Rainham has an encyclopaedic knowledge of most things Arsenal since he saw his first game at the Manor Ground. Reg knows everything that`s going on and has insightful answers to give. Therefore AK and I have set up this thread so they can answer any questions you may have about Arsenal history. AK already has a million and one questions for Rainham so he`d better ask them while RR can still see his computer screen. Any non Arsenal questions should be addressed to Shivers as normal.
[quote]Best match at Highbury (or Plumstead) that you have seen?[/quote]
Not only was it the best game at Highbury (or Plumstead) I`ve ever seen but the best game anywhere.Arsenal 4 v Manchester Utd 5.Ist February 1958.The Busby Babes were without doubt the best team in England.They were 3-0 up at half-time but incredibaly we scored three in four minutes during the second half.Man U came back with two goals but we kept going and scored another and were still attacking when the final whistle went.The crowd that magic day was 63,578 and I swear not one person left the stadium before the end.The crowd stood and cheered the teams who left the field arm in arm.Tragically,four days later the Busby Babes were no more because of the Munich air crash.But the game was a fitting tribute to one of the finest teams to grace our game.
[quote]best atmosphere you experienced at Highbury?[/quote]
There`s been a few but the one that sticks in my memory is the European Fairs Cup 28th April 1970 against RSC Anderlecht who were at the time one of the best teams in Europe.We were 3-1 down from the first leg but we had the away goal thanks to an unknown reserve called Ray Kennedy who came into the team due to an injury to Charlie George.This was our first chance of a trophy for seventeen years and were the crowd up for it.We won 3-0 thanks to goals from Eddie Kelly,John Radford and Jon Sammuels.51,612 were in Highbury that night and they didn`t stop urging the boys on from the first whistle to last.Wonderful atmosphere,wonderful night.
[quote]who in your opinion was the greatest scot ever to wear the arsenal shirt??[/quote]
Arsenal historically have up to recently had great Scottish players Tommy Docherty,Archie MaCauley,Alex Forbes,Willie Young (he wasn`t a great player but a great character) Charlie Nicholas but the player who stands out for me is Frank Mclintock,probably the greatest Captain we ever had including Tony Adams.Frank was a great player and an inspirational captain.
Glad you said that because I would totally agree with you. Were you on the pitch afterwards? We were! Now they`ve found the video of that game, I didn`t realise how wet and muddy it was. Jon Sammels was one of the most underrated players we`ve had in my time. Eddie Kelly was a trier and never gave up; John Radford-legend! Now, what was the best atmosphere you`ve experienced at an away game? We`re probably not going to agree on this one!
[quote]AK already has a million and one questions for Rainham so he`d better ask them while RR can still see his computer screen. Any non Arsenal questions should be addressed to Shivers as normal.[/quote]
LOOOOL!!!! Love this thread already..
Rainham, what's the worst drubbing you have seen Arsenal recieve (last year doesn't count)
How did the crowd recieve the first non-white Arsenal player? (I cant remember his name, someone told me it wasn't viv). Were they hostile? Were there some of our fans who didnt want to see a non-white player represent Arsenal?
[quote]Glad you said that because I would totally agree with you. Were you on the pitch afterwards? We were! Now they`ve found the video of that game, I didn`t realise how wet and muddy it was. Jon Sammels was one of the most underrated players we`ve had in my time. Eddie Kelly was a trier and never gave up; John Radford-legend! Now, what was the best atmosphere you`ve experienced at an away game? We`re probably not going to agree on this one![/quote]
I didn`t go on the pitch but was celebrating with the Belgium fans,yes you read it right there was a large group of away fans near us and they took the defeat very well and we all sang and danced together.I didn`t know there was a video of the game is it possible to buy? Your right about John Sammels very under-rated and for some reason he was disliked by the Arsenal fans who drove him out of the club.Eddie never really fulfilled his potential but he gave everything and John Radford was one of the very geaatest players to pull on an Arsenal shirt. As for the best atmosphere at an away game it`s got to be Liverpool 89,probably the greatest single moment when Michael Thomas scored in my football life.
I knew we`d disagree about that one as I wasn`t at Anfield Mine was SHL, May `71. On the pitch there as well! The video was on one of the membership DVD`s. I don`t know about the whole game as the quality was poor (B&W, grainy and fuzzy).
[quote]Rainham, what's the worst drubbing you have seen Arsenal recieve (last year doesn't count)
How did the crowd recieve the first non-white Arsenal player? (I cant remember his name, someone told me it wasn't viv). Were they hostile? Were there some of our fans who didnt want to see a non-white player represent Arsenal?[/quote]
The worst drubbing, and thank God there isn`t many of them, was in my opinion by Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Cup 1982/83.We had lost the first leg in Moscow 2-3 but had played really well and we fancied our chances in the home leg.However,they beat us 2-5 and it could have been ten.I have never seen an Arsenal side so outplayed.At the final whistle the crowd to their credit applauded the Russians off the pitch. As snappy has said Brendan Batson was our first black player but I don`t remember any hostility against him at all.To be honest I never heard any Arsenal fan run down a player who played for us because of the colour of his skin.
