Category Archives: Arsenal and Me

The Arsenal and Me – Nordi’s Story

2 Replies

“It’s life, and every emotion you go through, I have gone through with The Arsenal”

First love

Lived on the Avenell Road it was the first real thing I saw as a kid people horses stadium songs lights, the colours the noise so it was that and my metal tonka truck.

Trouble

I first fell in trouble loving my club aged 9 and my brother aged 6 in a shared garden on Riversdale road off the Blackstock Road , the neighbours knocked on my mums door and told her to go and listen to your kids and she did, both of us copying the north bank “YOUR GONNA GET YOUR FUCKING HEAD KICKED IN” and “Your’e going home in funny ambulance” and the classic “The manky Tottenham Hotspur went home to the dope and this is FUCK OFF” – we didn’t get the right words till a few year later when Mum had enough and let me make the short journey on my own.

Happy

My two kids birth come first, well not quite true. First was the 1987 season and at the shit hole after years of following arsenal was pure ecstasy and 89 was LSD, ecstasy, hash, blow job’s and Samantha Fox’s tits on my face all at the same time. I could not make Anfield, one of the few games I missed in the 80s, but when that goal went in I ran around the pool table in the pub like a headless chicken onto Essex Road and dropped to my knees stopping the traffic.

Sadness

The passing of Rocky upset me big time. It was like losing a few school pals that passed away. Also losing Denton was extremely upsetting. MR Arsenal. If it was not for him and many others who ran with him, my dad would never have gone into the ground as football back then had many racists and I was the good looking son of a foreigner.

Learning

How to conduct yourself? I honestly can say hand on heart I learned more from the North Bank than I did at school or mucking about on the streets. You see the local schools and streets had the same Herbert’s where as the North Bank would have lads from Enfield, Essex, Burnt Oak, Surrey even fucking loyals from Telford. The music, the clothes, the jokes clubs, the girls and even a bit of politics, not much mind. Also travelling the country seeing at first hand the destruction of Liverpool in the early 80s and then the destruction of mining communities, no internet or mobile phones back then so all the learning was done through the eyes and actual experience so thank you Arsenal.

Religion/Cult

It was Arsenal and it was my job to recruit/encourage as many Gooners to come in to the holy ground from Highbury Grove School. Another memory that I will take to the grave is when we took 50 odd to Brighton and nearly 80 of us met for a home game against West Ham and similar numbers for Liverpool, marching off from Highbury Corner. The jokes the laughs.

Addiction

Aged 12 or 13 I made enough money to buy a ticket for West Brom away. Train, fare, can of coke and a packet of biscuits. Off I went without telling my parents, came back at 9 at night to massive slap from the old man and banned from going. Yeah right! I did not miss a home game for years after. Like many of us, I was such a sweet boy until arsenal came along.

I could go on and on but it’s everything and still is, my love has let me down big time, changing the badge, fucking about with the kits, pricing out fans and then driving out passionate fans through their Gestapo stewarding. The horrible grassing service,the sit down brigade, and then the killer – moving to the concrete bowl hurt more than I can describe. I joined the BSM in 2009 and through this passionate group, I felt like we have a voice again. I don’t want to hurt the club, but I feel like kicking them in the bollox every now and then “say wake up”. Don’t turn into a day tripper tourist venue or you will break many hearts and in the long term you will regret it.

Like the late 70s and early 80s I’m dreaming and looking forward to Dortmund where an old School turn out will be drinking and singing in praise of the Arsenal. You are my arsenal

Nordi

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

The Arsenal and Me – Lorraine’s Story

Leave a reply

On Friday 6th September I met with fellow Gooners @thearsenalhorse @gooner1947 and @grandpasnail to mark the Arsenals 100 years move from Woolwich to Highbury. We met at Dial Square restaurant in the grounds of the old Woolwich Arsenal and travelled to Highbury where we were lucky to gain access to the old Highbury ground.

It was with very mixed feelings as I walked in to where the old ground stood and I had goose pimples and a little shiver as I looked to where the old North Bank used to be.the memories came flooding back.

“We’re the North Bank we’re the North Bank we’re the North Bank Highbury”
“Good old Arsenal we’re proud to sing your name”
“One nil to the Arsenal”

I could shut my eyes and still hear it feel it and re-live it and it took me back to just over 40 years ago.

I was 15 and still at school when a friend said that she had a friend that also loved Arsenal and if I wanted we could meet and go to matches together. And so began a friendship based on the same passion; our love for the Arsenal. We went to both home and away matches (it was easy then you could just turn up on the day ) and we always went by whatever means we could.

We decided early on Boxing Day to go to Ipswich, however not knowing how to get there I asked my dad what motorway we would need to get to in order to hitch a lift. I can’t remember how we got to said motorway but clearly remember us both standing at the side of the road with our scarves and rattles and both our little thumbs waving hopefully.

It wasn’t too long before a van pulled over and Glory Days! It was a van full of lads going to the game “Get in girls we’ll take you ” and so we got in the back of the van which was loaded with beers and although we were not really drinkers I remember having one or two. They dutifully dropped us at the ground and said “meet us here after the match girls ans we will take you home”.

I can’t remember much about the match (score etc) but do remember a guy being kicked down the stairs by an over zealous steward for chanting something that nowadays no one would bat an eyelid at. Somehow we ended up on the supporters coach for the journey home which ended in a visit to Peter Storey’s pub so a very good day indeed!

Now here’s the thing; “Passion”. We travelled to Birmingham FC and as girls were welcomed with open arms into the Birmingham supporters clubhouse which really resembled little more than a Cub Scout hall just inside the ground. It was here that I met a very good looking boy called Archie never mind that he was a Birmingham supporter at 16 I was sure that it was love.

We kept in touch and he rang me and said that he had never been to London before and would love to see the sights.we agreed to meet at Waterloo station and I made a big effort to look my best.

When I turned up his face dropped as he looked at my attire “I’m Not Going To Arsenal” he said as he saw my red and white clothes and scarf. An hour later as we stood in the North Bank my eyes kept darting to the right of me at the extremely miserable and dejected look on Archie’s face but how could I miss my beloved Arsenal play?

I never saw Archie again. I’m afraid my passion for the Arsenal was greater than any good looking Birmingham fan – even poor Archie.

I have many more memories that I may share but I don’t want this to be too long. Nowadays I can only go to some games due to the exorbitant cost but at 56 years old always sing loud and proud as anyone on the Fulham boat trip with the Away Boys or North London Derby day at the Gunners pub will certainly vouch for!

My passion for The Arsenal has never diminished and I know that it never will.

Lorraine

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

The Arsenal and Me – Andy’s Story

Leave a reply

A dull and dreary day in north London. A wet and soggy start to my arsenal love affair.
October 1987 and my brother had decided ( or pressurised by mum ) to take me to my first arsenal game, at home to Oxford.

A short car ride to Salisbury train station followed by a 75 minute journey to London Waterloo. First time in London at it was quite intimidating for a young 12 year old from Wiltshire. Getting a tube train as well was daunting.

45 minutes or so later and we were heading out of Arsenal Station and towards Highbury. Never forget the first time I seen the sign “Welcome to Highbury, the home of football”. A hot dog and programme later and we were in the stadium. 2 hours before kick off and it was empty. Gradually the ground filled up and by half two, the north bank was awash with gunners chanting ” oh Arsenal we love you”.

Kick off came and the atmosphere was unbelievable, chanting and swearing, some of which I’d never heard before. When Paul Davis scored the noise was deafening, but not as deafening as when Steve Williams stuck a 30 yarder in the top corner just before the end. 2-0 it finished and my first game had been a success. Then the journey home began, pouring out of Highbury towards the tube station, walking down the long tunnel singing and chanting, smiling all the way back to Waterloo… And then home…

My love affair with arsenal had begun… And what was to follow in the next 16 years has been wonderful.

Andy
twitter-follow screen_name=’andypwills1′]
If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here