May 26, 1989 - Greatest Moment Ever.

[DB10GOONER]

Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal
May 26, 1989

"Thomas, charging through the midfield... it's up for grabs now... Thomas, right at the end!"

Still sends a tingle down my spine.



Tomorrow is the anniversary obviously. Share your memories of The Greatest Moment Ever, the day, the night, the build up, the match, the MASSIVE piss up afterwards.

[shu]

Probably the greatest night ever Arsenal had struggled through the 70’s and the 80’s were pretty dour too .
George came in and transformed it .

With the last game at Anfield , no one gave us a chance .
I watched it at a girlfriends , when the second went in , it was mental . We ended out in the pubs, I drank too quickly and had to sit outside. Pretty sure the game was Friday night and would have been on normal TV. Proud was an understatement

To go to Liverpool and to win 2-0 was the equiv of going there today needing the same result , in fact they seemed even better then . But funnily enough we all knew the manager fancied it and we were a mentally and physically tough team .

Real heroes.

[StuartL]

The game was originally scheduled for 23rd April - which was the weekend after Hillsborough and naturally got postponed - by the way the match tickets from the original date were retained and used.

Caught a travel club coach from Highbury - there was a guy attempting to flog “champions” badges and we told him we’d buy one tomorrow.
Our coach was raucous singing all the way up - unbelievable belief you could call it.

We came to a halt on the motorway, thanks to traffic, still miles and miles from Liverpool, then like an Angel a police outrider appeared, told us kick off had been delayed and escorted us up the hard shoulder past all the queues.

Got to the ground I’d guess about 20 mins in…row2 of the seats to the right hand side of Lukic in goal and asked if we had missed anything…Bould’s header off the line I was told.

The rest of the match you know all too well I imagine.

At half time we sung the best rendition of maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner I’ve ever heard ( do we ever sing that anymore at away’s ?)
In the whole match video, I can see myself just before half-time when Lukic does a kick with my St George flag unfurled.

I said to my mate Lee after Smith scored “ we are going to fucking do it “
My other mate who travelled up with us was in the corner terrace, but somehow joined us in the seats for the final 20 mins or so.

Our fans were awsome, never stopped believing, even after Micky T missed an easier one on one.

To be fair the scousers were great, they stayed for the trophy presentation, applauded us and the team and a few made their way down to shake hands etc.

Outside the ground we poured out, knackered, hoarse and joyously made our way back to the coaches and on our way out of the city, many a front door was open and had people (presumably Evertonians) applauding us.

Our coach was quieter on the way back than on the way up as we were all just spent, exhausted but we were the first coach back to Highbury where at 3am or whatever time it was there were still fans there celebrating and they treated us like conquering hero’s as if it was us that had won it.
We had backslaps, drinks proffered, and an impromptu conga through the coach and out of the emergency exit.


I have no hesitation in saying it was the best night of my life and will never be beaten….I don’t care what happens.

I had just turned 20 and seen my team win the league for the first time, in the most dramatic style ever - I loved them all, still do.

Thankfully we managed to get programmes, and kept my match ticket ( along with all my other away tickets)
I subsequently managed to get the programme signed by the whole team by a friend of a friend who was mated with Perry Groves.

I have also had my 89 away shirt signed by about 12 players and George - but still missing the elusive Micky T on it.

Oh and as a result of an each way Yankee I put on at the start of the season, I won about £700 as I had backed us, Chelsea for the 2nd Division, Wolves (Bull and Mutch) for Div 3 and Orient for Div4 who let me down and finished about 6th I think.(they had Campbell on loan from us for a while)

The parade from Highbury to the Town Hall on the Sunday was just an outpouring of joy and delight and I took lots of photo’s.

[Perryashburtongroves]

Oh, that is beautiful, Stuart. Lovely memories.
I honestly reckon that even 33 years on, I still think about the day every single day and I probably think I always will.
My sister met Lee Dixon through work a few months ago and told him "My brother says thank you for that pass and to tell you that he thinks about you every day." She says, he smiled and said something about how it makes him so happy to know that he helped make other people happy. He also said to tell me that he still thinks about it every day too. What a game, what memories. Oh, I fucking love that team.

[OneBardGooner]

The game was originally scheduled for 23rd April - which was the weekend after Hillsborough and naturally got postponed - by the way the match tickets from the original date were retained and used.

Caught a travel club coach from Highbury - there was a guy attempting to flog “champions” badges and we told him we’d buy one tomorrow.
Our coach was raucous singing all the way up - unbelievable belief you could call it.

We came to a halt on the motorway, thanks to traffic, still miles and miles from Liverpool, then like an Angel a police outrider appeared, told us kick off had been delayed and escorted us up the hard shoulder past all the queues.

Got to the ground I’d guess about 20 mins in…row2 of the seats to the right hand side of Lukic in goal and asked if we had missed anything…Bould’s header off the line I was told.

The rest of the match you know all too well I imagine.

At half time we sung the best rendition of maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner I’ve ever heard ( do we ever sing that anymore at away’s ?)
In the whole match video, I can see myself just before half-time when Lukic does a kick with my St George flag unfurled.

I said to my mate Lee after Smith scored “ we are going to fucking do it “
My other mate who travelled up with us was in the corner terrace, but somehow joined us in the seats for the final 20 mins or so.

Our fans were awsome, never stopped believing, even after Micky T missed an easier one on one.

To be fair the scousers were great, they stayed for the trophy presentation, applauded us and the team and a few made their way down to shake hands etc.

Outside the ground we poured out, knackered, hoarse and joyously made our way back to the coaches and on our way out of the city, many a front door was open and had people (presumably Evertonians) applauding us.

Our coach was quieter on the way back than on the way up as we were all just spent, exhausted but we were the first coach back to Highbury where at 3am or whatever time it was there were still fans there celebrating and they treated us like conquering hero’s as if it was us that had won it.
We had backslaps, drinks proffered, and an impromptu conga through the coach and out of the emergency exit.


I have no hesitation in saying it was the best night of my life and will never be beaten….I don’t care what happens.

I had just turned 20 and seen my team win the league for the first time, in the most dramatic style ever - I loved them all, still do.

Thankfully we managed to get programmes, and kept my match ticket ( along with all my other away tickets)
I subsequently managed to get the programme signed by the whole team by a friend of a friend who was mated with Perry Groves.

I have also had my 89 away shirt signed by about 12 players and George - but still missing the elusive Micky T on it.

Oh and as a result of an each way Yankee I put on at the start of the season, I won about £700 as I had backed us, Chelsea for the 2nd Division, Wolves (Bull and Mutch) for Div 3 and Orient for Div4 who let me down and finished about 6th I think.(they had Campbell on loan from us for a while)

The parade from Highbury to the Town Hall on the Sunday was just an outpouring of joy and delight and I took lots of photo’s.

THIS Deserves to be The Heart of a Quote Tower Stuart!

[DB10GOONER]

Superb stories lads.

I had been let down for a ticket at the last minute and was gutted. But watched it with a mate in a hotel in Dublin surrounded by a mob of scousers* over on a stag do. Brilliant night. Remember singing "Empty handed across the Mersey" to the scousers* to the tune of "Ferry over the Mersey".  Mousers* took it well tbh and bought us a few beers. Vaguely remember phoning my Dad and telling him I was taking the week off. Literally got pissed up celebrating for a week. 

I too think about that night at least once a day.

It's one of those seminal moments in life, in history. Where were you when JFK got shot, when The Arsenal won the league at Anfield in 89, and when The Arsenal signed DB10.  

[John F]

The game was originally scheduled for 23rd April - which was the weekend after Hillsborough and naturally got postponed - by the way the match tickets from the original date were retained and used.

Caught a travel club coach from Highbury - there was a guy attempting to flog “champions” badges and we told him we’d buy one tomorrow.
Our coach was raucous singing all the way up - unbelievable belief you could call it.

We came to a halt on the motorway, thanks to traffic, still miles and miles from Liverpool, then like an Angel a police outrider appeared, told us kick off had been delayed and escorted us up the hard shoulder past all the queues.

Got to the ground I’d guess about 20 mins in…row2 of the seats to the right hand side of Lukic in goal and asked if we had missed anything…Bould’s header off the line I was told.

The rest of the match you know all too well I imagine.

At half time we sung the best rendition of maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner I’ve ever heard ( do we ever sing that anymore at away’s ?)
In the whole match video, I can see myself just before half-time when Lukic does a kick with my St George flag unfurled.

I said to my mate Lee after Smith scored “ we are going to fucking do it “
My other mate who travelled up with us was in the corner terrace, but somehow joined us in the seats for the final 20 mins or so.

Our fans were awsome, never stopped believing, even after Micky T missed an easier one on one.

To be fair the scousers were great, they stayed for the trophy presentation, applauded us and the team and a few made their way down to shake hands etc.

Outside the ground we poured out, knackered, hoarse and joyously made our way back to the coaches and on our way out of the city, many a front door was open and had people (presumably Evertonians) applauding us.

Our coach was quieter on the way back than on the way up as we were all just spent, exhausted but we were the first coach back to Highbury where at 3am or whatever time it was there were still fans there celebrating and they treated us like conquering hero’s as if it was us that had won it.
We had backslaps, drinks proffered, and an impromptu conga through the coach and out of the emergency exit.


I have no hesitation in saying it was the best night of my life and will never be beaten….I don’t care what happens.

I had just turned 20 and seen my team win the league for the first time, in the most dramatic style ever - I loved them all, still do.

Thankfully we managed to get programmes, and kept my match ticket ( along with all my other away tickets)
I subsequently managed to get the programme signed by the whole team by a friend of a friend who was mated with Perry Groves.

I have also had my 89 away shirt signed by about 12 players and George - but still missing the elusive Micky T on it.

Oh and as a result of an each way Yankee I put on at the start of the season, I won about £700 as I had backed us, Chelsea for the 2nd Division, Wolves (Bull and Mutch) for Div 3 and Orient for Div4 who let me down and finished about 6th I think.(they had Campbell on loan from us for a while)

The parade from Highbury to the Town Hall on the Sunday was just an outpouring of joy and delight and I took lots of photo’s.

Post of the year . Great reading that and it made me a bit jealous as despite being a regular then I could not get a ticket".Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner"I loved singing that song especially away. The song just disappeared along with Knees up Mother Brown.

[gooner265]

The game was originally scheduled for 23rd April - which was the weekend after Hillsborough and naturally got postponed - by the way the match tickets from the original date were retained and used.

Caught a travel club coach from Highbury - there was a guy attempting to flog “champions” badges and we told him we’d buy one tomorrow.
Our coach was raucous singing all the way up - unbelievable belief you could call it.

We came to a halt on the motorway, thanks to traffic, still miles and miles from Liverpool, then like an Angel a police outrider appeared, told us kick off had been delayed and escorted us up the hard shoulder past all the queues.

Got to the ground I’d guess about 20 mins in…row2 of the seats to the right hand side of Lukic in goal and asked if we had missed anything…Bould’s header off the line I was told.

The rest of the match you know all too well I imagine.

At half time we sung the best rendition of maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner I’ve ever heard ( do we ever sing that anymore at away’s ?)
In the whole match video, I can see myself just before half-time when Lukic does a kick with my St George flag unfurled.

I said to my mate Lee after Smith scored “ we are going to fucking do it “
My other mate who travelled up with us was in the corner terrace, but somehow joined us in the seats for the final 20 mins or so.

Our fans were awsome, never stopped believing, even after Micky T missed an easier one on one.

To be fair the scousers were great, they stayed for the trophy presentation, applauded us and the team and a few made their way down to shake hands etc.

Outside the ground we poured out, knackered, hoarse and joyously made our way back to the coaches and on our way out of the city, many a front door was open and had people (presumably Evertonians) applauding us.

Our coach was quieter on the way back than on the way up as we were all just spent, exhausted but we were the first coach back to Highbury where at 3am or whatever time it was there were still fans there celebrating and they treated us like conquering hero’s as if it was us that had won it.
We had backslaps, drinks proffered, and an impromptu conga through the coach and out of the emergency exit.


I have no hesitation in saying it was the best night of my life and will never be beaten….I don’t care what happens.

I had just turned 20 and seen my team win the league for the first time, in the most dramatic style ever - I loved them all, still do.

Thankfully we managed to get programmes, and kept my match ticket ( along with all my other away tickets)
I subsequently managed to get the programme signed by the whole team by a friend of a friend who was mated with Perry Groves.

I have also had my 89 away shirt signed by about 12 players and George - but still missing the elusive Micky T on it.

Oh and as a result of an each way Yankee I put on at the start of the season, I won about £700 as I had backed us, Chelsea for the 2nd Division, Wolves (Bull and Mutch) for Div 3 and Orient for Div4 who let me down and finished about 6th I think.(they had Campbell on loan from us for a while)

The parade from Highbury to the Town Hall on the Sunday was just an outpouring of joy and delight and I took lots of photo’s.

Great account Stu and spookily similar to mine , we may have been on the same coach , certainty in the convoy. We got in the ground just as Bouldy's header was cleared off the line , there were three of us in the corner on the terraces. , my mate and Aunt because my cousin gave his ticket to his mum when we drew in the week and has never lived it down

I thought we had blown it when Mickey missed the first chance but was absolute bedlam when we scored

The way home like yours was a quieter affair as we were spent , Everton fans shook our hands on the way out and loads of fans outside Highbury when we arrived.
We were both posties then so went back to my aunts , had a cuppa and went straight to work at 4.30 . Lots of West Ham there and they all shook our hands and congratulated us apart from a couple of bitter spuds.

I had a bet at the start of the season as we at 7-1 with a tenner so happy days

Like you nothing will ever touch that for me , I was only 21 , Early Wenger years were great but nothing like that , maybe Champions League but thats a distant dream after we fucked it in Paris.

Final note ,my aunt died of Breast Cancer in her 50s before wenger arrived , even went to Copenhagen and she smuggled out beers on the travel club coach

[the playing mantis]

steering clear of posting anymore as i can't be fucked with it but had to post thanking you all for the cracking memories. i was only a toddler so no personal memories but sounds a seminal moment, and far better than my ones, all via tv - CWC final smudgers in off the post and missing the toilet bowl when rushing for a pee after final whistle in my excitemnt and not getting bollocked for pissing all over bathroom floor, sols unveiling, TA6 everton volley, and invincibles.

just hope we have some agin in the not too distant future.

[KingHenry]

Will there ever be a better picture? George we thank you for giving us our greatest football memory ever

[Ernie71]

I watched the game with my dad and our nerves were shredded as the game went into injury time. Then Richardson passed it back to Lukic every Gooner was shouting for him to kick it long but he threw it out to Dixon my dad got up and shouted "Lukic you c*nt why didnt you kick it" 10 secs later the ball was in the back of the net and we were dancing around the living room. Yes we have won titles since and gone Invincible but nothing will ever beat that night.Even now 33 years later i still get goosebumps watching the goal and Brain Moore's commentary

[shu]

Love the picture of George and how we loved him compared with Arteta . Brilliant brilliant night with being in Copenhagen second

[goonersid]

I've posted how I spent that night a few times on here.
Was living in Swindon, my birthday was on the Wednesday 24th, had a bet on 0-3 at 33/1.
Live League games on TV were unheard of.
So! Went to my local in Swindon where myself and my mate watched the first half.
So off we went into town to catch second half!
Not a TV in town anywhere showing the game!
Ended up in an hotel bar, where a Mouser was listening to game on a little transistor radio!
Always remember this was 89' no mobile phones etc!
Anyway, I ask him any score? 1-0 to Arsenal 5 mins to go is his reply, then fucking battery runs out on his transistor radio.
Off he goes to listen in his car!
He reappears 10 mins later with a look of shock on his face!
Michael Thomas! Michael Thomas! He kept repeating!
Score? I asked him?
2-0 Michael Thomas!
I still wasn't sure it was true, I asked so many people that nite who couldnt confirm it, until the cabbie on way home after 2.00 am.
Still have the VHS video I set that nite before I went out, which I watched when I got home, but again had to check when I awoke on Saturday morning!

[DB10GOONER]

Will there ever be a better picture? George we thank you for giving us our greatest football memory ever

I love that photo. God bless you George.

[OneBardGooner]

That photograph also reminds me how Arsenal THE Classy Arsenal have 'Lost' that "Class'.




What a Perfect Gentleman (and a Warrior) !