View Full Version : Yank visting London. Will attend match. Needs advice.
Eric Berg
11 Nov 2003, 03:56 PM
My wife and I will be visiting London from Portland, Oregon in late February. Arsenal is playing Charlton Feb. 28 and I want to go. I've never been to a football match outside of the states and I wouldn't think of leaving Britain without experiencing some first class footie.
Where is a good place to get seats? Are there certain supporter sections? Where do you sit-stand-chant when you attend Arsenal matches. My wife doesn't particularly like football, but she enjoys going to Portland Timber (A-League) matches with me because I hang out in the "Shed", the name of the section of the unofficial supporters group. It's the only place in the stadium where fans standing, chanting, drum, and wave flags.
I'd also like to hang out at a pub before the match. Where do you go? I've never been to London (or Europe for that matter).
I'm looking forward to my visit. Maybe I'll have a chance to meet some of you.
Thanks.
Eric Berg
KevTheGooner
11 Nov 2003, 04:08 PM
Well, you are correct in your choice of first-class footie, my man. The Home of Football is the place to go.
Unfortunately, its a tough ticket to get, and even tougher to sit in a preferred section (you would be looking for North Bank tickets based on your description, although the Clock End would work too).
There are some Gooners on these boards who have been known to take a Yank to a match but I'm not sure about whether you would be able to take your wife too.
Good luck!
chicago_fan
11 Nov 2003, 04:22 PM
Warning! Beware the Charlton match!
On my sole visit to THOF, the Charlton match of two years ago, I arrived at the stadium an hour or so early. After trying to buy tickets through a broker, I got fed up and decided to do it the old fashioned way. Sure enough, there were plenty of scalpers. As soon as they got the hint I was looking for tickets, I had a crowd of them shoving each other to get in my face. What I got were so-so seats toward the back of the lower stands. Didn't matter. Just being there was amazing...if I could ever forget the result. Richard Wright was in goal. Just before half time he let two identical free kicks float past him. Before the day was over, he had conceded four. Arsenal attacked with flair, but by that point Charlton were standing behind the ball waiting for the final whistle to blow. And thus, my THOF experience ended in a grizzly 4-2 defeat. Beware the Addicks...
In all seriousness, you'll have a great time. I have no idea if buying tickets outside the stadium is even legal but it worked for me. I can't remember what I paid. More than face value, but far less than what the brokers wanted.
TheSlipperyOne
11 Nov 2003, 04:28 PM
Paging Jeff Lancaster.
Jeff Lancaster to the white courtesy phone.
yossarian
11 Nov 2003, 04:38 PM
A fun place to hang out before the match is the Gunner's Pub. It's about a block or so east of the grounds. I'm sure others here can give you an exact address and I think they even have their own website. Lots of singing before and after the match and generally a great atmosphere.
Martin Daoust
11 Nov 2003, 05:48 PM
Well said regarding the Gunners, Yossarian. Excellent pub. It's on the Corner of Blackstock Road and I can't remember the side street but it's across from the Woodbine too which is more of a local than a Gooner pub but a good stop too....
Jeff L
11 Nov 2003, 05:58 PM
I will get you two tickets for that game and take you to a pub or three for a few good beers before and after the game. Send me a private e mail with your itinery.
yossarian
11 Nov 2003, 06:01 PM
Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
I will get you two tickets for that game and take you to a pub or three for a few good beers before and after the game. Send me a private e mail with your itinery.
This is why we all love Jeff. :)
KevTheGooner
11 Nov 2003, 08:03 PM
Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
I will get you two tickets for that game and take you to a pub or three for a few good beers before and after the game. Send me a private e mail with your itinery.
God bless this man.
Martin Daoust
11 Nov 2003, 08:45 PM
Jeff is the BEST!
Bluto11
11 Nov 2003, 11:42 PM
i might to be heading across the Pond to watch Arsenal. I should find out in a week if I'm going. My school has a thing called May Term and I applied for a travel class to England. The class is about the Beatles. London, Liverpool, Dublin, and then London again. I will be in London on May 15th, the last game of the year and would love to get tickets to it somehow. Even if i can't get them I'm going to go to THOF to see it and take some pics and maybe hangout around the place during the game, pubs and stuff.
jegerpenge
12 Nov 2003, 02:06 AM
Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
I will get you two tickets for that game and take you to a pub or three for a few good beers before and after the game. Send me a private e mail with your itinery.
jeff, are you god?
Jeff L
12 Nov 2003, 04:07 AM
No. That's TH14 !!!
Jeff L
12 Nov 2003, 04:09 AM
We are at home to Birmingham City on 1st May. Try to aim being here for that fixture. Should be able to help out with tickets for that one.
La China Poblana
12 Nov 2003, 11:59 AM
Originally posted by Bluto11
My school has a thing called May Term and I applied for a travel class to England.
What school do you go to that has such a cool class?
Lisa
OPArsenal
12 Nov 2003, 12:33 PM
Originally posted by jegerpenge
jeff, are you god? No. He's the Official Arsenal Pimp. Duh... :D Seriously, Jeff, you're my hero.
Eric Berg
12 Nov 2003, 01:19 PM
Offer accepted. You're all the best. See ya Feb. 28.
Eric Berg
Jeff L
12 Nov 2003, 06:13 PM
What?
Eric Berg
12 Nov 2003, 06:53 PM
Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
What?
Sorry about the confusion, Jeff.
What I meant to say is "I'm taking Jeff up on his offer to show us Yanks a pub or two and get us tickets for Feb. 28. Maybe I'll meet some other Big Soccer subscribers while I'm in London."
Eric Berg
Jeff L
13 Nov 2003, 03:55 AM
Eric. The "What?" was not aimed at you. Someone else's post that I did not understand. (At first).