Old Gunners and Gooners : Houston’s Alamo.

Stewart Houston.

After George Graham was sacked. Stewart Houston was appointed Arsenal’s Temporary Manager.

He managed to get the necessary points Arsenal needed to avoid relegation.

In the ECWCUP he guided Arsenal past Auxerre and Sampdoria to reach the final in Paris against Real Zaragoza.

Sampdoria.

Arsenal won the 1st Leg of the semifinal 3-2 at Highbury against Sampdoria.

Steve Bould scores the first goal.

Organised Chaos

Some of us decided to go to the 2nd Leg in Genoa on a trip that was recommended, but not organised, by Chris K.

This trip involved flying to and from Milan, Coach to Genoa, 2 nights hotel accommodation and Match tickets.

That was the theory - This was the Reality;

No return flight tickets.

Coach to hotel - ok.

Hotel, 30 minutes by car from Genoa.

Hotel accommodation not payed for.

Counterfeit Match tickets.

I never found out about this until the day of the game, as Gary D and myself had hired a car in Milan and gone to visit my cousin who lives in Florence.

Outside Fiorentina Stadium.

Photo of Fiorentina fans on a match day.

Inside the Fiorentina Stadium.

After spending the night in Florence, we drove to our hotel near Genoa.

This hotel was so far down the coast and up in the hills that I think Florence might have been nearer.

We arrived to find Chris K, and one of our mates and his son waiting to tell us the bad news about how nothing had been organised properly.

Some Arsenal Fans on this trip had, mistakenly, accused Chris K of turning them over and they’d clumped him the night before.

Our mate had booked into another, nicer, hotel the previous night, when he discovered that the original hadn’t been paid for.

They also had a nice meal in a restaurant owned by the Italian ex heavyweight boxer, Giorgio Masteghin, who’d once fought the British boxer, Brian London.

So Gary D and myself checked into the same hotel as well.

We then all piled into the car and drove to the Sampdoria stadium.

After lunch we went for a drink in the Hilton hotel nearby and in the bar we met Ron Atkinson and Brian Moore, who were commentating on the match later.

Ron Atkinson looks pleased to meet me!!

When we got to the stadium there was chaos, as all the blokes on our trip are being refused entry with their dodgy tickets.

Eventually, somebody from the British Consulate arrived and we were escorted inside by the police.

Obviously, we never had a seat because many of us had the same seat number on our tickets.

So they made us stand behind the seating area.

No problem, most of the Arsenal Fans stood up during the game anyway.

Official Trip from Hell.

We found out later, that the Arsenal Fans who’d gone on the Official Organised trips, had suffered even worse than us, due to the Italian police forcing their coaches into a temporary parking area behind high fences and making them stay inside all day, without food, drink or toilets.

Unofficial Trip from Hell.

Not exactly a first class service.

We’re almost in.

But not with these “Snides”.

The Sampdoria fans are in.

With a Banner that’s bigger than Spandau’s.

Ian Wright puts one in.

David Seaman stops a penalty from going in.

Arsenal won 3-2 on penalties.

Arsenal are in the Final.

After the game we drive back to our hotel in the coastal town of Chiavari and go for a few beers in the “Lord Nelson” pub near the marina.

On discovering that we are Arsenal Fans a, presumably wealthy, local bloke treats us to champagne, some caviar and other canapés.

By the time he’d finished drinking with us happy souls, his mates had to carry him to his house.

The next day we drove back to Milan and had to pay full price for flights home.

Houston’s Alamo.

Arsenal losing to Real Zaragoza in the ECWCUP Final in Paris sealed the fate of Stewart Houston.

He’d done a good job getting us there and stopping the bad run of defeats in the League.

Arsenal Fans should always give him credit for this.

Some of us hired a coach and a few went by plane to join the thousands of other Gooners in Paris.

After checking in to our hotel, we found a little “greasy spoon” cafe nearby.

The chef couldn’t believe it when 25 hungry Arsenal Fans walked in and asked for Ham & Eggs all round. The waitress had to go out and buy some more food.

Some of the sights of Paris - And the Notre Dame Cathedral.

Our HQ for the afternoon.

Gary D & Lenny T and son were there.

My brother was there.

The 4 Wheels boys were there.

2 more Old North Bank boys were there.

2 even Older North Bank Boys were there.

Spooky - Spandau & “Lord Lucan’s Family” were there.

Even Rikki H, (in red shirt) who’d kept quiet at Wembley in 1988, was there.

JC managed to get there without any major incident.

One of Spandau’s boys was there.

So was this happy little boy.

Another couple of Old North Bank Boys were there.

Even Granty, who hates flying, flew in with another Old North Bank Boy.

Spandau’s Banner was there.

Spandau and another couple of Old North Bank Boys were there.

Don’t be late getting in there.

I’m in there - again.

When we arrived at the stadium, the French police had formed a barrier across the access roads and were checking match tickets and searching Arsenal supporters.

These procedures meant that we all had to filter through the police lines, almost in single file and took a few minutes for everyone to proceed.

While we’re all waiting our turn, we all started singing “there’s only one Johnny Collins”.

Eventually, hundreds of Arsenal Fans around us joined in, after about 5 minutes, one fan, who’d been singing his head off, said to my nephew, who the fuck is Johnny Collins?

I could hardly walk for laughing.

Thousands of Arsenal Fans were there.

Real Zaragoza fans were there.

The Arsenal team were there.

John Hartson scored one there.

Unfortunately, an ex player from the Lane was also there.

David Seaman can’t believe it got there.

Arsenal Fans were kept in the stadium at the end of the game and then tear gassed by the police when they tried to leave.

We go back to our hotel and drown our sorrows.

As our coach home is not due until the afternoon on the next day, some of us decide to visit the grave of the legendary, Jim Morrison, who used to be the singer in the Doors Rock band.