2009 - 60th Birthday.

Happy 60th Birthday Letter from Arsene Wenger. 

2009. 

I went to see Arsenal against Man Utd in the semifinal 2nd Leg of the Champions League. 

United won with a stunning free kick from Christiano Ronaldo and a counter attack that resulted in Wayne Rooney scoring the 2nd goal. 

The atmosphere before kickoff was probably the best the Emirates had known, since opening in 2006. 

Expectant Emirates. 

Not got quite the same ring to it as North Bank Highbury?

Ronaldo celebrates his Wonderful free kick. 

Another Football Genius was waiting for them in the Final. 

Barcelona dominate Europe & The World. 

My Birthday Drinks. 

I celebrated my upcoming 60th Birthday, on the last day of the season, in a pub near Highbury. 

During the course of the day, about 50, old and not so old, mates called in to see me for a drink. 

Hardly anybody left the pub to go to the game, although, as a surprise, Vic, Hazel & Kelly W brought Charlie George and Sammy Nelson along after the game, to see some old friends such as Hoyboy and Putney. 

After a few beers, Charlie and myself were trying to name all the, barely remembered players, that we’d both seen, when we were kids at Highbury. 

Such as - Gerry Ward - Jim Fotheringham - Dave Bacuzzi - Len Wills - Len Julians - Johnny Petts - Derek Tapscott - Con Sullivan - Bill Dodgin - Ray Swallow - Mike Tiddy and the aptly named, Gordon Nutt. 

Hoyboy, even conned Charlie into buying a round of drinks. 

A magical, funny moment!!

Tony Adelizzi with Charlie George. 

A Great Day. 

As a present for my birthday, Granty, paid for me to go with him to Glasgow to see our old, Scottish, mates from Spain, who were visiting their parents. 

Luckily this coincided with Arsenal playing Celtic in the Champions League. 

I managed to get tickets for us all but Granty refused to go to the game, as he is a die hard Rangers fan and refused to go into Celtic Park. 

Tommo’s son, Dan & his mate inside Celtic Park. 

Tony Adelizzi is to the right, facing away from the camera. 

His Last photo. 

Match ticket. 

Alan F - Tommo - Granty discussing Celtic. 

I didn’t know if at the time, but this would be the last time that I would see Tony Adelizzi, who’d travelled up from London for the match. 

He sadly died of a heart attack, aged 50, in February 2010. 

Tony’s Floral Tribute - Cannon & 4 Wheels Wagon. 

Oporto 2010. 

I was supposed to be going to Oporto with Tony Adelizzi and Vic W to meet Henry T & Mick C. 

Obviously, only the 4 of us met out there. 

Although I did see, the ever present, Tringy as well. 

I spent a very enjoyable afternoon visiting the various Port Lodges though. 

Henry T & Mick C. 

Henry T & Myself. 

Match ticket. 

Inside the stadium. 

Next Post - Monday 29/6/2020. 

Barca - Boca - Betis. 

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