Let me start this blog with an apology. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write and upload this blog. It’s not because I didn’t love this fortnight’s fad, not at all. I’ve just been a very busy bee. In fact my last fad has changed me. I’m not just a Mumford, I’m not just a fadder, I’m a Gooner. Yeah, that’s right, I’m now a fully fledged Arsenal fan. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. When I was quizzed on who Arsenal’s strongest central midfielder is I just listed the names of players that I know; hoping one of them was a central midfielder. But when I was at the Emirates last week, I felt like a Gooner and I screamed profanities with the best of them.
So how and why did I go the Emirates? It’s all thanks to the lovely Kate Greenaway a hard core life time Gooner and friend of mine. Supporting Arsenal is more than just a fad for Kate, it’s a lifestyle choice. A football team is not just Christmas it’s for life. It will make you jump for joy, kick inanimate objects in anger and bleed your bank account dry. To be an Arsenal fan you have to pay £30 just to be a red member, then pay for each ticket on top of that. And those tickets are expensive. We paid £40 each for our tickets and that was for a low importance match at the back of the stadium. Most tickets costs between £50 – 75. “Why not just get a season ticket?” I hear you cry. Well, to get a season ticket for Arsenal you have to join a waiting list of nearly 30 years. Which is just ridiculous, my attention span barley lasts 30 minutes, I can’t promise that I would still be interested in something in 30 years time. (Which is slightly worrying for my marriage prospects). Then once you reach the top of this list you have to pay nearly £2,000 for your season ticket. OMG. My car didn’t even cost that. Kate tried to explain that the season ticket thing is different for other teams and the waiting list and expense is not as much for other teams. But I didn’t really understand what she was saying and then thought “who cares?” if I’m going to buy a season ticket it’s not going to be for any other team than Arsenal.
“Poppycock” I hear you saying. If I had been taken to a Tottenham game by a Spurs fan I’d be one of them. But Arsenal and I have history; their name is the only team name (apart from England of course) that I have shouted at the TV. When I was growing up my brother, sister and best friend all supported Arsenal. So I was always aware of the players names, finals they were in and cups they won. But I didn’t really care so couldn’t really call myself a fan, in the ladder of fandom I was very much on the bottom rung. Along with all the others that say, “If I had to pick a team it would be…” A few rungs up there’s the, “I enjoy watching the matches and check the results when I can’t watch them,” rung which is where I now sit. Then there’s the “I know their strengths and weaknesses and the best formations to play,” rung, which is where I hope to sit after I’ve watched more matches. Then the top, “I bleed when you bleed” fan, who takes their football team with them wherever they go in their hearts and their heads.
To be this level of football fan you have to make sacrifices, with your finances and your time. The finances have already been discussed, though I’ve not even touched on the travel expenses and merchandise costs. There are shirts, scarves, clocks, toasters, baby clothes and cuddly toys, basically anything that could be made red and white or have a Cannon stuck on it. Then with a premier league match every weekend and cup games during the week, that’s a lot of time. Obviously you might not be able to get to the match every time, but if you’re a real fan then you will find a TV somewhere. None of this matters though to the true football fan, because it’s your team, you’re family. Family may seem like a strange word to use when talking about a group of people that you’ve never met and changes on a yearly basis. But I know that’s how my football fan friends feel, they share the ups and downs together. Last month Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey had his leg broken in a nasty tackle and Kate cried for two hours. A strong reaction you may think, but he’s feels like a family member to her and his leg bone was poking out of his skin. These players are family to their fans which is why it’s devastating when they leave for more money and glory. (Yes Ashley Cole I’m taking to you – Kate told me what you did) Players that leave on good terms for valid reasons are still loved by the fans, their still part of the family. But a true fan can never give up or walk away, even when faced with constant disappointment. Fans are more forgiving of their team then they are their partners, you don’t divorce your team, you stick the hard times out.
It’s hard to be lonely at a football match, as you’re surrounded by thousands of people who all love what you love. That’s an incredible feeling. As I sat on the tube and noticed fellow passengers in red and white scarves I already started to feel like I was part of something. This feeling continued as I walked from Finsbury Park Tube to the Emirates with a sense of anticipation and excitement. My greatest joy coming from the fact I got to walk in the road. I love walking in the road. It’s only on really special occasions that one gets to walk in the road without risk of death. You know you’re in for something special when the Highway Code is thrown out of the window. Then there’s the magnificent Emirates Stadium, a gleaming architectural feat of beauty and purpose that pokes out between the roofs of terrace houses. My particular highlight being the giant letters spelling out Arsenal that sit outside the Stadium. I defy someone not to smile while sitting on a giant E. A bacon, cheeseburger with fried onions and a cup of tea was another treat.
The best bit of the day was of course the match itself. The butterflies, the jumping, the chanting, the swearing, the sighs, the screams, all the emotions that coursed through me as I watched Arsenal defeat Burney 3 – 1. I loved those last few minutes of the match when you’re waiting to exhale but can’t until that final whistle has been blown. Which is when I started to wonder if it’s your heart or head that makes you a fan. It may have been the first time I watched Arsenal play live and I might not know half the players names but at least I stayed till the end. Unlike the hundreds of fans who could recite their dream formation but would leave the stadium early before their team’s victory was secured. What if Burnley had secured a cheeky 2 goals in extra time and we had equalised, and you wouldn’t even know until you watched Match of the Day that night. It’s just ridiculous, as is asking football fans not to swear as there are children around – another thing I witnessed that day. I’m sorry but if you don’t want your children to hear swearing then don’t take them to a football match. Simples. There are other bonding activities you can do with your 8 year old child that would involve less profanity. Especially if said child spent the entire match wriggling in their chair, either complaining they’re hungry or reciting the alphabet. Basically doing anything but watching the match you spent over £40 for them to watch.
Granted the foul mouth blokes behind us were idiots and they were either swearing for the sake of it or singing about Harry Redknapp’s twitch. But surely it’s obvious that men who swear so much you feel the need to tell them to stop won’t stop because you asked them to. In fact isn’t it more likely that they’ll direct their swearing at you instead. Especially if you a mild mannered man in glasses that invites the line, “I can’t believe we’re being told to shut up by Harry Potter’s granddad.” Which is incidentally one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard in my life.
A place where I can cry with laughter, bite my nails in fear and jump with happiness is the kind of place I want to visit again. Also, the fact that I now talk about Arsenal in the ‘we’ person and have listened to Arsene Wenger’s post game interview on the internet suggest that this wont be the last time I visit the Emirates. Though I’m not sure I’m ready to be a red member just yet. I’m not sure I can make that kind of financial commitment for something which might ultimately turn out to be just a fad. Only last week after making a big fuss about going down the pub to watch Arsenal v Hull City, I had a nap instead.
I want to thank the lovely Kate Greenaway for sharing her passion with me, for lending me her Arsenal shirt (it’s in my hand wash pile – I’ll get it back to you soon I promise) and scarf. Thanks Greeno – I hope to be down that pub or Emirates stadium again with you soon
Next blog – golf with the guys
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