The Highbury Thread

[topcatcole]

Usually Sports Illustrated soccer coverage is just one step short of ridiculous, but there is a good Highbury story on there today. It made me start thinking about what Highbury, The Home of Football has meant to all of us.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/arash_markazi/03/10/hot.read/index.html

For me, I had been an Arsenal fan for 25 years before an Englishman that I had never met and who had never met me was kind enough to help find a ticket to see a couple of matches. Jeff, I can't thank you enough!

Coming into the stadium was like nothing I had ever experienced. It IS the Home of Football, in a way that no other stadium can claim. From the Art Deco outside to the most perfect pitch this side of heaven, the place calls out to football fans that "this is your place".

Then the teams came out. Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Seaman, Wiltord, Cole. The names I had watched at every opportunity on TV, right there in front of me.

The ref cheated. I am sure he only allowed 10 minutes of play per half, although somehow my watch had broken too and showed that two hours had gone by. It went by so fast-only time for a few pictures and then off to the Gunners for a drink.

Then back to the stadium for a last picture. The guard took the picture for us so that we could all be in it-what a great time, what a great club, what a grande dame of a stadium home.

And it will soon be gone.

I have heard you can't go forward if you are looking backward, but just for a moment, take some time to share your best memories of Highbury with the rest of us.

[mixmastermatt]

Where to start? I first went in 1994 when we played West Ham at home in the 94/95 season. I was 10 years old and at that point.... that seemed like the greatest day of my life. It saddened me that David Seaman and Ian Wright didn't play that day but I got to see Paul Merson who at the time was my favrioute player in the whole wide world. It was 6 years till my next trip there though when I went to see us play Spartak Moscow in the champs league (might of been lokomitv). I had been to Wembley several times to watch us play in the CL but it never compared to Highbury. Stunk of piss as well. Some great great memorys at highbury include being in the north bank for THAT Thierry goal Vs Sp*rs.... ******** I still remember it vividly.... awsome. I remember seeing him juggle the ball outside our penalty area. I remember the skidmarks on the pitch behind as he slid up to the Sp*rs fans when celebrating. Another great time was Keowns testimonial. Getting to see Overmars one more time. Seeing Becks play against us in real life, seeing Gazza play, seeing Dixon one more time... but most importantly seeing Ian Wright play in the flesh. I will also remember that night for the 20 minute chant of "We're the north bank, We're the north bank, We're the north bank Highbury"
I remember the chants of "Seeeaaman, Seeeaaman, Seeeaaman" that used to come out of the North bank and then one year it changed to "Leeeeman, Leeeeman, Leeeeman" when Mad Jens took over.
I remember having shit views when I was lodged in the lower west up the back.
I remember shouting abuse at the away fans next to me in the lower west.
I remember nearly getting kicked out of Highbury for swearing my head off all game. I had been on a complete bender then that day and had smuggled beer into the stadium on a CL... that was great.
I remember being in the Lower west when we were losing 3-1 to Middlesbrough. I remember grabbing the kid next to me who couldnt of been older than 10 years old and was standing on his chair to try and see the pitch when Reyes scored that 4th goal and shaking him violently I was so happy. I remember that same 10 year old kid shaking me even more violently on that same goal.
I remember Reyes debut and Henry's thunderbolt that game.
I remember Laurens last minute penalty winner vs Sp*rs.
I remember the sound of the seats slamming shut when everyone stands up.

Man I am feeling sad after thinking about all of that.... I will never get to go again :(

Buy hey ho, heres to the Grove!

[surfcam]

Seeing 2 matches at Highbury was the highlight of my sporting life. I'm sure I will enjoy The Grove, but not as much as THOF.

[billyho96]

I remember thinking that the Arsenal/Manchester United rivalry was the most compelling rivalry in the world, especially when you consider for a decade one or the other won the league every year.

I got to see Manchester United come to Highbury for the very last time, live and in person. It was one of those moments that you knew was special while it was going on. I just looked around the stands and pitch almost in tears the entire time.

never thought, I'd see the place in person.........then I got to see three matches this final season, I'll always remember it.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f306/billyho96/arsenalpic.jpg

[PsychedelicCeltic]

It's the only stadium I've ever had dreams about.

I will cry when the final whistle blows vs Wigan.

[evanpemsocr]

I just wish I could have gone to Highbury once in my life, there was no way it was ever possible. But I WILL go to a game at Emirates Stadium!

[DougG_ATL]

Going to Highbury last November is one of the best experiences of my life. Few times have I ever felt adrenaline flowing through me like that and felt such a sense of awe. The two matches I attended felt like I was getting a chance to taste history.

I recently put the kit I wore to those matches, my tickets and programs into a shadow box, so I can have them remind me of Highbury forever.

[49unbeaten]

I can still see Henry dink home pk against pompey and then run by himself along the east stand cuping his ear....gives me the chills

[Skizz]

More recent memory for me...a few of us went to the Champions' League game against Thun. It was bang on my birthday. I remember thinking "here we go again" when the ball looped over Almunia to level the match. I remember thinking the same when the timer went off the scoreboard to read "AFC". But when Bergkamp won it, we were sitting front row of the North Bank, and Aleksandr Hleb (the most foreign looking footballer I have seen play for us) screamed "HAVE IT!!!" at me and my mates while piling on DB10. That's when I knew that no other stadium can compare to our beloved Highbury. I genuinely wish we could stay there forever, but the time has come to leave. It is hard enough now.

bigg skizzle

[Dave_M]

I had been an Arsenal fan for 25 years. Then the teams came out. Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, Seaman, Wiltord, Cole.

Tony didn't play that game huh ;)

[Dave_M]

For me the stand out moment is by far and away the goosebumps I got as i emerged from the tunnel onto the dugout inches from the hallowed turf. I didn't have a camera with me that day. I didn't need one. The photo is in the Bolton Programme!

Rick - as ever - Thank You

[arsenalgirl30016]

For me the stand out moment is by far and away the goosebumps I got as i emerged from the tunnel onto the dugout inches from the hallowed turf. I didn't have a camera with me that day. I didn't need one. The photo is in the Bolton Programme!

Rick - as ever - Thank You
Dave-no fair stealing my memory! ;) It is the same as Dave's-walking down that narrow tunnel (the same one the players have emerged from since 1913)and seeing the pitch so close and green and beautiful-it took my breath away. I'll never forget that day EVER. Also the special moment that I had with Freddie in the museum :D

[CTGooner]

Walking through the street with all the other supporters was great. you could feel the energy building. getting into the stadium, walking through the corridor behind the west bank. double fisting budweisers and approaching the "No alcohol beyond this point" sign. Finally figuring out why people were only buying one beer at a time.

The pitch is what shocked me most though. seeing it in perfect condition, even though it was January is quite a comment on their grounds crew. oh, and 7-0 against Middlesborough was prtty fun too.

[red & wite army]

It was in 2004, PSV vs Arsenal at Highbury in the CL!

I had never been on the board before, and had no way to get a ticket. I ended up thinking I would only get to go on a tour of the stadium. Turns out that in the week of a CL game, there are no tours....I was gutted!

I went to the stadium with my father just so we could feel the atmosphere:
-The tube pulling up with a crowd of Arsenal shirted people was amazing to see!
-As we came out of the station, a tout came and offered us two tickets for 60 quid each. My dad told them to forget it, and my heart sank!
-Eventually we got them down to 30 quid each, and by that time the CL song was on.
-We ran in, hoping our tickets were real! We got in, and were looking for our seats...the frikking 5th row! I was a few metres from my damn heroes!!!
-The crowd banter and atmosphere is amasing, as well as the flicking up of flapping seats, as Henry sprints down the flank!!!

Amasing!:)
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/user_images/496/397Highbury_1.jpg

[red & wite army]

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/user_images/496/397Highbury_3.jpg

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/user_images/496/397Highbury_2.jpg