11Gunners: The Unofficial Arsenal FC Blog and News &#187; 11Moments

11Moments- Highbury: A Fitting Farewell(Part 10)

TheGooner — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:10:34 +0000

We Miss You Highbury

For 93 years, it had been our fortress. Memories worth a lifetime had been shaped at this hallowed turf. It had serviced us faithfully, the joy of the beautiful game from Wenger’s boys was incomparable to anythong else. But the time had come to move into a new home, a consequence of what we call evolution. But Highbury had to be given a proper farewell, and that we did, in typical Gunners style..

11 Gunners relives the poignancy of May 7th, 2006 when we bid adieu to our home..

That season itself had been an emotional affair for the fans. To commemorate our departure from Highbury, our home jersey had been changed to the one worn by the first squad to have played on that holy turf. As far as the League was concerned our form had been rather inconsistent. We had been sometimes extraordinary, sometimes mercurial and sometimes ineffective. With numerous injury concerns it hadn’t been easy going at all.

The stage had been specially prepared for our last game at Highbury. Up for grabs was a Champions League spot and our rivals were guess who, yes u got it right, Tottenham. It was one chance for them to avenge the ruthlessness we have been inflicting on them for quite some years now. We needed to better their result, the ball was in their court, the destiny in ours.

The fans had painted the stadium in Red and White but a sense of anxiety prevailed, how could we allow Tottenham to steal the thunder on this special day, it was definitely not in the script and the script-writer had prepared well. Highbury saluted perhaps the greatest one to have set foot in its ground, yes the master Thierry Henry lit up the occassion with a befitting hat-trick as Arsenal overcame Wigan and more importantly Spurs failed to do their job against West Ham.

After his third goal that sealed the deal for us, Henry bowed down and kissed the ground, a symbolic image that will remain in the minds and hearts of Arsenal fans for years to come. Moments like these are the ones which make this game so special.

This special day was made even more special all thanks to Arsenal’s achievement of ensuring Champions Legaue football at their new home i.e. The Emirates. A plethora of memories, numerous candid moments, a fitting farewell to our home called Highbury. We’ll miss you for ever!!

The Hallowed Marble Floors

The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side!

The Top Gunns Get Ready For One Last Bow

All Decked Up For The Showpiece

The Master Prepares To Take One Last Corner

Taking His Time, For The Final Time

Off Goes The Master, Hail The Master

Once A Gunner, Always A Gunner

Wish Time Stopped Forever

Yeyy!

Welcome Emirates: Our New Home

The King Of Highbury

The Sun Sets On Our Cathedral

Highbury Flats: A New Beginning

Highbury Square

Highbury: You Will Never Be Forgotten

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11Moments- Henry Is ‘GOD’(Part 9)

TheGooner — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:08:35 +0000

The Conquerer

Its not everyday that you hear the commentator say:-

“I’ve seen most things in this league for the last 25 years. I haven’t seen anything like him. I said he was special. He’s more than that, he’s irreplacable.”

An 11Gunners tribute to a true legend called Thierry Henry. To ‘God‘ himself..

You didn’t think this series was going to get over without a special dedication to this special special player. The apotheosis of Thierry Henry to the platform of immortality may not be completely justifiable but ask a Gooner or any neutral for that matter who has watched Titi dawn the colours of Arsenal, we have our reasons for elevating the Frenchman to the level of Godliness. Football has been blessed with astounding players and will have many more in the future but to find a player who is revered as Henry is by Arsenal fans, it’ll be a Herculean asking.

On 18th October 2005, Henry stamped his name as the Greatest one to worn that red and white when he surpassed Ian Wright and beacme the club’s all time leading scorer. Ian Wright was during his own times an Arsenal legend. In the year 1997, he had overtaken Cliff Bastin’s record of 178 goals for the Gunners. At that time no one in their craziest imaginations could have imagined that the record wouldn’t last a decade even. But in the summer Arsene Wenger sold a promising Nicolas Anelka for a hitherto unkown French counterpart named Thierry Henry. People called it a terrible mistake, an error of judgement, today seriously I would like to meet those people.

From being a mercurial but largely incosistent teenage talent, Henry’s transformation began at Arsenal. After going goalless in his first eight games, the fans were losing some of their patience. But it indeed is a virtue for mankind as they would trade nothing for what was about to come from the Frenchman. He was a player who needed some moudling, some finishing touch an artist may say, and in Arsene Wenger he had just that. Henry still is and will always remain indebted to AW, he used to call him “The Boss” and the prodigy and the mentor shared a father-son relationship, the cornerstone of Arsenal’s tremendous success in the years to come.

When Henry began living up to his potential, he was our means he was our end. But one person who’ll disagree with this statement is the man himself. Modesty was his hallmark as he would always put the team before himself, it was quite apaprent during the league games. The commentators would often say “I wish Thierry would himself have taken that“, but that was never his attention. He set up Pires, Freddie and Bergkamp for an incalculable number of goals and yet he became our all time greatest goalscorer. Perhaps you now get the logic behing comparing him to the Almighty.

The day the master surpassed Ian Wright is a story in itself. The master wasn’t fully match fit and yet made the trip to Prague in a Group stage champions league encounter. He began on the bench and had to be brought in as an emergency substitute only because Jose Reyes suffered a knock in the middle of the game. Having been out for six weeks, you expect rustiness and some shakiness, well that’s mortals we are talking of again.

Six minutes after his arrival, he produced a masterpiece. An exquisite first touch, a quick turn and a shot from distance from the outside of his right foot. That put the master on level terms with Ian Wright. But he went one step further the same day. A swivel, a turn and a cool finish later, he had become our ‘All-Time Greatest Goalscorer‘.

A truly gratifying moment in the History of our club it was, Henry occupies such a special place in our hearts that I wouldn’t be surprised if some day in future the date of his arrival is celebrated as ‘Thierry Henry Day‘! He was the ‘King of Highbury‘ and shall forever remain our ‘GOD‘.

We Too Shall Miss You King Henry

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11Moments- The ‘Invincibles’(Part 8)

TheGooner — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:09:57 +0000

16th May 2004!!

Its the last day of the season. Arsenal have been long crowned champions but still an air of anxiety rings around Highbury. Arsenal’s record reads:-

Played-37 Won-25 Lost- well, exactly none.

Surely an already relegated Leicester cannot spoil the party, or can they?

Half time:- Arsenal 0- 1 Leicester..Anxiety mounting..

11Gunners recounts the ‘Greatest Season’ of all times, right now..

But then we were not champions for no reason. Ashley Cole’s weaving characteristic run wins us a spot kick, Henry duly obliges. The fans breathe again. Then, the touch of class that had been our hallmark all the way. Bergkamp piercing a ball to Vieira to slot the ball home and engrave our names in all the History books.

Arsenal ‘Unbeaten‘ for an entire season.

This didn’t evoke any disbelief or surprise from anybody. Anyone who had seen the Gunners play that season would agree that the “Invincibles” tag was in the making, that the boys fully earned that title, that the best team by a countrymile in the league was in North London (and no it wasn’t Spurs), that the English Premier league had been taken to the next level by the Professor and his tutored disciples.

The shift in power from Manchester to London had started 2 years ago when we had clinched the double and had lifted the League crown at Old Trafford. The previous season ahd been disappointment when despite having played breathtaking football, the tuitle was stolen by Man United. but, 2003-04 season was the one when Wenger’s endeavours meet their true destiny.

Arsenal had a characteristic aggressive yet positive aura about themselves. Like a tiger on its prey, we used to hunt down our oppositions, who more often than not never had clue as to what had struck them. Even before they could settle down, Arsenal got their rhythm going, “Sprint Relay Squad“, the commentators called us. the players knew each other so well that the co-ordination seemed effortless, a novice could accuse football of being such a simple game. But that was our mantra, we kept it simple and whisked past oppositions and you could tell from the boys faces, they enjoyed every bit of it, ensuring the fans enjoyed every bit of it, the fans worshipped the citadel of highbury they worshiped Henry’s pace, Pires’s technique, Ljungberg’s guile, Bergakmp’s precision and Vieira’s leadership.

The highlights of that season were:-

flaring tempers

The 0-0 draw at Man United and the ugly scenes after the game. Our response to all the criticism was our football on the pitch. Those who disgraced us were applauding us by the end of it all.

He was our man that day

The 4-2 victory against Liverpool. On a day when the chips were down, Henry produced an exhilarating display as we came back twice to beat the Merseysiders. the image of Henry dancing around a clueless Liverpool defense elates me even to this day.

Jubilations- a treat for the fans,not the Spurs fans!

The icing on the cake, the venue chosen for our victory march was none other than White hart Lane. As we danced around the stadium, the Spurs fans probably felt what wrong thwey had done to have been left at the other side of North London.

The unbeaten run didn’t end there, we carried our amazing form into the next season. A true Premeirship classic was the game against Middlesbrough when after being 3-1 down, we played an out of the ordinary 15 minutes to come back 5-3. We equalled Nottingham Forest’s record on that day and next week against Blackburn, we had surpassed them and made ourselves special in the history of over 100 years of English Football.

Then all good things must come to an end. A highly controversial defeat at Old Trafford stopped us in our tracks at 49. You beleive something like that was needed to stop this force.

However on all accounts this achievement remains the greatest for Arsenal Football Club and going one step ahead will take some doing.

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11Moments- The Prof And His Geeks(Part 7)

TheGooner — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:14:27 +0000

The Professor Who Taught Us Football!

Our definitive account of the Gunners history has reached the modern era. In the year 1996, a certain unknown, unestablished foreigner was given the mantle. The entire Premier League was skeptical. That skepticism has turned into affection and respect today for the man who heralded the Gunners into a higher domain, we have basked in glory under him and today 11Gunners looks at the arrival of the man, who has more in common with the club than his name, and his early years-the years of beginning of the transformation..

Arsenal had briefly tasted success in the 1994 European Cup Winners Cup final against Parma but the arrival of Wenger was the threshold of a new dawn. The style of the Professor was clearly distinct and his intentions were futuristic as he persuaded the club to invest in a new training ground and laid the foundation for the Emirates project. The club gave him his freedom to exercise his ingenuity and that relationship has worked magically for all- club, players and fans.

In his first full season in charge, he brought the Gunners their first Premier league triumph to staunch Ferguson’s monopoly over the same. An emphatic win over Everton on the final day ensured a league title and the zenith of success was reached with an equally impressive FA Cup triumph over Newcastle. Everyone stood up and took notice of this man who began building a team, rather a force which would deliver such high quality of football that had been previously unforeseen. That would take its time though and the fans suffered an agonizing time as we came close but failed at the finish line. Then came the 2001-02 season when it was time for all the diligence and rigor to pay off.

A squad marked by skill, pace and flawless co-ordination had been built by the Professor. With gunmen like Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Viera et al and the rigid back line of Sol Campbell, Keown and the skipper Adams; Arsenal scripted another Double. The League was won after a classic run of 13 victories towards the end of the season. The final nail in the coffin was handed to the Red Devils in their own hallowed den, boy it must have tasted sweet!!

The FA Cup was sealed after two strikes from Parlour and Ljungberg that were as good as any other you would ever see. This was no ordinary team. Everyone was awed by the class and the fluency of soccer, those who chanted “Boring-Boring Arsenal” were eating their words and looking for hideouts.

This was the result of Wenger’s amazing understanding of the game, the ability to make right decisions and the passion for the Beautiful Game. He is accredited with turning unkown names into footballing legends and Henry’s name tops the list in his disciples. The French striker till this day is indebted to the man who showed him the path.

There have been teams and there will be teams that will be remembered for numerous trophies but the style in which the Gunners did their bit distinguishes them from the rest. Next week we relive the season in which the ‘Impossible‘ was achieved. Till then, Keep Gunning..

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11Moments- ‘Seconds’ To Glory: ‘89(Part 6)

TheGooner — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:43:14 +0000

The Moment that Redefined History

There are moments that will come and go in life and there are moments in which you stand up and say “I was there”. Those who were there at Anfield on 26th May,1989 will still recall that night with vigour.While Arsenal fans, I am sure still get an adrenaline rush whenever this story is recounted , it was a horrific heartbreak for home team Liverpool.

Before The Game:

Week 37	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Liverpool	37	22	10	5	65	26	39	76
Arsenal	37	21	10	6	71	36	35	73

A tribute from 11Gunners to that special special night..

“Thomas, charging through the midfield… it’s up for grabs now… Thomas, right at the end!”

These were the moments when the History was re-written, when the songs of the home fans were turned into cries of shock and despair, when a bunch of fans travelling from North London created enough noise to drown an entire stadium. If the game of Football is an epic drama then the climax was there, on that night.

It seemed the script had been pre-written. The entire season had been a two horse race. The Gunners were initially scheduled to play Liverpool on 23rd April but on 15th April,tragedy had struk in the Liverpool game against nottingham in which 96 supporters had lost their lives.

The big game was rescheduled to the end of the season and there was everything, literally everything to play for on the last day.

The Gunners had held the edge throughout the season having been 15 points clear at the top at the turn of the year but the finish line seemed a distant dream when a defeat and draw combined with Liverpool’s uninterrupted success left us needing to beat the home side by a two goal margin on the final day. It’s unnecessary to say that nobody expected us to pull it off..

“You Haven’t Got A Prayer, Arsenal..”

is what they said..but then the unexpected goes into the history books doesn’t it, that is why 20 years later we are still talking about it..

Arsenal’s starting lineup confused people further, 3 center backs were as uncommon as sunshine in the arctics..that too in a game which we had to win by 2 goals at least…but manager George Graham had plans of his own. A goalless first half rose the anxiety among Gunner fans to a higher level. Liverpool could smell the victory…45 minutes and the scenes would be so different.

Seven minutes into the second half and we took the much needed lead..the scenes transformed..anticipation rose,but the home team wasn’t going to be easy to crack..

Arsenal fans had given up when Thomas squandered a one on one with Grobbelbar but then he was the one who was destined to have the last laugh..

Let your imaginations flow..

“John Lukic threw the ball out to Dixon, his raking pass found Smith and he in turn found Thomas. A fortunate bounce left Thomas clear on goal and, as the Liverpool defenders converged on him, the midfielder flicked the ball past Grobbelaar.”

After 18 yeas the dream had been fulfilled and how..the immensity of the achievement can be gauged from the fact that arsenal’s away jersey was dedicated to the Heroes of 1989..

After The Game:

Week 38	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Arsenal	38	22	10	6	73	36	37	76
Liverpool	38	22	10	6	65	28	37	76

A League Won not on Points, not on the Goal Difference, but on the Goals Scored!! Now Beat That..

We the Gooners bow down to salute those who defied the ordinary to etch themselves out..

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11Moments- ‘Double’ The Fun: ‘71(Part 5)

TheGooner — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:28:33 +0000

The Distinguished Men

I can barely imagine what it would have felt like to be an Arsenal fan in the year 1969. 12th position in First Division, knocked out in FA Cup 3rd round replay, trophy-less for a long 17 years, despairing times those must have been. The 1970-71 Season didn’t exactly start well either. Early in the Season, the Gunners got hammered 5-0 by Stoke. What happened next, was a fairy tale and 11Gunners relives the story..

Once upon a time, there was a group of individuals whom everybody knew to have talent but they lacked the Silverware backing through which they could prove themselves. People had their doubts whether this team could make it big and the apprehensions were at their peak when Stoke thrashed us on a fateful 26th September, 1970. That defeat instead turned out to be the blessing in disguise. The boys stepped up a gear and took English football by storm.

14 games without defeat in which they had drawn only 3 saw them make headway into a 3 pronged Title race – Leeds being the clear favorites, Liverpool and Arsenal close on their heels. But this story has its share of twists and turns. The Arsenal team was one which didn’t boast of any renowned star but a group of diligent players who complemented each other to good effect. Their attitude was their hallmark and captain Frank McLintock was a symbol of that positive energy which a team needs.

“Now is the time for you to be really ambitious and to aim for the success which may never be possible for you as players again in your lifetimes.”

These were the words of inspiration from the Captain when Arsenal looked in an ominous mood but overhauling Leeds was something nobody expected frankly. An FA Cup semifinal victory over Stoke and the captain gladly announced:-

“We are going for the Double”

The climax is what makes the story special. Picture this – Last day of the Season, victory and our names enter the Histroy books, defeat and Leeds take away all the Glory, and where do we tarvel – only a few kilometers away to a place called White Hart Lane, a place where we ahve received so much “Love and Affection” over the years. Their intentions were clarified by their captain:-

“Arsenal have got as much chance of being handed the title by Spurs as I have of being given the Crown Jewels.”

I do not know if he was actually given the crown jewels but Arsenal did their bit in this one and they had to wait a long 88 minutes to do that. It was nothing comapred to the 17 year wait, was it, and thumbs up to this romanticism we call “Football”. Nightmarish for the Spurs fans, and since then to this day they have been destined to play second fiddle to us!

We became only the second team of the Century to complete a Double and altough the feat was repeated a number of times by a number of clubs including the Wenger-grown Arsenal but that feat in 1970-71 was by all means special.

May the Glory days come back, Waiting..

This high flying group of Gunners weren’t close to being satisfied. Liverpool stood between us and History as we squared up against them on a hot may afternoon at Wembley. The weather got the better of the two teams who failed to find breakthrough in normal time. 2 minutes into Extra Time, Liverpool struck and the dream became a distant blur. I wasn’t talking about attitude for no reason earlier. We rallied back to equalise and then the master Charlie George clinched it with a thunderous shot from 20 yards. Graham celebrating with his arms outstreched is an image I am sure you would have seen plenty of times.

We Were There!

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11Moments- Good Times Bad Times(Part 4)

TheGooner — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:26:55 +0000

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..

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11Moments- Of Glory and More(Part 3)

TheGooner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:58:46 +0000

So we were in the 1930’s, a Landmark Era in our Club’s Chronological History. It all began on April 26^th 1930; the day can be arguably regarded as the laying of the foundation stone on which pillars of success were raised..

11Gunners explaines..

True to his word, Herbert Chapman built a team of Winners and they tasted first blood by winning the historical FA Cup in 1930. It was just a sign of things, the signaling of a new dawn. They followed it up with a League victory the following year. On the way they netted 127 goals, a then league record. They inflicted defeats like 9-1, 7-1 and 7-2 on the hapless oppositions who could only admire the class of football. The frontline composed of Cliff Bastin, Jack Lambert and David Jack were a fearsome force put together and they simply ran riot in the league much to the delight of the fans who had waited a long time for this. After narrowly losing out to Everton in the league standings of 31-32, the Gunners bounced back in 32-33 season, their dominance was pretty apparent. The popularity Arsenal manufactured can be gauged from the fact that in the following season the London underground Station was rechristened from Gillespie Road to “Arsenal”. Chapman who was behind this achievement himself said-

“Whoever heard of Gillespie Road, it’s Arsenal around here”!!

: Arsenal Underground

The force was clearly surging and it had engulfed most of London by now.

Chapman’s premature death is still mourned by the North London faithful. But the seeds he had sown would continue to bear fruits and the testimony to that were the following seasons. In the next few seasons they went from strength to strength and their record read somewhat like:-

League Champions-1933-34

League Champions-1934-35

FA Cup Champions-1935-36

League Champions-1937-38

The boys now under the tutelage of George Allison made sure that Chapman ”Lived while he Died” and that his name would be immortalized forever in the pages of History. In the 34-35 season, we saw off a stern challenge from Sunderland and on 9^th march 1935 a total of 73,295 crowded up at Highbury to see the Gunners take on their nearest title contenders. The game ended 0-0 but that number would you believe is still the record attendance for an Arsenal home game, consider the increase in world population since then and you’d realize the magnitude of this event. Ted Drake was our main man then, his mammoth record of 42 goals a season still holds and we are talking of a Club which has seen forwards like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright. He was a predator and on a chilly December night at Villa Park in 1935 he put “7” past them, each a classic in its own way.

The achievements of that era remain unparalleled even today. And are you thinking what I’m thinking, is this season going to be the dawning of such an era..

Keep your fingers crossed all you Gooners..

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11Moments- I Am ‘Legend’: Herbert Chapman(Part 2)

TheGooner — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:24:31 +0000

Some Are Born Legend

The time machine was roaring again, yes its that time of the week again, the time to peak into the past one more time. Fasten your seat belts Chaps, I mean Herbert’s Chap’s..

11Gunners narrates the story of a ‘True Legend‘..

One fine day in June 1925,an advertisement in the Athletic news read somewhat like:-

Arsenal Football Club is open to receive applications for the position of TEAM MANAGER. He must be experienced and possess the highest qualifications for the post, both as to ability and personal character. Gentlemen whose sole ability to build up a good side depends on the payment of heavy and exhorbitant transfer fees need not apply.

Battling with relegations for two previous seasons, Arsenal was in a state that would be rather unimaginable for the fans of the modern game. In 1925,the club appointed an Englishman in hopes of a brighter future. His name was Herbert Chapman. Ask any Gunner who comes every Saturday evening with his grandson to Ashburton Grove, Chapman’s appointment as of date would be regarded by him and many others as the turning point in the History of the Club.

Chapman arrived at Highbury having guided Huddersfield Town to some unanticipated success. There was a definite air of expectations. Some sagacious person has said that “Patience is a virtue for success”, and Gunner fans had an excruciating wait before Chapman’s work started bearing results. Though he had proved himself to be a Master Tactician as soon as he arrived,the glory years were still distant. Second place in 1925 and FA Cup runners up 2 years later signified progress but the real magic was yet to come. The Master’s first trophy came in 1930 to spark off the beginning of a decade dominated by our very own Arsenal. Title success came in 1931 and then 2 years later and Chapman had repayed every bit of the faith people had shown.

His ideas and strategies were Revolutionary at a time when the game in itself was developing. His contribution was not restricted to the club itself but extended to other realms of the Beautiful Game. Among them notable are the use of Floodlights, Second Referee, Penalty Area Semi-Circle and lots more.

As an individual, he was an astute personality and a disciplinarian. Shrewd signings of Cliff Bastin, David Jack among others brought about the transformation in our fortunes. All of us remember the Highbury Clock, don’t we, well he was the Man behind its inception.

However his path to Greatness was staunched by his premature death due to pneumonia in 1934. The entire footballing world was grieved by this eventuality. As a tribute to the Legend, the side won 3 back-to-back Titles in the forthcoming years.

We should all take a moment to appreciate the Great Man, who had a Great Life and he remains Immortal in the Hearts of the Fans, in the Holy Crest of Arsenal, his Dream, his Vision..

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11Moments- The ‘Beginning’(Part 1)

TheGooner — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:58:40 +0000

We were feeling slightly nostalgic today and as we usually do, we went overboard with the nostalgia. So starting today, we bring to you a special feature- “11 Moments”, Moments that shaped and in some cases redefined the illustrious History of our revered Club. A pensive of memories has been prepared. Are you ready to take the plunge?

An 11Gunners special begins right now..

A bit of trivia to start spicing things up:-

“How do we better know the Woolwich Armament Factory today?”

Ahh, you guessed it, I’m sure , its our very own Arsenal Football Club. A bloke named David Danskin founded a “Team” with three of his friends. A small step for him, a giant leap in retrospect. The numbers modestly grew up to 15 and the “Club” bought its first prized possession- A football! This group didn’t have a kit, nor had a place to play and didn’t even have a name but they had one thing in abundance, talent. An impressive 6-0 victory in their premature days caught the attention of the then popular Nottingham Forest team, who provided us with our jersey, inception of the Red and White which has since become our hallmark.

The club was referred to as Dial Square in those days till 1891 when the name Woolwich Arsenal was adapted.

As a Professional club, the Gunners began their journey in 1893 in the second division and moved to the top only in 1904. The club’s erstwhile geographical location had become a barrier to its growth and financial problems marred the future of the London club.

Henry Norris is a name we should all bow down to. He was a visionary who anticipated that for Arsenal to survive, let alone become a powerhouse, the club simply had to move. After many considerations, Highbury, on the north of river Thames was chosen as the viable option. Despite vehement protests from the then settled London club, Tottenham Hotspurs, Woolwich Arsenal were granted their home in North London. In the course of time Highbury became a fortress, serving for 93 years and giving us all some scintillating and unforgettable memories.

Next week we bring to you another page from the memorablia. Till then “Be Proud, Be a Gunner“..

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