You only like the glamour boys!

[Cus Geezer]

Starting this thread with reference to this quote by the ed re:Arsenal TV.

Although maybe when Setanta get Arsenal TV going and they show the odd pre-Wenger Premiership game, the contrast between what was and what followed will be impossible to miss. I hope they show a few duff games as well, just for historical interest! Doubt it though, doesn’t make for good viewing really does it? Away defeats up north when we mustered a single effort on target.

If your my age you often get this said to you by Spurs and West Ham fans - and then even lower down in the food chain - Orient and Millwall - as if you're as bad as those Londoners who pick the Northern glamour boys of United and Liverpool.

Now from 'glamour boys' I'd suggest that would be the focus of excessive television coverage - which it would be justified to say we are today.

However if we go back to that period when I started getting into the game and supporting the Arse - around the start of season 1984/85 - I'd don't remember the telly that interested in us.

Live games just started the year before - and unless I'm mistaken - Man. Utd one friday night and Sheff Wed away in 1985. Nothing the following season. I don't remember us being on the highlights much either - other than on a midweek cup special for five minutes in the early rounds.

Compare that with Spurs and West Ham - Spurs were the first on telly in 1983, West Ham had a few games shown in 1986. There's quite a few home counties lads who would have picked there side from this coverage back then - at just to some Londoners we're the glory seekers!

[Galasso]

I'm not too concerned what people say about Arsenal or supporting Arsenal - but then again I don't live in London anymore. As long as you know in yourself that you are true to Arsenal then that is important - You can't lie to yourself.

Your right Cus - Sp**s v Forest was the first league game and I remember the Man Utd game on a friday - I think it ended 4-2 after we were leading. Ddin't see the second half as I was sent to my room! (I was innocent!) Had to get the end score on LBC radio.

[Cus Geezer]

The first time we started to be taken seriously was after xmas 1986 - I think Spurs in early Jan away and then a dull draw with Coventry at home - but prior to that nowt.

Was Man. Utd away the first of was there one in 1983/4 shown live?

[26may1989]

Cus, you're right, the TV bods weren't very interested in us in those days, but then (and whisper this) they were right. I started going to games from 1980 and I have to say, it was blind faith on my part, because the football we played in the pre-Graham era was rank.

Having lost Brady and Stapleton, and with Terry Neill and then Don Howe managing, we were truly appalling. Getting Charlie N helped, but we were, at best, mediocre and playing a lot of ugly football.

Spurs, West Ham, Forest, QPR, Ipswich, Watford and of course Liverpool were (at different stages) streets ahead of us. Liverpool weren't above destroying a game by refusing to attack (goalkeepers being allowed to pick up backpasses then), but they could also turn it on in style.

So, I wouldn't really criticise the TV people for not favouring our 1980s games too much, there wasn't much for the neutral to watch.

I do remember Arsenal featuring on Jim'll Fix It in that era though....

[REB]

i remember the big match on a sunday,, we used to get utv in ireland and the big match was a lwt production so was london bias


setanta will just show classics if liverpool,celtic,chelsea tv is anything to go by


because of our success its fair to say arsenal hav a lot of new supporters and you can see it in ireland where we would still be behind man u and liverpool but miles ahead of everyone else support wise,,
i remember when i was a lad in school and there was 3 gooners 3 spuds and the rest liverpool,, this was late 70's and no man u

my own supporters club has lots of new supporters who never want to travel but think its cool 2 support arsenal and when the teams not doing so well we never see them but when where top here they come with there replica shirts on
but we have a good core of oldies as well, which number around 50 and these guys will always be there

oooh 2
oooh 2 be
oooh 2 be a

GOONER

[charliegeorgewhocanhitem]

Oh the big match on a sunday afternoon, you've bought a tear to my eye there Everything from the really early theme tune, (about 68 to the early 70s, remember that one? Most remember the later one which also brings back nostalgic memories) to Brian Moore's screaming commentaries ware fantastic, I really miss that programme and in a way, I much preferred it to the blanket live coverage of what seems like at times, every other premiership match. I'm probably just lookinig at it through rose tinted glasses tho Now where's that "old boy" emoticon when you need it

[Red Gunner]

Well not nowadays, you get rugby teams like Chelsea and Blackburn on TV at every opportunity; and even Blue Square League (Conference), not sure how much audience matches like Oxford United against Cambridge United get, though!!!

[DB10GOONER]

Oh the big match on a sunday afternoon, you've bought a tear to my eye there Everything from the really early theme tune, (about 68 to the early 70s, remember that one? Most remember the later one which also brings back nostalgic memories) to Brian Moore's screaming commentaries ware fantastic, I really miss that programme and in a way, I much preferred it to the blanket live coverage of what seems like at times, every other premiership match. I'm probably just lookinig at it through rose tinted glasses tho Now where's that "old boy" emoticon when you need it

charliegeorgewhocanhitem; is your real first name "Peter" per chance? Do you maybe live in Ireland?

You can send me a personal message on this issue if you like...

[Wayno]

Brian Moore and the BIG Match Oh the memories

[Cus Geezer]

Cus, you're right, the TV bods weren't very interested in us in those days, but then (and whisper this) they were right.

Ha! - and (whisper this even quieter boys!) the Spuds were actually quite good and entertaining.

I started going to games from 1980 and I have to say, it was blind faith on my part, because the football we played in the pre-Graham era was rank.

I thought we were the bestest side in the world - but then I was six.

Having lost Brady and Stapleton, and with Terry Neill and then Don Howe managing, we were truly appalling. Getting Charlie N helped, but we were, at best, mediocre and playing a lot of ugly football.

Funny thing was though - we were a side that weren't short of stars....well I mean by that famous high profile players.

Sadly a lot were past their best and some as GG said in his autobiography- merely filling their pensions.

Sansom, O'Leary, Jennings, Hollins, Rix, Anderson, Talbot, Williams, Nicholas - all internationals back in the days before nearly all the top division players had won caps with their nation.

Also during this time a few of the youngsters were breaking through who would go on to big things with the Arse - Keown (a little later though), Adams, Rocky, Davis.

Then you had Mariner and Woodcock up front - would have been a mouthwatering prospect in 1978, sadly not in 1985.

Spurs, West Ham, Forest, QPR, Ipswich, Watford and of course Liverpool were (at different stages) streets ahead of us. Liverpool weren't above destroying a game by refusing to attack (goalkeepers being allowed to pick up backpasses then), but they could also turn it on in style.

That's what I like to reply with to with these acusations of glory hunting - when I got into football the Arsenal were the 3rd best side in North London behind Spurs and Watford (OK I know that's not really London but for the purpose of my argument the Greater London boundaries have been redrawn - cos I say so!).

Plus West Ham and QPR - one nearly winning the League the other nearly winning the League Cup in 1986 - we were far from the top dogs in London.

So, I wouldn't really criticise the TV people for not favouring our 1980s games too much, there wasn't much for the neutral to watch.

And with about six games a year - none until November - it's understandable.

this was late 70's and no man u

Fucking hell I thought Man Ure fans were omnipresent everywhere from Munich onwards.

Brian Moore and the BIG Match Oh the memories

What like these.......

http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/29313

and these.....

http://www.ultimate-lwt.co.uk/

[charliegeorgewhocanhitem]

Oh the big match on a sunday afternoon, you've bought a tear to my eye there Everything from the really early theme tune, (about 68 to the early 70s, remember that one? Most remember the later one which also brings back nostalgic memories) to Brian Moore's screaming commentaries ware fantastic, I really miss that programme and in a way, I much preferred it to the blanket live coverage of what seems like at times, every other premiership match. I'm probably just lookinig at it through rose tinted glasses tho Now where's that "old boy" emoticon when you need it

charliegeorgewhocanhitem; is your real first name "Peter" per chance? Do you maybe live in Ireland?

You can send me a personal message on this issue if you like...

No mate, not guilty I live in Essex, never even visited the Emerald Isle altho I'd like to rectify that one day. You mean there's another boring old bastard like me out there????

[charliegeorgewhocanhitem]

Brian Moore and the BIG Match Oh the memories

Memories indeed, I can still remember the excitement of waiting for it to come on on a sunday afternoon, praying that Bamber fuckin Gascoigne would take his university challenge and fuck off so we could hear Brian Moore's dulcet tones And after that there'd be Catweazle......oh don't get me started on nostalgia for fucks sake

[Chunky The Gooner]

Brian Moore Quality! He always used to say "my word " if Im not mistaken and if a shot or the ball was near the goal and didnt go in it would be "and somehow" Ah what good times!

[DB10GOONER]

Oh the big match on a sunday afternoon, you've bought a tear to my eye there Everything from the really early theme tune, (about 68 to the early 70s, remember that one? Most remember the later one which also brings back nostalgic memories) to Brian Moore's screaming commentaries ware fantastic, I really miss that programme and in a way, I much preferred it to the blanket live coverage of what seems like at times, every other premiership match. I'm probably just lookinig at it through rose tinted glasses tho Now where's that "old boy" emoticon when you need it

charliegeorgewhocanhitem; is your real first name "Peter" per chance? Do you maybe live in Ireland?

You can send me a personal message on this issue if you like...

No mate, not guilty I live in Essex, never even visited the Emerald Isle altho I'd like to rectify that one day. You mean there's another boring old bastard like me out there????

Just a lot of the stuff you post on here reminds me of a Gooner mate of mine. Great bloke, raised two great sons to be die hard Arsenal, wears the 1970's jersey and has some great tales to tell about the old old days (before even I was a Gooner and, being 40, I'm pushing on 36 years loyal service to the cause!).

Deffo not boring mate! All great stuff.

And I think that's the difference between us and most Man Utd fans; we love the tradition, the heritage and the history of our great club, not just recent success. Most MankWanks only want to talk about the Fergusmoan years and the recent success they've had.

They have no f*cking class, man.

[charliegeorgewhocanhitem]

[quote="charliegeorgewhocanhitem

Just a lot of the stuff you post on here reminds me of a Gooner mate of mine. Great bloke, raised two great sons to be die hard Arsenal, wears the 1970's jersey and has some great tales to tell about the old old days (before even I was a Gooner and, being 40, I'm pushing on 36 years loyal service to the cause!).

Deffo not boring mate! All great stuff.

And I think that's the difference between us and most Man Utd fans; we love the tradition, the heritage and the history of our great club, not just recent success. Most MankWanks only want to talk about the Fergusmoan years and the recent success they've had.

They have no f*cking class, man.

Thanks, I'm lucky to have supported the club through a few great eras and some totally unforgettable matches, Fairs Cup 70, whl 71 wembley 71 Anfield 89 and whl 04 are the obvious ones that spring to mind but there's many more. You're right, mancs think the world was created on the day that Taggart took over and nothing ever happened in fotball before the premiership was created.
Nothing I've seen in my time can match the out of this world football we've seen and continue to see during the Wenger years but I still love talking about the old days as you've noticed and I have been known to wear the 70s jersey too, got the long sleeved home, short sleeved home and the Wembley 71 yellow, much better without all that sponsor shite on the front