FROM THE SHED. Fred Paxford, Gunner aged 82.

Afternoon! I just got back from a spot of fishing, caught me a small Trout, and a Perch,but I put them back though, having been through them war years as a nipper, I like see things alive not dead. But that’s my business even if you thinks Im a queer sort.

Anyway, I like to come up here to me shed and have a good ruminate away from this noisy world of ours and open up me flask and have a cuppa and a couple o shortbread biscuits. My nephew has one of them computers like you lot, and he showed me what all you have a chat about at PA. I used to like a drop of IPA, but after the Cup Final 1950 I jacked it in.I put me lawn mower over the front room carpet I was so drunk!Mugs game. Although I still have an Arsenal mug, while we’re on the subject-so to speak. But I like having a read of what you’ve got to say,or my nephew reads it out mostly of an evening when he drops by or sometimes on a Saturday lunch.

Anyway, I fancied chewing the fat with you about these here AAA. Daft as a brush some of them! Now what would you say if you saw me in me braces shouting up at the clouds on a rainy day flapping me arms and legs and cursing to the heavens asking wheres the Sun? He’s mad Im? Well thats what I think of that lot.Once the games over, there’s no need to get all hot and bothered under the collar,there’s nothing you can change is there? Anyone can look back in hindsight and be an expert. Life barmy, that’s the way it is.And if youre barmy too then you can get up to all sorts of tricks and thats no good is it? Things are always a changing,you only need to look to the weather to understand that!But this lot, well they moan themselves potty after a game.As if they could do any better! I met Cliff  Holton twice, and that Jimmy Logie, but I knew I could never do what they did.Cor, what players thems were. But I would never have told em how to play. They would have boxed me ears!

Perhaps Im getting a bit soft in me older years, but I always thought being supporter was to cheer the lads on? Mind you its nothing new. There’s always been the moaning types. Moaning their boats races off as if we all want to hear!

If I were cussing at me taters like this here AAA lot do at the lads, me taters would never want to grow,let alone come out of the earth.You see, I water and look after me taters, and me flowers and give em a bit o encouragement.You should see my greenhouse. If you come around next summer, I’ll give you a few tomatoes,won a few prizes in me time.But do you get what Im saying?Not rocket science is it!?

But these Anti lot seem a bit wet behind the ears. Expecting fireworks every weekend, I mean the other side wants to win too! Cor, bit of s shock them boys from Leicester aint it! And Im not too happy about Spurs, but weve seen em fade away plenty of times havent we?

My nephew said that Ozil has been getting a lot of stick and the Welsh lad,Aaron. I suppose the Anti lot wouldn’t know a great player even if they dropped in their laps! Shame her Majesty cant sort it out,her being Queen and all and a Gunner to boot.Mind you I voted Socialist myself back in the old days, but that Thatcher started all this here greed and them fly by nights Blair and Brown, they finished off Socialism and finished off what Thatcher started. None of em care about gardens much,car parks more like.What a shame!

But that Ozil, hes bloody marvellous. Dont you just love watching him play? I like all the lads,but that Joel Campbell hes one to watch too.Old Wenger hes done a good job, going to be  tough one to follow! And that spanking new stadium. I’ve never been me self, as I live out of town now, but I certainly went to Highbury more times than I can recall.In the end I got fed up of getting soaked down the Clock End and went up into the West stand, which is funny, as it was standing in those days.I enjoyed all me games. Wasn’t all roses thats for sure. We had it made in many respects since Wenger came along.

Do you think these anti brigade blokes actually like the game?

Mind you, them newspaper fellas, they like stirring up a heap of trouble dont they? Some of em dont like our club for sure!And some of them silly celebrities. Thems not my cuppa you know. My nephew likes to keep me informed of them silly sods and I think he tries to wind me up! Load of old codswallop!

Well looks like it might rain, and Ive kept you long enough and I’d better get on me bike and get home. Im reading a good book at the minute by JPG Lewis,” the complete illustrated history of concrete”. But if you fancy another chat,just give me a shout, Im often up at me shed hiding from all this here ‘much ado about nothing’ thats in the world today and sometimes it can get a bit lonely.But Ive enjoyed me chat with you.

Cheerioh!