Report - A week in London

[red & wite army]

So I thought I'd give you guys a brief report on the 1 week holiday I spent in London earlier this month...

I just finished school in December, and decided to travel on my own. The focus of the trip was Arsenal, so I didn't want to lag some other uninterested person around with me.

After flying via Windhoek, and spending 10 hours waiting for my connecting flight, I landed at Gatwick at 5am on the 9th of January and headed off to the flat I would stay in. I was based in Islington and was a 5 minute walk from the Caledonian Road tube station. This was just 2 stops away from Arsenal on the Picadilly line. I could actually see the Emirates Stadium from the kitchen window! Every morning I would sit and eat breakfast, looking out of that very window.

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SO I unpacked my bags, had a bite to eat, and headed off to the stadium after being in the country for a total of 3 hours.

The very first thing I did was made the walk to see what is left of Highbury. I took the same route that I took back when I was in London in 2004. It's sad to see the little that is left of that once great stadium. That facade still oozes history when you stand in front of it - it is inexplainable.

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I then walked to the Emirates - our new home. At first, I wasn't all that appreciative of it. It was exciting to see it, but I had no connection to it. I sort of went through the motions of walking around it and getting pictures taken in front of it. I of course took a look through the Arsenal shop as well. The section where the Armoury is, is completely different to how I expected. Judging by pictures on the net, I would have expected to enter the stadium that way, at the cannons. However, I always got to the stadium by the footbridge.

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[Bluto11]

good stuff!

[arsenalgirl30016]

That is a great picture from the window-being able to see the Grove like that must have been cool!

[red & wite army]

So on the evening of the 9th, I got geared up for the game against Spurs. I had a bad feeling about the match on the days leading up to the game, but I forgot about that after having a few rounds with Bigg, SpikeFC, TheLieutenant and a few other fans down at the pub.

We then headed off to the stadium, I bought my match programme, and we got to our seats. All exciting stuff for a fan on his first trip to the Emirates. First impressions - amazing! The colours were all so bright and the field almost just sucked you in. I doubt there is a bad seat in that stadium. It is the perfect place for a show-case of football. As you would all know, the boys played like shite. Sitting in the front row of the tier directly above the Sp*rs fans was also pretty interesting - you don't often see such a concentration of wankers in a small area! Their stupid songs pissed me off. Their shirts with "Berbatov is God" pissed me off, and their faces pissed me off. So as you can imagine, when Theo stuck away that equiliser...I went MAD! DOn't think I've ever screamed and sworn so loudly in my life before. I didn’t even watch Theo celebrate, because I was too busy waving my scarf and pulling signs at the Spuds below.

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Anyways, when the final whistle blew, we all went back to the pub for some drinks. I was just glad that I hadn't seen us lose to Spurs – whilst the regulars were just miffed.

[red & wite army]

The morning after the match, I went on a Legends tour hosted by Charlie George. It set me back 35 gbp, but it was certainly worth it. Charlie tells you some great stories, and you feel like it’s more then a job for him. Also, the people on the tour are generally very passionate, and are not just random fans that know little – you won’t be getting any school kids on a tour with you!

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It was amazing walking and sitting in the director’s box – you get to see so much of the stadium. In the change rooms, we were allowed to actually have our pictures taken in the players’ shirts! Charlie told us that Almunia’s shirt was missing because Mad Jens knicked it in jealousy!

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At the end of the tour, Charlie sat in the press room, answered any questions, and then had a bit of a signing session. Cleverly, the club gave us a free package at the beginning of the tour. This included a black and white photo of Charlie holding the FA Cup in ’71. He signed that for me. The package also included a magazine about the club, and most impressively – a smart black box, with red Arsenal ribbons tied around it. Inside a velvet pouch, inside the box, was a classy silver keyring, which had the cannon and crest dangling from it.

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Charlie seemed like a really great and genuine guy. He was really down to earth and very friendly.

The tour was a great experience, and highly recommendable. It fused the old Arsenal with the new Arsenal beautifully.

[arsenalgirl30016]

I am looking forward to doing the Legends tour in a couple of months! Hopefully we can fit it into our schedule! :)

Great pictures again!

[surfcam]

Good stuff! Keep the story going. I can't wait for the part where you are asleep on Aaron's couch!:D

[red & wite army]

Good stuff! Keep the story going. I can't wait for the part where you are asleep on Aaron's couch!:D

I think he should rather explain that part - he definitely knows or remembers more about that night then I do!

[arsenalgirl30016]

I think he should rather explain that part - he definitely knows or remembers more about that night then I do!
It's ok Aaron, Cam's wife had to carry him home when we were all over together a couple of years ago and Mikey is photographed "asleep" often...... :D

[surfcam]

It's ok Aaron, Cam's wife had to carry him home when we were all over together a couple of years ago and Mikey is photographed "asleep" often...... :D

FFS! Nobody carried anybody!! Leigh carrying me would be quite a sight though.

We left at 1:30 am because she wanted me to stop drinking!!:)

[red & wite army]

The day is Saturday the 12th – and it starts off in the all too familiar fashion of waking up in a completely unfamiliar place! I open my eyes – I’m lying on a couch, and there is a HUGE TV in front of me. I peer across the room, and Bigg is typing away at his PC on none other then Bigsoccer. By this time I realized where I was, and also realized that I perhaps should have gone a bit easier on the booze the night before, clubbing in Croydon!!

After taking a couple of intermittent breaks along the way as I puked my guts out on the pavement, Bigg and I got to the train station. I some how had to borrow money for a 7 quid train ticket – which was sad considering I left my flat the night before with 60 gbp in my pockets!

Feeling pretty weak, I made my way to my flat, to get changed and sort myself out while Bigg went his way to meet Rick for breakfast.

The match was in just a few hours, and I felt like death!

[red & wite army]

By the time I had showered, changed, eaten, and had a cup of tea at my flat, I was feeling distinctly better.

I made my way to Arsenal station, and met Bigg and SpikeFC at the usual meeting place - in front of the match programme stand. As usual, we headed off to the pub, but today I was NOT touching a beer! Went for a greasy plate of chips instead...

Match time...Arsenal vs Birmingham. I got to my seat, and the stadium had a very different feel being a day time match. Today I was hoping for a win, and for the team to play a lot better then they did in the draw against Sp*rs.

So the game kicked off, and I was pleased to see all my favourite players right in front of me! Was a bit pissed off that Theo was starting though.

About 5 minutes into the game, I realized that the old geezer sitting right next to me was a Brum! He continually cheered on Birmingham and moaned when we won a penalty and Ade scored. This became more then annoying...
Then they bloody equilised, everyone goes silent, and he jumps up out of his seat in joy, hands above his head, screaming, "Come on you Birmingham!!!"
Everybody turned around in disgust and he deserved what was said to him! The steward led him out, and to my disappointment, he was led back to his seat 5 minutes later. And he carried on the whole match long...

If you thought you were angry about drawing at home with Birmingham, think of me, seeing that happen, WITH a complete toss talking crap all match long!

[AtlantaGunner]

Fantastic. The pictures are great. Post more if you have them. Sounds like an incredible experience. I would have liked your story more had you socked the Brum in the nose. Oh well...

[Publius]

Feeling pretty weak, I made my way to my flat, to get changed and sort myself out while Bigg went his way to meet Rick for breakfast.

The match was in just a few hours, and I felt like death!

Mmmm. Arsenal match, bad hangover and somehow Rick is involved. I've seen this movie before.:)

[red & wite army]

Arsenal vs Brum

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[fedwood]

I went at exactly this time last year
though I wasn't able to get a stadium tour.

Hope to go again one day