Old Gunners and Gooners : Meeting my Boyhood Hero.

Billy Wright signs Joe Baker for Arsenal - 1962.

Meeting Joe Baker - November 1992.

My Invitation.

After spotting an article in a newspaper, announcing that there was going to be a Testimonial Dinner in Edinburgh for our favourite Arsenal player, from the days when we were schoolboys, I contacted Spooky to see if he was interested in going there with me.

We rang the organiser and on hearing my accent he said, you must be an Arsenal fan.
They’d had no reply from Arsenal, although the club did later send a signed shirt to be auctioned.

We booked our seats and drove up to Scotland the day before the dinner.
After taking in the sights the next day, we went to the hotel nice and early, wearing our Arsenal ties as requested by the organiser, Victor Paris.

Victor had also asked Joe Baker to come in early to meet the 2 Arsenal fans from London before the other guests arrived.

We were invited into the Hospitality Suite to be greeted by Joe and his family.
I gave him a framed photo of when he’d knocked down RonYeats at Highbury in 1964.
Joe’s brother, Gerry, laughed and said “ Oh no, he’s got the proof now, he’ll show everyone at the Golf club”.

I also gave Joe a copy of The Arsenal Player by Player book, inside it, I’d written the words from a Pink Floyd song, “Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun”

Our Hero.

Spooky and myself then had a good chat with Joe about his career and time at Arsenal.

By now the room was filling up with Joe’s special guests, Scottish football legends, such as Billy McNeill (Celtic), Jim Baxter and Ralph Brand (Rangers), Alex Young (Hearts & Everton), Pat Stanton (Hibs) and then Denis “The Lawman” Law arrived.

The whole room turned to greet him as though the King had arrived.
Denis came straight over to Joe, who was still talking to us, gave him a hug and then Joe introduced Dennis to Spooky and myself.

I told Denis,that if I’d had enough money I’d have bought him as well as Joe for Arsenal in 1962.
Imagine them both with George Eastham and Geordie Armstrong.

Spooky and myself then went around the room chatting and having our photos taken with all the other famous ex players.

Meanwhile, we noticed another fella taking photos and we asked him if he was the official press photographer? We laughed when he replied, No I’m just a Hibs fan with a nice camera around my neck. He’d jibbed his way in!
John sat at our table for dinner and I still exchange Xmas cards with John C to this day.

When everyone goes into the huge hall for dinner, we can’t believe that there’s 300 people there.
Joe Baker then leads his special guests in and he immediately comes to our table to shake our hands and thank us again for coming.

Before the dinner begins, the compere introduces Spooky and myself, as the Arsenal Fans who’ve come all the way from London, and we receive a standing ovation from the 300 people that are in there.

The only other Englishman attending, was Johnny Haynes, who actually lived in Edinburgh.
Spooky would later invite him back into the Hospitality Suite as our guest because Johnny never had access to go in there.
I don’t think they’d forgiven him for the 9-3 hammering England gave them in 1961, only joking!!

After the dinner, came the speeches and auctions of football memorabilia.
I bought a few Joe Baker signed T shirts for my mates and myself.

Then the serious business begins.
First item to be auctioned is one of Joe’s England caps in a glass frame.
Spooky turns to me and says “I’m gonna get Joe a few bob”, to my horror, Spooky then stands up and offers £500.
I said to him “we ain’t got £500 between us!!” don’t worry he replies.
45 seconds later someone offered £600 and I could breathe again.

We ended the evening talking to Joe and Jim Baxter about England vs Scotland games in the sixties and at the end I gave my Official Arsenal tie to Joe and Spooky gave his to Jim.