Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Fulham Away
It was the 23 March 1968. The best selling single that week was the Legend of Xanadu by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich which shows how much fun life must have been then.
Just another Saturday in another disappointing season in a disappointing era. The 1960s were the last time that lot up the road where cock of the walk for any length of time. Or longer than 32 minutes.
We, that would be The Arsenal, had just gone nine games without a win. We'd just played three home games and not scored. Our last game had seen Wolves beat us 2-0 at Highbury.
The Cups were keeping things interesting. The week before we'd beaten Swansea City in the FA Cup and had been drawn at home to Birmingham City in the 5th Round. We lost that in a replay.
We had reached the League Cup Final having beaten Huddersfield Town home and away in the semis. We played Leeds United in the Final and we lost that.
That game against Fulham though is not without interest to Arsenal fans with an interest in their history. That day at Craven Cottage saw Bob Wilson and Pat Rice start only their second game for the club.
George Armstrong was where he always was for the Arsenal; on the wing. George Graham wore the number nine that day. Terry Neil was captain and David Court was back in the side after a lengthy lay off.
We won, 3-1, and both Graham and Court were on the score sheet.
But what is remarkable about that game is that the six names I mentioned above went on to have such long and illustrious careers at the Arsenal. Bob Wilson may have retired in 1974 but he kept returning to the Arsenal as goalkeeping coach. Pat Rice has only just bloody well left!
Armstrong unfortunately died as a member of the coaching staff. Terry Neill and George Graham both managed the club and indeed both managed Tottenham; Neill, bless him, helped the bastards get relegated! And David Court returned in 1996, 26 years after leaving, to help Liam Brady develop the players of the future.
Six players who went on to serve the Arsenal on and off the field for so many years. Can any other club, bar Liverpool and their impressive array of TV pundits, match such a record?
Just another Saturday in another disappointing season in a disappointing era. The 1960s were the last time that lot up the road where cock of the walk for any length of time. Or longer than 32 minutes.
We, that would be The Arsenal, had just gone nine games without a win. We'd just played three home games and not scored. Our last game had seen Wolves beat us 2-0 at Highbury.
The Cups were keeping things interesting. The week before we'd beaten Swansea City in the FA Cup and had been drawn at home to Birmingham City in the 5th Round. We lost that in a replay.
We had reached the League Cup Final having beaten Huddersfield Town home and away in the semis. We played Leeds United in the Final and we lost that.
That game against Fulham though is not without interest to Arsenal fans with an interest in their history. That day at Craven Cottage saw Bob Wilson and Pat Rice start only their second game for the club.
George Armstrong was where he always was for the Arsenal; on the wing. George Graham wore the number nine that day. Terry Neil was captain and David Court was back in the side after a lengthy lay off.
We won, 3-1, and both Graham and Court were on the score sheet.
But what is remarkable about that game is that the six names I mentioned above went on to have such long and illustrious careers at the Arsenal. Bob Wilson may have retired in 1974 but he kept returning to the Arsenal as goalkeeping coach. Pat Rice has only just bloody well left!
Armstrong unfortunately died as a member of the coaching staff. Terry Neill and George Graham both managed the club and indeed both managed Tottenham; Neill, bless him, helped the bastards get relegated! And David Court returned in 1996, 26 years after leaving, to help Liam Brady develop the players of the future.
Six players who went on to serve the Arsenal on and off the field for so many years. Can any other club, bar Liverpool and their impressive array of TV pundits, match such a record?
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