I’ve been reading She Wore along with Arseblog and Le Grove every day for years now. Some of my favourite blogs on She Wore are people recalling their memories of supporting the Arsenal  so when Keenos said he wanted people to share their story or write a blog this morning I felt inspired to send one in. 

My first real memory of The Arsenal is watching Anfield 89 game on TV as a 7yr old. I have a vague memory of my Dad who was serving in the Royal Marines being home just in time to watch it with me.

That’s not the reason I support Arsenal though, My Grandad was born in a house just around the corner from Highbury and would take my Dad to games. He once took my Dad to Wembley to watch Arsenal in a cup final leaving my aunt and uncle in the car because they were too young to attend the football but not too young to be left alone in a car for 2 hours! It was different times haha

He almost missed the birth of my other uncle because they were at the football! There were no mobile phones in those days so Grandad had to ring different hospitals to find out where my nana was when he got home. Just like Riess Nelson scoring a last-minute winner he got there just in time to see my uncle born! So it was only natural when he moved to the south coast years later he would become known locally as Mr Arsenal! And when he passed, he had a cannon floral decoration in red and white. Always Arsenal! 

With My Dad and Grandad being Gooners it was only natural for me and my brothers and sister to follow suit and now my niece too. Arsenal is an obsession that involves a lot of planning to make sure you can watch a game! Being late to other events or rescheduling so you don’t miss a minute. Skipping class at school or pulling favours at work so you can get home in time to watch…..

The best birthday present I ever got was my 7^thbirthday in 1989, I got a replica shirt of the 72-78 home kit with the white cannon on (facing the right way!)

I’ don’t remember the full story of how my parents got the kit but I know they had to ask around and finally manged to get one. I wore the shirt with pride as long as I could before it got retired and put on a giant stuffed Gorilla my sister had and it remained on him for the next 30 years! 

My first live game was Arsenal vs Cambridge Utd. I don’t remember much of the game itself other than we won 2-0 and it was in the FA Cup Quarter final! But what a feeling walking out at Highbury the first time seeing the hallowed green turf and then seeing the team walk out the tunnel in the famous red and white adidas shirts and seeing my heroes for the first time. Watching Fever pitch always brings back my memories of going to Highbury the first time, hearing the names of your favourite players being chanted, watching the players warm up beforehand.

By that point I must of watched the 88/89 and 89/90 VHS season reviews on repeat about 50 times. I can still recall the commentary now, especially the 91 video when George Graham gives that speech at London Colney with the squad sat on the benches. So I was beyond excited to go for the first time. 

The whole atmosphere around the stadium walking out at Arsenal Tube station and smelling the onions, seeing the scarf sellers in people’s front gardens and hearing the programme seller shouting “get your copy of the gooner ere” and the ticket touts asking if we had any tickets or wanted any. The walk along avenell road, seeing the police horses ushering everyone along.

My second memory of going to the football was not so good, even though the walk down the old Wembley Way and seeing the original Twin Towers for the first time and getting my semi final programme are etched in the mind!

Being 9yrs old I didn’t yet understand the rivalry between Arsenal and the spuds yet. With memories of Italia 90 fresh, Gazza was a hero but that would all change very quickly!

Dad and I were stood in line with the crossbar when Gazza took that free kick and scored! The Arsenal end erupted with chants of  “The Referees a wanker” as a 9 yr old I was terrified with images of Hillsborough still in my mind, I started to cry thinking my life was going to end literally! 

My hatred for Tottenham was born! But as much as its frowned upon I still had a soft spot or Gazza and was proud when The Arsenal reached out to help him with his troubles. Years later I would meet Gazza walking down the street, my Dad had got to know him as they went to the same gym and shouted out Paul as he walked past. Paul recognised my Dad and gave him a big hug then decided to give me a big smacker on the cheek I like to think it was his way of saying sorry for scoring that free kick and making me cry all those years ago! 

My next visit to Wembley was much better. Tony Adams rising at the back post to head us into the lead and then hearing the famous chant for the first time “1 nil to the arsenal! 1 nil to the Arsenal!” and then coming back onto Wembley Way……. “We beat the scum 1 nil, we beat the scum 1 nil”! What a day! I was hooked! 

At this point I didn’t think football could get much better! A few weeks later I was back at Wembley again for the Coca Cola Cup final. The first of 2 finals against Sheffield Wednesday. This time with my sister for the first time, Dad wasn’t going to follow in Grandads footstep completely and leave her in the car! I remember us both getting a Red and White rosette with the Cup Final written on it that we both wore with pride and still have locked away safely today.

I couldn’t believe it though when a couple of minutes in the game Chris Waddle had a free kick in a similar position to Gazza’s. Luckily, he didn’t shoot, but just as I thought that they’d scored! Devastation! It can’t be happening again!!!!

We didn’t have to worry for long though, as Merson scored a belter from the edge of the box and then Steve Morrow of all players, banging one home to win the cup.

I remember my sister and I being right up the front against the old Wembley fences that caged us in, peering through whilst Tony Adams lifted Morrow above his head right in front of us and then seeing medics running everywhere. There was a weird silence in the ground with no one really knowing what had gone on before seeing Morrow carried off on a stretcher.

One of my favourite memories of going up to the football was with my Dad, a lad called Luke I played football with and his Dad Kelvin who were both massive Gooners. We’d drive up from Bournemouth in the morning to Potters Bar and go to Luke’s Grandparents house, the whole journey up there was a real buzz of anticipation as we’d talk about who we would think was going to be playing, score predictions, we’d swap panini stickers and read he latest copy of Match. The best was at the start of the season when we’d have our new scarf or hat from the Junior Gunners. His Gran would give us a drink and some biscuits  and then we’d get on the train to head into Finsbury Park and then we’d go to the Arsenal Café to get some quick lunch before heading into the ground. We were both Junior Gunners so would always sit in the Junior Gunners section.

One day Kelvin and Luke couldn’t make it, we were playing Liverpool. A man who worked for my Mum was a massive Liverpool fan so my Dad invited him to come with us instead! Big Mistake, they won 1 nil! We sat in silence the whole drive home whilst he had a stupid grin on his face and we  had to hear about it for the next 10 years! I wish my Mum had sacked him haha! Sadly, he passed away this year. RIP. Even though we lost it was still a good football memory.

Years later another perk from my Mum’s business was that she used to sponsor Jason Tindell and Eddie Howes boots when they played for Bournemouth in the 3^rd division. Through the business my dad got to know Jason quite well (he’s a Gooner BTW) so when Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League we were able to get tickets to watch the Arsenal Bournemouth games.

My sister was born 2 years and a day after me so one year Dad got us a birthday present to do a tour of Highbury. Walking around the marble halls, going in the press conference rooms and changing rooms as well as the old oak boardroom. You could feel the history even as a young kid as you walked down the hallways. As we walked out of the marble halls and back onto the street Ian Wright walked past us! I was awestruck and couldn’t find the words to ask for an autograph until it was too late, and he was getting into a black cab.He was my hero growing up and a couple of years later I had to do my English Speaking Exam, there was only one topic I was going to talk about and that was Ian Wright! I got an A plus! “Graeme’s passion shone through” was the teacher’s remark to my parents on parent teacher day! 

Another game that comes to mind is Arsenal Vs Newcastle this time my brothers and Mum came with us, it was my brothers first game to Highbury. Arsenal had just scored and some bloke in the row behind had spilt coffee down my brother’s neck during the celebration, my Mum signalled the closest steward who escorted them to the medical room which was by the old Jumbotron screens at the other end of the ground, so they had to walk around the pitch, As they were coming back my Mum and brother were right next to the Goal as we scored again! I don’t think anyone has been closer to the goal for a goal since!

After winning the 2 cups in 93 Arsenal went into the cup winners cup and I went off to boarding school. Luckily, I was home for the 94 Cup final when Smudger scored and I could watch the game but the following year I was at school and we had to be in bed by 9pm unless you were a prefect and could stay up to 9.45. 

I’d been made a prefect but it wasn’t my night to be able to stay up so had to beg a friend to swap nights so I could stay up! But then the game went into extra time, my houseparent said I had to go to bed, but the assistant houseparent was a Gooner and persuaded him to let me stay up! I was grateful, until Nayim scored that goal from the half way line and I went to bed dreading the next day when I’d bump into my 2 best mates who were sp**s fans.

It was with one of those mates when I had my scariest moment at the football. I went to Shite Hart Land with him and his Dad. I was sat in the home end staying as quiet as possible and trying not to react to anything that would get me in trouble, but then Bergkamp took a shot towards the end of the game and hit the crossbar, for a second I forgot were I was and jumped up in celebration thinking he’d scored! “sit down ya little c***” “get the f out”.  I’d well and truly wound up the swamp dwellers! My friend’s dad did his best to placate everyone and I think I was just young enough for no one to punch me! I never went to the football with them again after that! At least I was sensible enough to make sure my red arsenal shirt wasn’t visible underneath my jacket otherwise I’m not sure I’d be here today! 

The game ended 0-0 and  as we came out the stadium we could see The Arsenal fans walking across the road in front of us. Someone shouted, “kill the red bastards” and everyone started to run towards the Arsenal fans, me, my mate and his Dad sort of just stood there as a load of police horses came charging through and passed us. As a 13 year old it looked like it started kicking off big time and my friends Dad got us out the way quickly down a back street.

In 1998 we would play sport on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon which was good on Wednesdays as it was only a half day at school but meant we had to go to school Saturday morning. Normally I didn’t mind as I loved playing sport but this Saturday we had a trip to Old Trafford and a title to win and it was an early lunchtime kick off! I had a decision to make! I skipped my last lesson and went back to common room to turn the TV on. My houseparent came through to see what was going on when he heard the cheer of me celebrating Overmars scoring, and no one was meant to be there! He looked up at the clock and luckily the school bell rang so he couldn’t tell me off! Even, better all the plastic Mancs I shared a boarding house with who would always give me crap as the only Arsenal fan started to fill the common room and leave just as quickly as they came in! Happy Days!

When I left school I decided to travel rather than go to Uni. Back then football wasn’t easily accessible on TV like it was now and it was often a struggle to find somewhere to watch the game. I managed to find a TV in Canada that was showing the Man U game. We got thumped 6-0 and I wish I hadn’t made the effort! As one of the goals went in, I turned around to see Richard Branson stood behind me watching the game! He didn’t cheer so I can only assume he’s a Gooner too!

When I was in Australia, I would have to get up at 2 or 3am to watch the games! Luckily, they had just bought in 24 hr bar licences and the bar/hotel across from my hostel showed all the games. I dragged my sp**s supporting mate to watch the fa cup game against them. He was reluctant to get up that early knowing the inevitable result would end in him being tired and upset! Although a few weeks later he had the last laugh as we were in a bar/nightclub in Byron Bay standing on top of a bench trying to watch the cup final against Liverpool on a TV in the far corner of the room! We were robbed that day!

Because I was travelling, I didn’t get to see a game live in 2002 but wanted to make sure I got to the title winning parade. At the time my brothers were still quite young which helped us worm our way through the crowd to the town hall in Islington and get close to the front, with a stroke of luck the security moved a barrier just as we got there, to let the press through and we got caught on the wrong side of the fence, with my two young brothers the security let us stay that side and we were able to get right to the front where all the photographers were positioned to photo the players coming off the bus and into the town hall. Nearly every player shook our hands as they walked past! Before Ray Parlour started singing “My old man….” from the balcony window.

As they came out and back onto the bus my brother threw his flag to Seaman (who obviously caught it) and started to sign it but the bus started to pull off jolting his hands as he wrote, we had to chase the bus down the road to get the flag back. My brother had the flag on his bedroom wall for years with a barely eligible Seaman Autograph on it.

In 2005 I was living in Antigua and had to work Saturday mornings when the games were usually on tv. My brothers and I would record the games and try to avoid the score as best we could so when we watched it, it would be like we were watching it live. This became more and more difficult as people began to realise we were Gooners.

Our business was teaching kids to swim and play football and all the kids would know we supported Arsenal and would pretend to tell us the score, we had to start threatening them with not being allowed to swim or being dropped from the football team if they gave the score away haha there would always be one who would say the score and we’d never know if it was real or not. Some of the parents cottoned on and would warn the kids not to tell us but then if their team had won and beaten us they would walk on the poolside with a massive grin! I remember one game didn’t record because we’d used the video so many times to record games it had warn out! Another game there had been a power cut and the game stopped recording 60 mins in and we had to ring my Dad to find out the score. 

One of the swimming pools we worked at had a bar next to it and there would always be some kind of cheering when the game was on. We’d try to block it out so not to know the score. One game it was impossible though. The 2005 FA Cup final, the bar was packed and there was loads of shouting coming from the bar. It went on and on so guessed the game had gone to extra time. Then there started to be loads of cheering. Penalties! “Quickly everyone out of the water!” We shouted.   We got everyone out the water and got to the bar just in time to see Viera tuck his last kick for the Arsenal, into the net! Pandemonium!!!!

One day my brother was teaching and he was having a conversation with the childs Mum. They got chatting about football somehow and my brother said he was a big Arsenal fan. It turns out he was talking to Peter Hill-Woods daughter! When my brother told her about the scholarship programmes, we ran for children that couldn’t afford lessons, she arranged for Arsenal to donate 200 kits to give to all the children in our academy! The day we gave out all the shirts we created an Island of life long Arsenal fans! 

2007 I was in Monaco on holiday and really wanted to get tickets for the cup final at the Millenium stadium, I’d been trying for weeks but was having no luck. I’d been asking everyone I knew. A friend of mine said he might be able to get 2 and a cousin said she might be able to get some through work. 2 days before I still didn’t know if I had tickets then all of a sudden, I had 4 for just me and Dad. I jumped on a flight home and my Dad met me at Gatwick, it was the longest drive ever down to Cardiff with Traffic jams all the way, reaching the Millenium stadium with about 15 mins to go before the game. We still had 2 extra tickets and couldn’t find anyone who wanted them. So we made the decision to go into the ground, just as we were about to go through the turnstile I heard some shouting my name. It was my old friend Luke who I used to play football with and go to the Arsenal with as a kid, him and his mate were stuck outside without tickets! What a coincidence! I love football and the stories it brings. We gave him the tickets and went into the ground. 

I couldn’t believe it when we were sat on the halfway line one row behind the dugout with Thierry Henry sat in the seat in front of me! That night checking the Arsenal website there was a pic of Arsene Wenger on the sideline with Me and Dad sat right behind him! Unfortunately, the result didn’t go our way, but it was a great day and journey to watch The Arsenal.

Living abroad I didn’t get to many games for a few years but whenever I was home, I’d try and get tickets through mates who were season ticket holders or silver members, in the end I’d be going to 4 or 5 games a season. Often champions league nights in the group stages or Carling Cup games here and there. One game I remember was Arsenal vs Tottenham. Before the game we were sat in the Lamb on Holloway Road having a pre match pint and all the shop window shutters started coming down and then a load of police were herding the snarling spitting spurs fans down the road. They were banging on the pub windows shouting at us all inside with us just laughing at the sight of them. We smashed them that day!

Being an Arsenal fan we are lucky enough to go to Wembley a lot. Whilst I prefer the old Wembley. I’ve had better results going to the new Wembley beating wigan in the semi final when Kim Kallstorm scored with a broken back, beating Man City when no-one gave us a chance and The Mertesacker and Rob Holding you knowwww Final!

The whole day out is brilliant. Meeting friends at the Globe pub, having a few drinks and sing song on the street before catching the Bakerloo line to Wembley, walking along Wembley way and seeing the Arch. (forget the ball ache of trying to get in and up the escalator’s) before you are standing behind the goal with the whole Arsenal in full voice, you catch your Dad standing next to you with a tear in his eye as they sing the national anthem, goose bumps! as the game kicks off and the tension rises. But then you win and you get to see your team lift the trophy and throw Wenger in the air in front of you!

Being there when your team wins a title is amazing but what’s better is the friendship and memories football brings. Going to the game with your dad and brothers or meeting mates young and old in the pub beforehand. Meeting a stranger outside the Armoury to pick up your tickets for a game and becoming lifelong friends with them through your shared love of Arsenal, regularly going to games together. Singing and chanting in the rocket before a game or going to Piebury Corner for a Tony Adams Steak and Ale pie. 

Seeing a random bloke walking down the road looking lost in a foreign country but he’s wearing Arsenal shorts, so you offer to pick him up and take him where he’s going and arrange to watch the next game with him for him to become a lifelong friend. 

Different whatsapp groups with different Arsenal supporting mates you’ve made watching the game in far flung pubs around the world and sharing that moment of joy with someone you’ve never met but have an instant connection with because they support your team! Or the knowing nod when you walk past someone in the street whose wearing an Arsenal shirt or item and you just blurt out Goooonnerrrrr to them and they smile and nod back or say “do you think we’re going to do it this time?”

Or during lockdown tuning into the Pub Quiz Gav and Keenos would run every Friday night.

That’s what football is all about, the friendships and memories of a lifetime!

Final thought….

I’m writing this just off the back of us beating Bournemouth 3-0 with 2 games to go! My superstitions are working so far!

I always thought it was just my superstition, If I’m watching a game on tv and not live I won’t wear an Arsenal shirt on match day as it’s bad luck. We were visiting my Grandad one weekend and my youngest brother has his shirt on against Spurs. It was nil nil at half time. My uncle came round and said to my bro to take his shirt off as it’s bad luck. My bro took it off and we ended up winning 2-0.  So, me and my bros never wear a replica shirt if we are watching on TV. 

This year when I’ve taken my superstition to another level. When going to the gym Ive only been using lockers with title winning numbers on them 89, 91, 93 etc so far its working!  The next  day I’ll wear an arsenal shirt to the gym if we’ve won (and if we haven’t won I’ll wear it anyway to let them know I still love them even if they’ve hurt me haha)

Up The Arsenal!

Graeme