Meeting the players

26may1989 · Post by **26may1989** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:34 pm

Anyone got any stories about meeting Arsenal legends. Or not-so-legends?

Here's one: I served Alan Smith when I was working at Blazer in Covent Garden in 1988. It was shortly after we lost the Gus Ceasar League Cup Final to Luton, and Smudger was great, and kept apologising for losing the game. He ended up asking me questions rather than the other way around. He concluded by joking that the team would have to make it up to the fans by winning the league the next year. The rest is history.

burns718 · Post by **burns718** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:09 am

working in a hugo boss store iv managed to meet a few of our present stars, and some other teams bitches.
it always makes me laugh when theo has come in a few times with his dad acting as bodyguard for him an his missus. others iv served inc, almunia, sold clichy a watch, sagna.
have sold darren bent a suit, sold sheringham Â£100 worth of socks (very random i know), an one of our old boys matt upson had a nice pair of shoes (size 10)
the best was when my manager was serving radsinki jus after macarthy took over at FFC, all he did was mug him off, two days later he had been sold.
very boring i know but they help break up the dull reallity that is shop work.

also a friend of my fathers used to work up town, in a bank i believe. an on one occasion before a european game we picked up my dads mate from work, who asked if we would mind giving his collegue a lift, the old man duley obliged and into the car got Mrs Sherie Viera, so i have sat next to big pats wife in the back of my dads car. which was nice.
how good is that.

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:02 am

Back in the eighties I used to go on the piss with tintin at the seige house in Colchester. Friday night he was bolloxed and Saturday he played in the first 11. I don't know how he did it.
Merse used to be a tosser. I was at a charity golf event where he (allegedly) told a young kiddie that wanted his autograph to "fuck off" because he was on the phone to his bookie.

Mrs Gus (Doris) · Post by **Mrs Gus (Doris)** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:11 am

I met Paul Merson a couple of times as a guy my dad worked in the city with was good friends with him...he was lovely to me(i was 18 though!!) but it was in the days when he liked a drink or few!!!

charliegeorgewhocanhitem · Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:40 am

I once visited John Radford's pub in Bishops Stortford, back in 81 ish I fink. He was a really funny guy, very dry, quick witted sense of humour. At that time lots of gooners would make the pilgimage to his boozer and by all accounts he was always very welcoming to us. He was one of my heroes in the Fairs Cup 70 and 71 double winning team so it was a pleasure to have met him.

TheOne2Smooth · Post by **TheOne2Smooth** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:02 am

where do i start most recently saw Charlie George up great titchfield street. Having a meal with my ex in basildon and the Romford Pele came it sat at the next table. My ex thought I was going to go mad like she did to westlife I didnt mainly due to a previous experience with Big Paddy V saw him in Edmonton cinema complex being so in awe I followed him to get a autograph straight into the Mens hmmm not a good idea. Saw Anders Limpar outside Highbury getting in a bashed up ford cortina it was a cab mind!

TheOne2Smooth · Post by **TheOne2Smooth** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:08 am

Seen Cashley several times when he was a Arsenal player and make no mistake the C word really suits him. I saw Tony Adams at a sportshop signing very merry. But never met Ian Wright I might write to jim

augie · Post by **augie** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:26 am

Remember meeting gerry francis(then of qpr) back in the seventies at some shop opening and got to play him in some computer game.

Think there is a strong possibility of me getting "backstage" at one of the league games before xmas where I assume I will get to meet the players but am afraid to say too much in case in dount pan out for me. Believe it or not I am shitting myself at the possibility of meeting the players - do I make a complete c*nt of myself by falling at their knees or do I play cool and not approach them and then hate myself for years at passing up the opportunity of a lifetime to get photos with the players ? Does anyone know the etiquette for situations like this ?

TheOne2Smooth · Post by **TheOne2Smooth** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:28 am

augie approach but dont follow them in the Toilet

26may1989 · Post by **26may1989** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:38 am

Not really meetings, but I saw Luis Boa Morte on the Eurostar a couple of years ago, travelling with a few of his then Fulham team-mates. The players were travelling economy but Chris Coleman was in business class. Another time, I saw Lee Chapman on the Eurostar. I also saw Sol Campbell at Heathrow when it was unclear whether he would leave Spurs and if so for which club - I resisted accosting him to justify a move across north London, and probably not a bad thing I didn't say anything.

Post by **REB** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:39 am

from what ive heard augie the players are very good at the stadium,, think they were prob to;d they had to be nice for the sponsers etc

Galasso · Post by **Galasso** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:55 pm

augie wrote:Remember meeting gerry francis(then of qpr) back in the seventies at some shop opening and got to play him in some computer game.

Think there is a strong possibility of me getting "backstage" at one of the league games before xmas where I assume I will get to meet the players but am afraid to say too much in case in dount pan out for me. Believe it or not I am shitting myself at the possibility of meeting the players - do I make a complete c*nt of myself by falling at their knees or do I play cool and not approach them and then hate myself for years at passing up the opportunity of a lifetime to get photos with the players ? Does anyone know the etiquette for situations like this ?

More importantly - are the board aware of this

And falling at their knees is only encouraged in the chelsea players lounge

Galasso · Post by **Galasso** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:57 pm

rebel gooner wrote:from what ive heard augie the players are very good at the stadium,, think they were prob to;d they had to be nice for the sponsers etc

Rebel's right. I've heard for instance that Defoe was recently awarded a man-of-the-match at shite hat lane (uefa cup) but because he's such a moody c**t, the award was changed and given to bale, so as to present someone a little more diplomatic to the sponsors etc...

goonerak · Post by **goonerak** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:24 pm

My daughters went to their mate's house for her mum's birthday party. They called me late in the evening and asked to be picked up. I rang on the doorbell and John Radford answered the door. Turns out their mate is Geoff Barnett's grand daughter.

Had a good chat with Radford and must admit to have brown nosed a bit

Rilo II · Post by **Rilo II** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:52 pm

I've met Lee Dixon, Glen Helder and Steve Bould at matches. All reallynice blokes.

When I was a kid Imet Rocky doing an appearence at my brother's school for their summer fair thing. Have a picture of him and me in my full arsenal kit. I seem to remember him being a top bloke too.

One thing I really regret was outside Anfield before our Facup game in Jan (3-1 win). Standing there waiting to go in and I hear a voice I recognise. Look round and there's Ian Wright (obviously covering the match for bbc ashe was with oneof the others (Hanson I think, can't remember). So they just stoppedthere chatting, about5 yardsfrom me. I'm ready to go overandsay hello andget a picture, but I froze. Completely star struck and just shit myself. Just like that they were gone again and I never got to say hello. I'm still well gutted about that.