to London 1970.

The young boy in question was quite a talented midfield player, being part of the Finnish Youth team that took part in the UEFA  championships 1969 in Scotland. Then he was given the opportunity to train with Arsenal in December  1970 – which was unbelievable at that time. He was probably the first and to date the only Finnish player  to train with Arsenal at Highbury.  

So, he arrived at Highbury and Mr. Bertie Mee took him to train at the indoor pitch with the reserves  including a certain Charlie George. He still clearly remembers how he played at the same side as Charlie –  even scoring some goals.

Unfortunately the happy training ended as he broke his leg when running down to help the defence, breaking his leg in two different places and ended up in hospital for 1 month. 

He was very well taken care of by the nice nurses in the hospital and was also visited by many Arsenal first  team players:

The boy was able to  fly home to Finland at the end of January 1971, to start his rehabilitation. He was encouraged by both Mr.  Bertie Mee, Mr. Steve Burtenshaw and was even given encouragement by the whole team. 

Back home he followed the Arsenal team’s progress, which of course was superb. In a letter 31^st March,  1971 Steve wrote “how exited everyone is playing Stoke in a replay after drawing 2-2 in last Saturdays semi-final”. The team was magnificent beating Spurs at the lane and then fighting back in the cupfinal to  beat Liverpool with that exquisite strike by Charlie. Yeaah – Arsenal won the double!  

The boy was able to continue playing in the Finnish league during the 70’s but due to more bad luck with  injuries – breaking the other leg in 1972 and again 1978 – and could not break into any national team  anymore. He did his A-badges and coached in the Finnish first division and third division before ending the  active football life concentration on family and work. He had two more surgeries later on which left him  with 5 screws in his left leg, which is no problem – he can walk and talk….  

Now, the ‘boy’ is 60 (at the time of writing) and he has been an Arsenal supporter for 42 years and will remain so until the end! 

When living in Australia, on the way back home, he made a stopover in London 1990, threw the bags into the Paddington hotel and to took his son with him and went straight on to Highbury. Now there were 2 Arsenal supporters in the same family. When working around Africa, during 20 years, he has taken the  Gunners with him to 15 different countries – supporting and arguing with other team’s supporters  wherever he goes.  

I wish we can win something again – and I’m sure we will when having our magnificent legacy and the  wisdom of our management especially Mr. Wenger. My other wish is to meet our Captain Frank McLintock  and hopefully even Mr. Wenger someday. If not – then no worries – I will be there on the terrace in  Helsinki 10^th August!  

Jan-Henrik Janér – the boy.