A guest post from Out For A Corner
When people think of football, not many think of Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus, but on a cold, spring morning in 1988, it was the only place to be. Or, more accurately, it was the only place where tickets for the upcoming Littlewoods Cup Final were about to go on sale. An Algerian Gooner I worked with had invited me to come with him to try to get tickets: Arsenal versus the not-so-mighty Luton Town. After an hour or so standing outside in the cold, our turn came, and we bought our tickets to the final.
In America in the late seventies and early eighties, there were two ways to see football from Europe. The annual broadcast of the FA Cup Final on ABC’s Wide World of Sports was the only time all year that a match was shown in full (or nearly full – I think they still cut away for ads and maybe some ten-pin bowling). The weekly broadcast of Soccer Made in Germany was generally a better bet. It was a highlights programme, and it not only showed Bundesliga matches but also European matches that involved German teams. With a British commentator and featuring impossibly exotic-sounding teams such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, the programme offered a tantalising glimpse into a very different world.
Even with this limited access to watching football, I knew that having a Cup Final ticket was something special. As we entered Wembley Stadium, the sight of packed terraces reminded me of the matches I had watched on television a few years before. It was impressive to see more than 95,000 people squeezed in to the old, crumbling stadium, but it was not so enjoyable to be one of them! After a long struggle, we finally found a place to stand. As we settled into our spot, I noticed that one of the people behind us must have spilled his drink, and it was trickling down the terrace. On seeing a second and third stream of liquid, the penny that others had spent eventually dropped. We quickly shuffled sideways, out of the path of the dripping liquid.
The terrace-based sprinkler system notwithstanding, it was an entertaining match. Arsenal conceded an early goal but came back after halftime, scoring two goals in three minutes to take the lead 2-1. The Arsenal goals gave me my first experience of being swept forward in a mass of euphoric supporters – frightening, but thrilling. With about ten minutes left, the referee awarded a penalty to Arsenal, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to finish off the match. However, Nigel Winterburn had his penalty saved. Soon after, Arsenal defender Gus Caesar (“I came. I saw. I fell over.”) gave the ball away in the Arsenal penalty area, and Luton equalised. Then, in the 90th minute, Luton scored the winner. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory! (© Arsenal)
As the Luton fans celebrated at the other end of the ground, I asked myself: what kind of a team throws away victory in a cup final? More importantly, did I want to support a team that throws away victory in a cup final? The answer to the second question was no – or, rather, not yet.
Having had my budding passion for Arsenal extinguished so painfully, I moved into the next stage of my football-watching career: I became an interested neutral. Without an allegiance to any team, I was free to appreciate good football wherever I found it – sometimes in the most unlikely places. Yes, dear reader, I am not afraid to tell you: I visited White Hart Lane several times, and I often enjoyed it. Those were the heady days of Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, and Terry Venables. It goes without saying that Spurs won nothing; they did, however, manage to put together a good end-of-season run to finish third. You probably don’t need me to tell you that they have not finished that high in the table since then.
Some matches I attended in this period were notable from a football perspective. Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut for Manchester United, Real Madrid’s 5-1 demolition of Olympiakos in the Bernabeu, Atlético Madrid v Bobby Robson’s Barcelona in a Copa del Rey match that featured three future managers (Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Luis Enrique), and Manchester United knocking Internazionale out of the Champions League at San Siro. Other matches stay in the mind for more unusual reasons. On the way to Adams Park to see Wycombe versus Brentford, I was a victim of football-related hooliganism. Yes, I was hit by an egg. (Annoyingly, the Brentford fans I was with escaped without a drip.) At Old Trafford, the sight of Dave Busst’s horrific leg-break led Peter Schmeichel to be sick on the pitch.
More than any other, though, a match at Plough Lane (Wimbledon v Tottenham) in the late eighties summed up the era. At halftime, there was an announcement that crowd trouble had interrupted the FA Cup semi-final that was being played at Hillsborough between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The people on the sparsely populated terrace around us booed the Liverpool supporters and sang songs about the ‘drunken Scousers’ who they assumed had caused the trouble. After the match, on our way back into London on the District Line, I overheard a group of lads next to us discussing the other matches that were being played in London that day. Their conversation had a chilling conclusion. After identifying which teams were playing, they decided to head to Kings Cross – to attack the Newcastle supporters who were on their way home after seeing their team play Arsenal.
That reminds me, what about Arsenal? Despite their success in the late eighties and early nineties, I found the team of that time difficult to like. They seemed a bit thuggish: they were punished with a points deduction for a brawl with Manchester United, and their captain went to prison for drink-driving. However, their most obvious flaw (in my eyes) was that their football was not very enjoyable to watch. They did, however, have an amazing will to win. I watched the finale of the 1988-89 season at my Arsenal-supporting friends’ flat on Liverpool Road. As Liverpool lost the ball with seconds left, I told my friends that Arsenal were about to score – and so it came to be. Aguero, my arse – there has never been a more exciting finish to the season than that match. But even after Anfield, they weren’t my team.
A few years later, I moved to Islington. I was still a neutral, but looking to attend more matches. I suggested to my Liverpool Road friend that we get season tickets to Arsenal and Spurs so we could go to a match every weekend. He declined. As it turns out, that was the year of the first League title (and FA Cup) in the Arsène Wenger era, and there has been a (long) waiting list for season tickets ever since.
In the years between Anfield ’89 and the 1998 Double, I had looked out for whichever team was playing attractive football: the Neil Webb-era Nottingham Forest, Norwich City for a time, Kevin Keegan’s swashbuckling Newcastle, and then, in the years following the arrival of a certain Frenchman, Arsenal. They say if you watch enough football, a team will find you. Well, it took a long time, but eventually the Wenger-era Arsenal found me.
Years later, my friend redeemed himself when he pointed out that there was a residents scheme for the new stadium. Local residents who were on the season-ticket waiting list would be, in effect, allowed to jump the queue. This was Arsenal’s clever, if somewhat cynical, way of placating local opposition to their plans to build a new stadium and help to pay for it by building several high-rise blocks of flats. I signed up to the waiting list, and I was assigned number 37,000-something. I was one of the last to get a ticket before the cut-off.
One of the benefits of the residents’ priority scheme was that it led to life imitating art: in Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby described what he imagined life would be like when he moved to Highbury:
In my street, of course, it would be Arsenal supporters, rather than commuters, who emerged, and they would all be wearing flat caps and faded bar-type red-and-white scarves. And they would see me and smile and wave, and I would immediately become a much-loved and valued member of a happy, working-class Arsenal community.
It wasn’t quite like that, but it wasn’t too far off either. Several people in the neighbourhood have season tickets, and it is not uncommon on match-days to see people emerging at the same time, proudly wearing their bar-type red-and-white scarves. We even occasionally wave to one another.
As well as enabling me to join the local Gooner community, obtaining a ticket marked the end of neutrality. And so began the final part of my journey: as a supporter.
The first season after the move had some real highs: the Bergkamp testimonial (Marco van Basten and Johann Cruyff in the flesh – incredible), the last-gasp Henry header(!) to beat Manchester United – and then the trip to Cardiff to see the Carling Cup Final against Chelsea. I was sure things would be different. In some ways they were: this time, Arsenal scored first. But old habits die hard, and Arsenal still contrived to concede two goals to lose 2-1, Didier Drogba playing the Mark Stein role. Abou Diaby’s full-blooded kick to John Terry’s face was scant consolation.
Fast forward to 2011 for the Carling Cup Final against Birmingham City at the ‘new’ Wembley. Arsenal conceded an early goal but equalised before halftime. The score stayed level until the 89th minute when, in a poorly timed homage to Gus Caesar, Koscielny and Szczesny conspired to give the ball away to Obafemi Martins who gratefully scored the winner. Three League Cup final defeats in three stadiums!
And so to 2014: the FA Cup this time –not the dreaded League Cup – and a semi-final against Wigan, the holders. Arsenal follow the usual script by going behind, but then something amazing happens. They don’t throw the game away. They equalise and then take the match to extra-time. No goals, so on to penalties! What are you made of, boys? Well, sterner stuff than previous years – Arsenal win on penalties. The final? A cake-walk. Arsenal spot Hull City two goals just to make things interesting. Santi tries to outdo Gazza with his free kick to pull one back. Kos emulates Per’s semi-final heroics by scoring the equaliser, and then it is left to The Man – Aaron Ramsey – to score the winner from a ‘gorgeous’ Olivier Giroud back heel. My twenty-six year wait is over. As the players parade the trophy, I look down and notice that the person behind me has spilled his drink. This time, however, it is only Coca-Cola.
So, in the end, what led to me becoming an Arsenal supporter?
It wasn’t the winning or the new stadium. It wasn’t the glamour of new signings. It certainly wasn’t the long-running tendency to lose big Cup matches. Two things made the difference: the way they played – breathtaking, attacking football allied to a miserly defence – and they way they operated. I came to recognise that the Club’s values were compatible with my own. Where others had oil money, Arsenal had stability. Where others had expensive, ready-made star signings, Arsenal had unknowns (or little-knowns) who became stars. Where others mortgaged their future, Arsenal lived within its means. Where others had a new manager every year, Arsenal had the pioneering genius Arsène Wenger. It took me a long time to make my mind up to become an Arsenal supporter – about eighteen years – but, having made the decision, I haven’t regretted it once.
Positively Arsenal 
Lest there be any confusion after the reading the Woolwich article Paul Davis did not just punch Cockerill but punched him and broke his jaw.
I dont know about you Fins but that seems to me just a bit rough and the sort of violence I would prefer to see out of football. the none game ban was about the same as the eight games that Ben Thatcher received for breaking Mendes’s jaw more recently. Allegedly Greater Manchester Police wanted to charge Thatcher with ABH.
If anyone breaks anyone’s jaw on a football field then a long ban is unavoidable.
Odd thing was that Davis was a player who was very quiet, low profile and I can never remember him getting into a row on the pitch before, letting alone decking anyone.
I guess if he had been a bit more snarley PD might well have pushed himself into England contention. England had a decent side back in 1990 hence the narrow WC semi defeat.
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I agree Coll. It would have been nice if the football authorities had been able to follow all other sports with a non-arbitrary use of video (2006 WC final etc.).
Voodoo would suggest the length of the bans you mention was far less then for a repetitive habit of love-biting your opponent, and none would disagree save for that none can be arsed to talk about the Barcelona player! I would not have complained if Thatcher had been charged for such an act of cowardice.
According to some of the other comments PD is a gentleman, there weren’t any other such incidents I am aware of. That England team had a strong midfield, but he was still playing when Carlton Palmer was picking up caps! What a thought, eh? I think GG has to take some responsibility for inflicting Palmer upon a wider, unsuspecting world, who did not derserve such horrors. If GG hadn’t relegated PD at that time he’d surely have picked up some games for England as Taylor’s regime unravelled, and that I guess was the real tragedy. Even the Palace player, what was his name, Thomas, he got a cap!
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I agree Coll. It would have been nice if the football authorities had been able to follow all other sports with a non-arbitrary use of video (2006 WC final etc.).
Hunter would suggest the length of the bans you mention was far less then for a repetitive habit of love-biting your opponent, and none would disagree save for that none can be arsed to talk about the Barcelona player! I would not have complained if Thatcher had been charged for such an act of cowardice.
According to some of the other comments PD is a gentleman, there weren’t any other such incidents I am aware of. That England team had a strong midfield, but he was still playing when Carlton Palmer was picking up caps! What a thought, eh? I think GG has to take some responsibility for inflicting Palmer upon a wider, unsuspecting world, who did not derserve such horrors. If GG hadn’t relegated PD at that time he’d surely have picked up some games for England as Taylor’s regime unravelled, and that I guess was the real tragedy. Even the Palace player, what was his name, Thomas, he got a cap!
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Coll my reply has been placed in limo, hopefully George will come and release me!
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Limestone: I watched on Sky Sports and I believe it was also streamed on the Arsenal player. I pay about £80 a month for Sky Sports and get BT Sports as part of my phone package, so I suppose that for about £1,000 pa the whole family get to see an awful of sport if they wish to do so. The better Arsenal do in the league the more I get to see them, and once the title race hots up they tend to be on more often than not. It is a lot of money, but I look upon it as my Season Ticket, although of course I would not presume to suggest that my views on the club are as valid as an actual season ticket holder.
It was a rare treat to see the youngsters on the TV yesterday. Diaby was very good indeed and it is easy to imagine him playing first team soon. He will have taught the boys a lot about the shape of the game and it is easy to forget the importance that older players have in reserve team matches. Coquelin was not so obviously impressive to me but that probably just means that the camera did not focus on his defensive work off the ball.
Fins: it is the relatively warm and easy intermingling of races (as Tennessee Williams might have said) amongst team and support that I find so attractive about The Arsenal, although Paul Davis’s experience points to the battles that have been fought in the past, and which still need fighting.
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Limestone, thank you. It’s interesting to hear your story. I haven’t forgotten about my offer from the summer – I’ll keep you posted.
Re finding a place for your son to play, you might want to investigate Market Road. There are two or three plastic pitches there and I think there may be some kind of a league. Last year, on Highbury Fields, there were organised training sessions on Saturdays and, I think, Sundays. I don’t think that has yet started. If you’re open to something much more low-key, I believe there is a Saturday late morning turn-up-and-play gathering nearby on Highbury Fields where fathers play (at quarter-speed) alongside their sons.
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Ian and Finsbury, yes, for style of play, I may have been blurring the title-winning teams with the mid-nineties ones. The former had many merits.
It is ironic that it is easier to see PL matches on TV in other countries than it is in the UK. Until/unless they allow the matches that kick-off at 3pm to be shown here (not likely any time soon), the only option seems to be streaming from abroad.
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Breaking the odd jaw here and there has always been a bit of a party trick of mine. I don’t advocate violence, but with some people it seems like a reasonable solution.
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but I suspect rarely have you done your little performance in front of a TV camera and 8 million viewers George.
In case anyone wants to see the ‘Punch’ it is here;
http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/ITN/1988/09/29/AS290988032/AS290988032-0
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Just seen LvG’s rather pathetic and desperately defensive comments on the panic sale of DW. (Sorry – a little behind the rest of you.)
Beginning to look more and more as though he had not the faintest idea how good he is.
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Cant people post some stuff, I need some ammo for twitter.
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Game preview anyone? Hello….hello………………………………hello
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The game preview is bloody hard contest, they have a load of good players, so do we. Close to call too.
No chance of Welbeck starting – Sanogo I am sure will set about the Citeh centre for an hour before we go short and speedy.
I’ll do you a proper write up post game Sunday morning, the man in Block 100 !
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Merlot, he’s probably like your average football supporting goldfish and gets dazzled by the name and price tag! 23 year old RVP was probably no better than DW (not that we’d know since he spent most of his time with us injured). Someone has to give them a chance and play them for them to develop and improve. In the long run, they’ll probably give you more than your average money grabbing mercenary with a dodgy knee to boot!
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The game preview is this: AW sees this as a legit challenge. Last year we drew at home, so can we better that is the question. Put aside the Community Shield, where do we stand. So far performances have not been Superb but Sanchez was settling and we have been missing players. Now we are together and Arteta and Ramsey might be available, so the key is what will be the best combination: might we see Welbeck start or begin from the bench? Sanchez up top or on the right? Who will be on the left and who in central attacking midfield, Ozil or Cazorla or Ox? If Ramsey is not fully fit, should JW start instead? Arteta or Flamini?
How will we play, cautiously keeping defensive shape or trying to attack from the off? I see Arsenal lining up:
WS
Debuchy-Merts–Kos-Monreal
JW and Arteta
Sanchez Ozil Cazorla
Welbeck
Arsenal get an early goal from Sanchez and Welbeck scores a late winner on an Ozil assist after City equalizes around 65 mins!
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“Paul Davis did not just punch Cockerill but punched him and broke his jaw.”
And he rightly paid the price, but the extreme provocation that led to that incident went unpunished though.
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I am not clear what extreme provocation you’re referring to Pass
There is a shot on the film where the commentary says that Davis said he was provoked
Is that it or is there other extreme provocation ?
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As I said Davis had a very calm persona, no disciplinary problems at the club or on the pitch, very hard to believe if he was severely provoked it would not come out loud and clear.
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there is footage of him stamping on Paul.
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What, you just think he did it on an uncharacteristic whim Andrew?
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Anicoll, my understanding from having heard Davis talk about that incident before is that he was goaded constantly throughout that match and it was not the first time. It was an ongoing situation. Are you suggesting that someone as mild mannered as Paul Davis really over reacted on the basis of nothing? He may not have even intended to whack Cockerill with the force he did or perhaps the latter just had a glass jaw that was easily fractured?
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George,
Draft has been sent. Feel free to edit, add, chuck it in the bin….
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Following on from SA’s post and the Germany v. Scotland game i wanted to try and work out some thoughts on sneaking past or under buses, the Ozil led efficient 2-0 run that led to the top culminating in l’Grande Autobus that we saw almost out-park Gazprom at home to Chelsea but for that silly twunt of an official (sorry ‘Coll, he’s a dodgy one, a very dodgy one. But I’m happy to refer to tomorrow’s official a referee!)
City will be a very different game to the bus games.
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I have heard Paul Davis interviewed on a podcast where he revealed some painful memories of his time under GG and he came across as a remarkably sensitive and forbearing person.
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Out4aCorner, delighted you would keep me in mind. Enjoy us smashing City tomorrow.
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anicoll5
Ta so much for that clip. I’ve been begging to see that for years, and now that I have, I once again remember the punch.
Maybe it’s worth remembering that punishments/sanctions for black people/players/foreigners – will always be somewhat…
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Paul Davis is a really sensitive and soft spoken guy and what he did was out of character, At the time the story was it was a comment about his mother that sparked the reaction. Fins is 100% right about GGs dissuse of the ARSENAL midfield and the break up of the “three degrees” and this also is the reason Micheal Thomas left as well. At a time when there was many thugs on the pitch Pauls indiscrection was really harshly punished, 9 games being unheard of.
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FH, I think GZ is already getting more physical than last season and very often the physical change can come very quickly in such young players, Paul Merson one player who was very skinny when he first appeared and then seemed to bulk out overnight. The range of passing he shows is worth the wait as the assist for chubas second showed.
The U21s are looking majestic even without Olssen and their are several players who certainly look ready to step in for a couple of games if needed later in the season. I could name five or six players but Isaac Hayden, my fav, looks solid and very composed whichever position he plays.
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oh just to avoid the confusion I am commenting under two names. aob from my laptop and ianspace from my phone. its something to do with wordpress when I added my avator, im confused but i suppose it means i could like my own comments
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Finsbury has put his shoulder to the wheel and given us todays post http://wp.me/p37nXa-140. Ta muchy Fins.
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