Like any society, organization or individual for that matter, Arsenal FC has had its share of glory days and hardships, has rejoiced and grieved, has seen the ecstacy and the agony and tonight we visit 2 events in the History of our beloved Highbury which people present would never forget,one which puts a smile on their face and one which haunts them..

11Gunners recounts the same..

Under Herbert Chapman, progress was the mantra for the players and progress was not limited to the on field exploits but which impacted the footballing world at large. January 22,1927 was a red letter day for us as Highbury staged the first ever Live Radio commentary, and the League match between Arsenal and Sheffield United was officially “Broadcasted“. Surely technology today is an intricate part of our lives but imagine what the Arsenal faithful would have felt to hear the reverberating sound of the stadium, feel the movements of the ball and the players, celebrate at the sound of the ball striking the net, an experience of a lifetime to say the least. The event also proved that we were not just another Football club but out there to make a mark, we would have reached out to a mammoth people worldwide and it has surely played its part in creating generations of Arsenal fans over the years.

To enable the listeners visualise the match, grid reference system was developed in which the entire pitch was divided into eight segments, each numbered and the calling out of numbers helped people adjudge the positon of the ball.

Imaginations were stretched to levels never attained before!!

Lets wind the clocks to a date 30 years later..

February1,1958

The date probably sends shiver down the spines of those who were there. The “Busby Babes” from Manchester visited Highbury but nobody knew that it would be the famous team’s last game on British soil. What a game it was..

Busby babes’ typical attacking style assailed them into a 3 goal lead but the Gunners stormed back to pull all of it back. But the Red Devils prevailed in a nail biting 5-4 victory. Exactly 5 days later, half of the team lost their lives in the Munich air disaster, an incurable loss for the game and the millions of people whose hearts were associated with it. No matter what colour one wears losses like these are grieved by one and all,something that unites us above all else. The dazzling display and the quality of the game the teams produced on that day at Highbury was in retrospect a fitting farewell.

Next week another moment with which you can relive the past. Till then enjoy the present as we gaze towards an interesting future..

Also Read:

11Moments- The ‘Beginning’

11Moments- I Am ‘Legend’: Herbert Chapman

11Moments- Of Glory and More

11Moments- ‘Double’ The Fun: ‘71

11Moments- ‘Seconds’ To Glory: ‘89

11Moments- The Prof And His Geeks

11Moments- The ‘Invincibles’

11Moments- Henry Is ‘GOD’

11Moments- Highbury: A Fitting Farewell

11Moments- A New Beginning: The Emirates