Thought we could have a thread to reminisce over the history of the club. The glory years, the nearly years, the Graham years. Stories of trips to the ground, how you got to support the club. Just about anything really

With him back at the club training, it reminded me of this superb video, and got me thinking back to some of Bobby's performances at the club. Growing up, going to games regularly at the age of 15, aspiring to be a professional footballer myself, this man was just a joy to watch. He actually used to frustrate me at times, as he sometimes used to go missing, or his performances away from home were one of someone who wasn't really "up for it". However, he always came up with the goods. THAT goal at Anfield being the main one that comes to mind. He was horrible that day. He barely touched the ball, gave it away on nearly every occasion, and i remember sitting there in the Anfield Rd end thinking that Bobby's glory days after the injury were over. Then he popped up with the ball on the corner of the box after Edu stumbled his way through, and curled the ball into the far post past Dudek like only he, or Dennis Bergkamp could. Those two have framed shirts on my wall (our gold sega shirt with Pires on the back, and Dennis' testimonial t-shirt), and will forever remain my favourite Arsenal players.

Pass me a tissue someone.

Also, would it be Reminiscence or Reminisce? Shoot me now, English never was one of my stronger subjects 😆

Bobby loved the club and we loved him. After losing Overmars, you could hardly have asked for a better winger. He was one of the best wingers in the world when he was with us, the like of which we didn't see again until Andrey. Flair and intelligence; what a player. Was my favourite player from the Invincibles era along with Bergkamp. The goal against Villa was magic but the striker against Southampton for his hat-trick was insanely nonchalant.

But we sold him at the right time. He was off the pace in his last season with us and with Reyes apparently coming through, he knew his time was up. Rosicky was the nail in his coffin but Tomas has so far failed to emulate Bobby in both performance and goals. Love, love, loved this guy.

Here's something I found a while ago. It's a collection of every goal Thierry scored for us and it's in good quality:







Good find. THAT game against Liverpool will always stand out as the game against Parma. Adams finish against Everton. Henry's turn and finish against Utd, Bergkamps against Newcastle. Prob one of most satisfying was Wiltooooord at Old Trafford. Was surrounded in a pub in Wexford by United fans (literally surrounded) and oh man did it feel sweet when that one hit the net.

The 4-4 against Liverpool seemed sum up the ups and downs of the last four years though. Left (well staggered) Kates Cottage knowing I'd seen an epic game (if not result) but unsure how to feel about it

Oh, I like this thread...finally a chance for me to drone on, and on, and on...

Thing is, I don't know where to start...my first trip to Highbury in 1974, the 70's finals, '89, '91...the traditions, faces on the North Bank,"The Herd", the Invincibles...I'll start with the players I think.

Liam Brady. What a player. Like JW at the same age, but better in my opinion, and went on to be one of the best players I ever watched at Highbury, only eclipsed by Henry and Bergkamp. Oh, and Rocastle was a bit good too.

My first memory of going to games is being absolutely blown away by the way the East Stand shot out of the run of the mill north London brickwork. And then the guy beside me, singing "You're just a bunch of wankers" at an Arsenal side that was 4-1 up after half an hour.

Other memories would be the stranger hugging moment that was Ashley Cole's last minute winner against Dinamo Kiev, being stood next to a Liverpool fan (my mate Neil) in the terrace at the front of the East Stand when Anders Limpar lobbed Mike Hooper in 92. And watching him clap the sheer audacity of it. Oh, and my last visit to Highbury, which was the Carling Cup semi against Wigan, the free kick that everyone knew van Perse was gonna put away and the utter despair as Jason Roberts somehow found his way through to blast in Wigan's last gasp tie winner. I remember dragging my little cousin James, he was 8 at the time, away and him asking me if we could stop at the merchandise stands. I wasn't really in the mood for it. I'm not sure if it was the same game, but I know I took him to one and he fell asleep standing up on the tube on the way home!

He'll be old enough to come to the pub soon. A frankly frightening thought.

Famous, where can you start with The Herd? I didn't realise you were The Guv' in disguise 😉

I'm genuinely interested though.

Biggest regret i have growing up, is playing for my sunday league team instead of going to WHL, the day we won the league. We were close to winning our own league, and being captain, felt i had to be there. Genuinely didn't expect Newcastle to beat Chelsea that day, and for us to wrap it up. I had to listen to my brother and dad go on and on when they got back, but was obviously over the moon. I was there though when Sylvain won us the league at Old Trafford, so count myself lucky for that. Managed to see us lose in two cup finals in Europe, cried all the way back to the car in Copenhagen (we'd driven there), and in total, have seen us five times on foreign soil, and not seen us win once! I plan on breaking that duck very carefully.

Paul, growing up, sticking the VHS season reviews in, Limpar's lob was always one i wanted to recreate as a kid. Rocastle at Old Trafford too. Loved watching tapes of those two as a small lad (and i mean small, possibly 4 or 5 years old).

James...I remember the Guv, what a character, totally glorified those old times.

What I do remember is being a very young teen, just coming out of the punk era {missed it really, just a little too young} and heading up to Highbury with a couple of older lads. They used to go on about this guy called Jenkins, who was the leader of our "firm" at the time. I didn't believe we had one, until we played sp*rs one season and it truly kicked off everywhere.

We were known as the "Goon squad" {later "gooners"} back then and the "battle song" was '"she wore" ...still sung today. If you heard it in the North Bank it was a signal to rush down the front and have a bit of a row, {or pretend to, in my case!}.

Later on our "firm" became much more organised and hardcore with "The Herd" and the Bear and all that lot...The bear was an incredible bloke, had the respect of everyone, rival fans, police, just a larger than life character who really could handle himself in the early days...I had the pleasure of bumping into him at nearly every away match in the '89 season {you can see him jumping on to the pitch at Anfield} and by then he had calmed right down. During the early '80's "The Herd" WAS the firm in London, despite what the silly films tell us...didn't last long, a few got put away and the whole thing had gone a bit underground and creepy...you know, mobile phones and organised rucks and nonsense, didn't want anything to do with that. In fact, didn't want much to do with any of it, apart from getting a bit involved with the "yids" and all that, couldn't be helped.

Henry.... oh how i'd love to have a player like him in our team right now.

Those little crosses/passes across the net and tap ins were crucial for our teams in the past. We never can do that shit anymore. Defending has changed to minimize them and instead we're relying on width with midgets meeting crosses.

There was so much power and explosiveness in those teams.

That's brilliant Famous. Knew you used to go in the 70's & 80's, but didn't know any of that. Were you at Anfield in '89? Being at Old Trafford was one thing, but whenever i watch that game back, it really must've been something else being there that night.

Guv used to be what AM was all about. Amongst the brilliant posters, we also had the characters, and he was definitely one of them. Used to love reading his posts in the "View from..." threads, along with Rocky, Marco, Exiled et al. It was brilliant, especially how i was travelling to these away games with my old man from the age of 12-18 (i think i joined AM at 16), yet reading and taking in something completely different to my match day experience. It's not that my dad wanted me to have the "family experience" (ergh), but he obviously didn't want me getting too close to any action, although you would often witness it. Guv'nor wasn't afraid to speak his mind, and i guess that ultimately got him banned.

Used to love being on the away scheme and following the Arse up and down the country. Even at such a young age, used to feel such a community amongst those who travelled. The buzz of walking down Seven Sisters to WHL is something that cannot be matched. I think my first trip to WHL was in 99, so i would've been 12. Obviously my old man wouldn't let me wear colours, and it was always one of those things you didn't quite understand til you experienced it. By the time i was 15, i was well experienced at avoiding all trouble and going "undercover". It's these experiences that drive the sheer hatred for everything and anything Spurs, and also why i've perhaps been fascinated by such stories like your own Famous, since an early age. I remember coming out of Stamford Bridge after Kanu's hat-trick. I had nothing on to suggest i was an Arsenal fan, but had a Nike rainjacket on. The amount of abuse i got was unreal.

Having to quit the scheme was the one downsides of going to University, as well as my Mum and Dad going through a pretty rough divorce. Hopefully be able to get back on that soon. However, expect to see me on the pitch at the City of Manchester should that cunt do anything similar to last season. I'm in Row 3, so he should be easy pickings!

Didn't know you were a matchgoer(or former matchgoer), Famous. Say hello to pink hat lady, "go go gunners" lady, etc., who all sit in the front row on away days(saw pink hat lady at the front row of stamford bridge the other week).

Was talking to my friend about it the other day, and I think the recent lows we've had will make the highs that much better. I think we were a little spoiled from 96(before my time)-05. But just because we aren't winning trophies doesn't mean that there's never a reason to celebrate. A big part of enjoying success is seeing us lift a trophy, but I'd say getting there(or not getting there) is exponentially more important. I mean, why follow a team if you're only there to watch them lift a trophy once a season(if you're lucky)?

Xcdude, James...Ahh, I rarely go to matches these days, maybe 3 or 4 a year and very few away matches {family, work}...I've done my time following us around the country! I do miss it, but that was back in the day with those old faces when I had less commitments...great times, and then as of now our away support had a real community feel to it and made a good noise. @ James, yes, I can proudly say I went to every match home and away in '89...it was just unreal. Everyone just had the feeling it was our time, and it was...just can't really ever be matched. I was also a season ticket holder between 88-92, so I watched some good times...yeah remember pink lady, rip roar...before that it was the couple with the flag at the front of the NB. I was a topsider {so was exiled, I believe}. All good fun as well, wasn't really kicking off too much by then.

Quite proud of my times, actually...also makes me a little sad, remembering my friend John Turk {RIP} and the laughs we had together, also the stuff at Highbury that used to go on thats all in the past, but we were the first generation of "Gooners" that had real identity as as a football "tribe", and I'm proud of that.

Awesome videos, Henry and Bobby were a class above

...and the thing is, I love that we have a clock at the grove and stuff but I don't think any amount of "Arsenalisation" can replace the traditions at Highbury, some of which were only evident if you went to a match, and really much of it was lost after the terracing had gone.

You know, people had their plots on the North Bank...we were in the top side, another lot had the "middle" {we had pretend fights with them!}, the old chants that started with the slow clap at around 2.30, the clockend chants, rip roar, the peanut bloke...we had a great rapport with the side then as well, lots of jokes between the players and crowd, waves etc...clapping the opposing 'keeper when he came down our end, booing him as soon as his back turned!...in older days we had the marching band who also had a good rapport with the NB.

I understand the need to move and our ground now is awesome, but Highbury was such a quirky, imposing place that oozed History, really felt like home...I suppose others will feel that way about the Grove in 50 years time.

I like the Arsenalisation. At least there's someone there who actually gives a damn. The fact we moved into the ground with so much concrete on show was embarrassing.

Safe terracing is one thing i wish they would bring back to English football.

Oh yeah, don't get me wrong, without some though going in to making it look a bit traditional it would look sterile, like it did when we first moved there.

All said, only time can give us the feeling of a special History at the place...it will come.

Having experienced Highbury, i'm sure none of us will ever feel at home at Ashburton. There really was no ground like it, even if tucked in the letterbox of the East Stand Lower.

Great thread guys. As an overseas fan I'm not in a position to compete on up close memories, but it's great to read personal takes on club history. Keep it coming 8)

One of my favourite games at Highbury was the night we came back from 2-0 down at half time against (then champions) Leeds in the FA Cup in 1993. Didn't get to the ground, with my cousin Steve who was a copper in Merton at the time, until after all the tickets had sold out- the North Bank was a mural at the time. He bought Clock End tickets off a tout for twice face value- so he paid £25 (imagine that Kami, two tickets for £25 from a tout!). I nearly pissed myself going through the turnstile, I was so nervous. Anyway, Ray Parlour got one early in the second half and then it was just a question of when. About ten minutes were left when Merse unleashed a thunderbolt into the goal right in front of us. I didn't realise until someone turned around and asked "Is this yours?" that I'd lost my walkman in the melee when that goal went in. Brilliant night.