i haven't been to a match in ten years!

[thegrovegooner]

that makes me sad. but i jucy don't get the chance what with working shifts.

who else here is an avid armchair supporter BUT is loyal to the core.

[JakeN13]

that makes me sad. but i jucy don't get the chance what with working shifts.

who else here is an avid armchair supporter BUT is loyal to the core.

I go to virtually every home game and 1 or 2 away games each season. Of course you get some really devoted fans who haven't missed an Arsenal game for years and years but these days you probably get more hardcore fans in The Gunners or 12 pins then inside the stadium.

[stats]

Man i thought i had it bad when i stopped going for two years

[RaM]

Hey I've never been to a game, but the dediction I show in getting up between midnight and 3 to watch games even if i have to be up for school at seven is just as much dedication as is required to attend all matches.

Mind you, if I lived over there, I'd go as often as possible.

[All_Arsenal_1886]

I know someone who is Arsenal to the bone but can't go to matches because he gets stressed and he has a heart problem so he has to watch them on TV.

[DB10GOONER]

that makes me sad. but i jucy don't get the chance what with working shifts.

who else here is an avid armchair supporter BUT is loyal to the core.

Bro. I feel awful for you...

Jaysus. 10 years?

I know it's easy to say change jobs and all that easy sh*te but I really would change jobs if it was me. I don't go in for all that "I'm more of a Gooner than you because I live locally and can afford to go every game sh*te". A Gooner is a Gooner. It's about the love for the club and that sick, horrible f*cking feeling that you get in your guts when we lose...

I get over as often as I can with finances, work, the cost of the trip over, wife and kids and bills etc etc. When I was single it was anywhere between 5 and 14 or 15 games a season in a good year. Now with the commitments I have it's twice in a bad year and maybe 5 or 6 times in a good year. So I f*cking treasure those trips and the months in between seem endless.

If I didn't get over at all in one season I'd go mad. I don't know what would happen with a 10 year drought...

Jaysus.

Actually, I'm seriously looking into transfering over to the English civil service for a few years just so I can get to more matches!!

I told the missus it's because I want the kids to experience another country's culture like I did in Oz as a kid. But she is suspicious...

[TheOne2Smooth]

I missed 5 games last season and thats home and away and I went to every Carling cup game even but it makes me no more a gooner than someone who watches the team on TV. (if you know your history)

[stats]

So what makes a great gooner then?

I think all fans are the same even if they haven't been to see them before or even have a soft spot for them
I'm lucky enough to go to all the homes matches haveing got my season ticket last season & i didn't miss one match for them
Even when i had cold's & flu's i went
I've seen Arsenal lose away from home 4/5 times but i still go on
Some are lucky enough to be able to go all over the world to watch Arsenal play
The fans who don't get to watch Arsenal play get up in the crack of dawn to watch them on TV
It's the same with every team

[TheOne2Smooth]

a great gooner hmmmmm maybe my uncle in the 93 coca-cola cup final he jumped up when we scored our 1st and broke his wrist somehow and watched the rest of the game in agony!

[MK Gould]

I think everyone goes through spells when things combine to make it difficult to get to games. Money, family, health, job etc etc. I've always made sure that even in the really tough years I get to at least one game. So I've had years when I've hardly missed a match, and I've had a couple of years when it was just the one. But the last time I missed a complete season was 1973/74.

I tend to agree though that some armchair or distant supporters may well be more passionate about the club than those who, because of geography or monetary circumstances, get to go every week.

[Ben-gooner14]

I've been limited on games i can go to, been to one though, firstly where i live, is a fair distance to go up regulary and also i can't buy the tickets so it all depends on which tickets my cousin gets and if i can make it.

[tompfarrell]

I have had a season ticket since the 2002-2003 season but moved to Ireland in 2005 so it's difficult to get to all the games now. I obviously can't go to any midweek games but get to about 12 home games throughout the season. This puts a strain on my Irish social life and my finances (overdraft!!!) but I would do anything to get to see the lads.

The only thing that I miss about London is The Arsenal and it kills me to have to watch the games on TV when I know that I've paid to see the game live and in person. My cousin is delighted that I left though, he benefits nicely.

Does it mean that I'm not a true fan? I don't think so. But I do think that there are different levels of being a fan.

[REB]

where all gooners who lov our club, i went 2 quiet a few matches in late 80s 90s hav family in london and lived there 4 a while but then couldnt go 4 few years till bout 99,, no job, then daughter born etc,, lucky enough now that i get 2 go over at least twice a year since thru the limerick supportors club,, still costs a bloody fortune but its worth it,, see ye all in oct s sunderland match as thats my nxt trip, bring on the rocket

[IW8Goalmachine]

I cant afford to get over to games at the moment but im working on that but i dont think that the fact i dont get to see the team in the flesh makes me less of a supporter i have been down on my knees watching arsenal and many many times i have considered stopping watching the games because i get so worked up watching them believe me i do be an emotional wreck during the games and feel sick as a pig if we lose i know every other supporter feels the same.

i did manage to get to the last Arsenal vs Manc game in highbury and of course it had to be the first scorless draw in ten years!! that was sickening but at least i can say i experienced the north back and what an experience i will never forget it.

[stats]

I've been to games as i said when i've been ill (prob made 10,000 Gooners ill afterwards )
My Nan died on Paddys day & i thought about not going up to Liverpool for the Everton game but as the song says you make me happy when skies are grey
I was upset of going to leave my Mum but she wanted me to be in a normal state in which i was & despite not haveing a jacket on me with the very cold Goodison Park & a last min lose (which again i perditched on & never betted on. I also guessed AJ was gonna give us trouble)
But i go on to support the club i love
Some may think i'm a plum for loveing them so much but different people out there go futher than me & go just about everywhere to follow them
There lucky but so i am
I live kinda local to the stadium in which is not so much trouble getting there & back on a matchdays but others travel from different places & pay a good couple of quid to go in which i say
THANK YOU
I watched the Football hardest away days in which it's amazing how non Gooners get around
It's the same case in football then just in Highbury N5