Tag Archives: Premier League

The Arsenal Membership Pack – What a Waste of Money

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This week I finally opened the Arsenal Members pack that all Gold, Silver & Red members get from the club as part of the membership scheme. And what a disappointment it was;

  • A small red and white scarf
  • A fixture list which was already out of date due to TV changes
  • Cheap tin badges
  • A membership book
  • An Arsenal Foundation book
  • A buy one get one free voucher for an audio tour

My first thought was ‘what a load of crap.’ My second thought was ‘where is the bin.’

Now I know why the packs are relevant. It is to make it look as if the club is giving something back to the fans. To appear as if the membership cost is not just a tax on buying tickets. But at the end of the day, I pay £1000+ for my season ticket. This year I will spend around £4000 on tickets (home and away), transport (over land and sea), booze and hotels following The Arsenal. A pack which cost less than a fiver to put together is not exactly the club giving back.

Now sending me a pack is a waste of money, as I am sure it is for many fan of a similar age who does not buy programmes, shirt or any other of the crap merchandise the club pedals. The club could save money by having an ‘opt out of members pack’ box that you can tick when renewing your membership.

I would not even ask for money off my season ticket or membership. The pack costs sweet FA so it would be a saving of a fiver. Not much of a saving when I am willing to spend £4000 following The Arsenal.

And the club would not exactly make an earner from it. The money saved from the packs would probably be less than the cost of a weeks wages for Nicklas Bendtner.

So my theory is this. On your season ticket renewal form, there should be a ‘donate to charity’ box that one can tick. Then, rather than me getting the pack ,it go’s to someone who would potentially appreciate it more. Add to the Christmas gifts the players take to a local hospital. Send them to Great Ormond Street. Distribute it to those living abroad who a little bit of Arsenal would brighten their day.

It would cost me nothing. It would cost the club nothing. But it could make the day of someone less fortunate.

So Arsenal, if you are reading this, allow me to donate my membership pack to someone who would actually like it, rather than send it to me to chuck in the bin.

Keenos

Where are they now? Charles-Cook, Meade, Squillaci, Santos & Roberts

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Following on from out other two parts (Angha, Eastmond, Wynter, Monteiro, Ebecilio & Denilson & Arshavin, Watt, Neita, Rees, Shea & Mannone) we now look at how Charles-Cook, Meade, Squillaci, Santos & Roberts have got on since leaving Arsenal in the summer.

Reice Charles-Cook

What do Arsenal and Bury have in common? Reice Charles-Cook has been on the books, but not played for, both. I might be being a bit harsh on the youngster, who is just 19, but he has done nothing of note since leaving us.

Picture: <a href="https://twitter.com/KieranCPhotoAFC" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" data-text-color="#444444" data-link-color="#21759b">Follow @KieranCPhotoAFC</a>

Picture: @KieranCPhotoAFC

Jernade Meade 

Many were unhappy that Jernade Meade was not given a chance at Arsenal, but nearly 20, and with Gibbs, Monreal & Vermaelen ahead of him, it would have been hard to justify giving him a new contract. He joined Premier League Swansea on a free transfer and is 3rd choice left back behind Ben Davies, who is 6 months his senior, and Neil Taylor. He has yet to make his 1st team debut, however has played 3 times for their under 21s. Proof, if needed, that Arsenal were correct to let him go.

Sebastian Squillaci

It would not of taken much to improve on his 1 league goal in 2 seasons for Arsenal and upon signing for French Ligue 1 Bastia, he has played in 8 of the clubs 9 games for Bastia, firmly becoming their 1st choice centre back. He has clearly re-found his level, at a mid table French club.

Andre Santos

After his loan spell at Gremio came to an end, he signed for Brazilian side Flamengo in July this year. Due to the nature of the Brazilian league, he has not yet played for his new side. Report of him hanging around the Arsenal Fish Bar at the top of Blackstock Road are untrue. He was last seen playing against me on FIFA, where he had a shocker of a game at left back.

Phillip Roberts

The 19 year old Irish striker born in Newham is now plying his trade in Scotland for Scottish Championship side Falkirk. Clearly another who did not get away. In 8 league games, he has scored 4 league goals, making him the 7th top scorer in the league. According to Falkirk’s website, you can sponsor his boots.

Tomorrow: Hajrovic, Gervinho, Chamakh, Bihmoutine & Henderson

Keenos

Thanks to  for the picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/goonerpower and https://www.facebook.com/KieranCPhoto

The Arsenal and Me – Ade’s Story

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I grew up in Archway, the son of a Yorkshire man, whose love of cricket was almost as strong as his love of his family, so we weren’t a football family.

And to be honest, unlike most on here, I can’t really remember my first Arsenal game! But that’s why my Arsenal is a little different to others…………

So how did I end up a massive (arf) Gooner??? Well as luck would have it, one of my best friends at primary school happened to be Fred Streets daughter! So I was fortunate enough to start my addiction from amongst the player’s wives and the comfort of the players’ lounge, all comfy and cosseted from the real football world 

As I entered my teens I started to go to games, home and away, with my mates and this is where I found “my Arsenal”….

I could now  list all the games, finals, Highs and lows  etc etc etc  but I’m not going to, why?

Because my arsenal is more than the team, more than the trophies…….it’s the amazing, crazy, bizarre, unique people I have met in the past 35 years following AFC home and away…. The Bear, Maria and her cry, Baz with his kit, Mr Red Rolls Royce, the Mum and Daughter who I met at almost every way game I go to, Mr Beret, Bully, Big Martin, Micky B, The North Bank screamer, The internet freaks (my wife’s words not mine) the list could go on…..but you know what they all have in common???  Their love of ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB….Yes they may show it in very different ways, ways we don’t all like and approve of but they still support….they support THEIR CLUB…. THEIR WAY and that’s not wrong.

They are “MY ARSENAL”

Ade