Drawing 1-1 with Wolves at home is just the sort of result to give one credibility in those 'what was your first game?' discussions. Nobody wants to be the sort of glory boy whose first game is a 4-0 win.
Mine was a 0-0 with Southampton when I was 9. Amazingly, I went back. :-\
One of my early solo visits to Highbury was a 1-0 loss to Wolves. Dave Richards scored the goal. I'm pretty sure Andy Gray was his strike partner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burney
Funny old game.
The 82-83 season was a bizarre time to commit to being an Arsenal fan, really. Brady and Stapleton (who had been their main attraction) gone. The fag end of the Neil era before the dead hand of Howe descended. Before the arrival of Charlie Nicholas when all our hopes were invested in Vladimir Petrovic and Tony Woodcock was our top goalscorer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
Mind you, the mid-70s was even worse, I suppose. Almost as if supporting football teams isn't a rational decision.
John Richards, shirley?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
My first game at THOF was a 0-0 draw vs Stoke. Afterwards Alan Durban uttered his famous quote 'If you want entertainment, go to the circus'. It was supposed to be one of the two matches shown on MOTD, they showed about 2 minutes iirc. I was hooked...
When I was young the TV used to show the top 6 of the league table, then the bottom 6. So I never had any idea where we were in the table. Somewhere in the middle, presumably.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burney
The first team I used to go and watch live was that of Brady, Rix, Sunderland and Stapleton, so it did have some merits. I liked David Price best. I liked his hair and his kind face.
Yes, John Richards. Brainfárt.Quote:
Originally Posted by 71 Guns - channeling the spirit of Mr Hat
Haha I was at that Stoke game as well. It was one thing Stoke being dull and defensive, the trouble was, we weren't much better. :-(
I do think the relentless mediocrity of much of the period 1980-85 does offer some mitigation of the fans' readiness to embrace George Graham and his strange and refreshing interest in actually winning things rather than pootling about in mid-table turning into Aston Villa.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
Indeed. Fans today don't know they're born...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
Sir C "One of my early solo visits to Highbury was a 1-0 loss to Wolves. Dave Richards scored the goal. I'm pretty sure Andy Gray was his strike partner."
That was a shock result as Wolves were lousy that season but somehow contrived to do the Double over us
Sammy Nelson pulled up with a back injury in the warm-up so Gatting had to step up from the bench
Burney "Mine was a 0-0 with Southampton when I was 9."
Ooh that might be Easter '83 :-)
2 days later, Spurs whipped us 5-0 :-(
Good areas, so. Wasn't John Richards just back from a lengthy injury?Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva Prat Vegas
It was a stooping header at the far post. North Bank end. :-(
John Richards kept breaking legs
His own mainly
Impressive memory you have of the goal
Too lowly an opposition for my Dad to attend though I remember walking round some warehouse with him and him having the hump when we went one behind
Did you and the NB sing "It's flubbing cold in here?"
The thing I've never understood is how Steve and Mike Gatting look virtually nothing like one another. I imagine Steve remains grateful for this fact, since even before Malcolm Marshall broke his face, Gatt was never anyone's idea of a matinee idol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva Prat Vegas
Pre-season friendly vs Portsmouth in 1980(?) I think it was 1-0 to us :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Burney
I don't remember it being cold but it was certainly dark by the end so it must have been winter time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva Prat Vegas
We subsequently beat them in the FA cup semi, didn't we?
How come I can remember this shít but I've no recollection of who we played at the weekend?
Did we play at the weekend?
My first ever game was George Graham's testimonial at Selhurst Park in 1980 (the evening the SAS stormed the Iranian Embassy). A Palace side played a Chelsea side. The Palace side won 3-2.Quote:
Originally Posted by PSRB
Yes - Feb 79
Yes
To answer your memory question , 100% agree - We were young and fresh back then
Strange how we past we can remember with a snap of the fingers and yet anything modern....harrumph (scratches head)
Often I have to pause with disbelief that this is the 21st Century let alone wonder which Decade this currently is
I've got to the stage where I've started having to actually think about what age I am. I veer between 43 and 46 and have to concentrate to remember I'm 45.Quote:
Originally Posted by Viva Prat Vegas
45 still? That's amazing., It's like when you were 38 for three years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burney
Mike is looking surprisingly healthy these days. He turned up on some facebook photos on my timeline at a dinner in Galle after the Test. Needless to say he had an empty plate in front of him in most of themQuote:
Originally Posted by Burney
Really? I used to see him regularly in Enfield a couple of years ago walking his dog. He looked like an egg with a goatee beard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
As was mine however I was a little older on a school trip to London.Quote:
Originally Posted by Burney
At a guess 79-80 season?