George Strolls In.

                   
George “Stroller” Graham was appointed as the Arsenal manager with Theo Foley as his assistant.

The Chairman is happy. 

George Graham is happy. 

Me & my mates are happy. 

Pierce & David O’Leary are happy. 

Charlie Nicholas was unlucky with this effort. 

The Police weren’t happy when Celtic fans burnt a Union Jack flag in the Clock End. 

Imagine if the North Bank had burnt a Tricolour flag?

Coincidentally, when George Graham first arrived as manager, he asked for volunteers to paint  the stadium Red & White to replace the Green & Cream coloured stands. 

Season 1986 - 87. 

George decided to replace many of the previous squad players such as;

 Viv Anderson - Paul Mariner - Tony Woodcock - Colin Hill -Tommy Caton. 

Amazingly, Martin Keown was allowed to join Aston Villa due to a contract dispute. 

He would later become one of the few players that Arsenal have re-signed. 

George’s first signing was Perry Groves from Colchester. 

Perry “Shut the Gates” Groves. 

We gave him that nickname because he was so fast that he looked like he couldn’t stop himself. 

League. 

Arsenal got off to a flying start and were top of the table at Xmas. 

Unfortunately, they then went 10 games without winning and finished 4th. 

Tony Adams, Paul Davis, Martin Hayes & David “Rocky”Rocastle had become established players. 

Rhys Wilmot, Michael Thomas & Ian Allinson had been promoted to the squad. 

Some Match tickets. 

vs Everton. 

Return to the Bridge. 

A few of us were sitting behind Kerry Dixon & David Speedie. 

At least they were not nutters!!

Tony Adams was now playing for England. 

FA Cup. 

In the FA Cup Arsenal beat Reading - Plymouth & Barnsley before playing Watford in the 6th Round at Highbury. This was memorable for a controversial decision that allowed Watford to score with a few minutes to go, just as Arsenal looked like equalising. 

It’s Cold at Reading. 

They still think it’s funny though. 

Reading in 3rd round. 

Plymouth in 4th round. 

Barnsley in 5th round. 

Watford in 6th round. 

Cheated!!

League Cup. 

In the League (Littlewoods) Cup Arsenal would beat Huddersfield - Man City - Charlton & Forest before meeting the team from the Lane in the semifinals. 

They were having a decent season in the League, for a change, with our ex striker Clive Allen scoring many goals and were favourites to beat us. 

In the first game at Highbury I could only get 2 tickets from a friend at work who had 3 season tickets in the West Stand and couldn’t attend the game. 

He gave the other ticket to another workmate, who supported the team from the Lane. 

To his credit and my horror, he turned up just before kickoff wearing one of their scarves. 

Imagine the abuse he got as he came along the row to sit next to me. 

He then took great delight in pointing out the large Israeli flag that their supporters were displaying in the Clock End. 

I then drew his attention to the Swastika that some Arsenal Fans were holding up in the East Stand. 

Politics - Religion - Sport don’t mix. 

True to form, I’m in the West Stand and Arsenal lose. 

My Jinxed Stand. 

So it’s off to the Lane and we need 2 goals to go through to Wembley. 

I’m In. 

We got the 2 goals but they got another one, so it’s all square and another game is needed. 

This game was the one when at half time they announced over the tannoy, “Tickets for the final will be on sale to season ticket holders on Monday”.

Apparently George used this to motivate the players for the second half. The Arsenal Fans in the Park Lane End and around me in the East Stand didn’t need any more motivating. 

We spent most of the 2nd half standing on our seats and as mine was next to the corrugated wall, I was continuously banging on it and shouting  “No Surrender”.

I did this so much that fans around me were getting covered in rust from the girders, due to vibration.

I’m in again. 

So, it was back to the Lane again a few days later for what would become one of the greatest memories for those Arsenal Fans that were there and the night Rocky became a legend. 

We were losing 1-0 again with only a few minutes left when Ian Allinson scored our equaliser. 

Cue, Bedlam in the Park Lane End and many of us crashed through the plastic seats we’d been standing on again in the East Stand. 

Then sheer bliss, Rocky scores the winner about 2 minutes later and the celebrations begin. 

One Nil down 

Two One Up

Arsenal knocked (them)

Out the Cup 

That was the main song born that night. 

The scenes amongst Arsenal Fans could never be repeated again at the Lane due to stadiums later becoming all seaters. A truly memorable night. 

Ian Allinson equalises. 

 Says it all!!

Wem-ber-ley   Wem-ber-ley

We’re the famous Arsenal 

And we’re off to Wem-ber-ley. 

AGAIN!!

Next Post - Tuesday 26/5/2020. 

Rush Record Ruined. 

Comments/Questions  - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail.com