My first live Match:
On TV: League Cup Final 1969. We lost to Swindon Town 3-1 in a mud wrestling contest.
In the flesh:
August 1976 v Newly promoted Bristol City. We lost 1-0 to a Paul Cheeseley goal. It was Malcolm Macdonald's debut for the gunners, but he was totally outshone by the young Bristol City striker.
Cheeseley is a player maybe none of you have heard of, but he has an incredibly sad tale to tell. He was a fabulous young striker who scored a huge number of goals in the old div 2 and was largely responsibe for getting City promoted to the old first division.
It seemed the fairy tale had no end in sight as he scored the winner against the mighty Arsenal in City's first top flight game. He was watched by Don Revie who was rumoured to be about to call up Cheeseley to the full England squad. However, just 3 days later the bottom fell out of Cheeseley's world as he broke his leg in Bristol City's very next match, a midweek fixture against Stoke City. Paul never played competitive football again, and he now runs a pub in Bristol. Cheeseley's wage at the time of his injury was 160 quid a week. In amongst the Henrys Bergkamps and Bradys, it's worth sparing a thought for the Cheeseleys of football.
My first Fave player:
Chippy
My first bitter disapointment:
I was too young to be disappointed in 1969, but I've still not recovered from 1980. Surely the worst year in any gooner's life (well, the ones who were alive at the time). We lost the FA Cup final to West Ham from a goal scored off Trevor Brooking's shoulder. Four days later we lost on penalties to Valencia in the cup winner's cup final. Shortly after that, Juventus stole Liam Brady, and due to a bizarre international transfer rule at the time, we were paid an absolute pittance.
My first meeting with an Arsenal Player:
Sammy Nelson.
My first away game:
Ironically enough, Bristol City in 1976
'My' first trophy:
The league title as part of the double in 71. Talking of doubles, here's an interesting piece of trivia for you: what did Arsenal do in the 2001/02 season that had never been done before and - according to the FA - will never be done again? Answer: do the double the 'wrong way around', i.e. win the FA Cup before winning the league. The FA have recently stated that the FA Cup will always be played after the last league match of the season.
The closest anyone else has come to that feat was Liverpool in 1989 who would have accomplished exactly the same thing but for a magical Michael Thomas moment.
On TV: League Cup Final 1969. We lost to Swindon Town 3-1 in a mud wrestling contest.
In the flesh:
August 1976 v Newly promoted Bristol City. We lost 1-0 to a Paul Cheeseley goal. It was Malcolm Macdonald's debut for the gunners, but he was totally outshone by the young Bristol City striker.
Cheeseley is a player maybe none of you have heard of, but he has an incredibly sad tale to tell. He was a fabulous young striker who scored a huge number of goals in the old div 2 and was largely responsibe for getting City promoted to the old first division.
It seemed the fairy tale had no end in sight as he scored the winner against the mighty Arsenal in City's first top flight game. He was watched by Don Revie who was rumoured to be about to call up Cheeseley to the full England squad. However, just 3 days later the bottom fell out of Cheeseley's world as he broke his leg in Bristol City's very next match, a midweek fixture against Stoke City. Paul never played competitive football again, and he now runs a pub in Bristol. Cheeseley's wage at the time of his injury was 160 quid a week. In amongst the Henrys Bergkamps and Bradys, it's worth sparing a thought for the Cheeseleys of football.
My first Fave player:
Chippy
My first bitter disapointment:
I was too young to be disappointed in 1969, but I've still not recovered from 1980. Surely the worst year in any gooner's life (well, the ones who were alive at the time). We lost the FA Cup final to West Ham from a goal scored off Trevor Brooking's shoulder. Four days later we lost on penalties to Valencia in the cup winner's cup final. Shortly after that, Juventus stole Liam Brady, and due to a bizarre international transfer rule at the time, we were paid an absolute pittance.
My first meeting with an Arsenal Player:
Sammy Nelson.
My first away game:
Ironically enough, Bristol City in 1976
'My' first trophy:
The league title as part of the double in 71. Talking of doubles, here's an interesting piece of trivia for you: what did Arsenal do in the 2001/02 season that had never been done before and - according to the FA - will never be done again? Answer: do the double the 'wrong way around', i.e. win the FA Cup before winning the league. The FA have recently stated that the FA Cup will always be played after the last league match of the season.
The closest anyone else has come to that feat was Liverpool in 1989 who would have accomplished exactly the same thing but for a magical Michael Thomas moment.
