[quote]thought it was just accepted as a nickname by general consensus as the Spuds tried to use it as an insult so it was turned back on them.[/quote]

As Reg said earlier Gooners is what Arsenal hooligans called themselves and other clubs fans used it as an `insult` to all Arsenal fans. They adopted it and now it`s a quite respectable name,even the media use it when writing or talking about our fans.
It very much mirrors the use of the word `Brit` the IRA called the British as a derogatory term but was adopted by the British people and is now used universally by ourselves and foreigners to depict ourselves.

RR - 'boro? would I be correct in thinking you're talking of the FAC 3rd round in '77 when they beat us 4-1? I didn't make the trip but all my mates did. I met them as they returned to St Pancras. I can only go by what they say but there were thousands of Arsenal up there that day. There were skirmishes before the game with Arsenal coming out on top every time. However, during the game 'boro made several attempts to jump over the fence and Arsenal did the same. Darts were thrown by 'boro (a speciality of theirs). After the game it was a different story completely. Arsenal fans took a beating all the way back to the station. As I mentioned earlier, I met the lads at St Pancars and it reminded me of old Pathe News footage of wounded troop trains arriving back in the UK. There were lads with all kinds of injuries, a couple without shoes and one bloke wearing just his jeans. No jacket, shirt or shoes. He'd been taxed.

But going back to the original question. We rarely travelled in huge numbers to Newcastle or Sunderland so big 'offs' never happened. However, they could always tell who you were by the clothes. Just keep your head down and keep moving confidently. The Manchester clubs were okay. But ManUre pulled huge numbers and lined the route back to Piccadily. Midlands clubs were okay but you had to watch yourself in the Bullring as you came out of New Street Station.

The worst place to go was Merseyside. Liverpool and especially Everton were well known for introducing their friend Stanley to any cockney unfortunate enough to take a wrong turning.

Wham, scum and 'wall could be very nasty, but those that know will tell you Arsenal more than held their own on visits to their grounds. After 'wall in the FAC, many Arsenal fans herd the sound of the six o'clock knock.

Thankfully all that is in the past as a regular Saturday afternoon event, Occassionally it rears it's head but is so rare that when something minor happens, as with Everton on Saturday, it get's blown out of all proportion.

[quote]'boro? would I be correct in thinking you're talking of the FAC 3rd round in '77 when they beat us 4-1[/quote]

No Reg this was 1988/89 when we were going for the title and they were struggling to avoid relegation.It was the fourth game from the end of the season and we won 1-0 (Martin Hayes)Their fans were not too happy with us and if the police had not bundled us into a police van and drove us to the station I might not be writing this now.Ah Happy Days!

[quote]No Reg this was 1988/89 when we were going for the title and they were struggling to avoid relegation.It was the fourth game from the end of the season and we won 1-0 (Martin Hayes)Their fans were not too happy with us and if the police had not bundled us into a police van and drove us to the station I might not be writing this now.Ah Happy Days![/quote]


I went to that one. fifteen of us were staying at a mates house in Yarm for the weekend. We were waiting in the Ketton Ox for some cabs to arrive when three waifs and strays from the 70s walked in making 18. So we got onto the cab firm and they sent us a 53 seater coach for £2 each return.

As we arrivbed at Ayresome Park we asked the driver to drop us at the Arsenal end. right end, wrong side. we walked passed these neaderthals lining the street. They were looking at us, looking at the place name on the coach, scratched their heads. couldn't make out what we were. We were ready to have a go if need be, but just kept walking. we just got through the turnstiles when a load of Arsenal came charging down the street and straight into them. Great atmospehre from us lot in the ground, mental when whoops-a-daisy scored.

Final whistle and we couldn't find our coach. then plod pointed us down a side street away from the rest of the coaches. We had to be on our toes sharpish as the knuckle draggers found us.

That night we went to a club in Yarm called McMullens. Turns out some of the 'boro first team were in there. We slaughtered Bernie Slaven and the tart he was with.

Happy dsys indeed.

Reg, seriously, have you ever considered writing a book? You write very well and have a different perspective from the mainstream books.

Come on AK; 999,999 questions still to ask!

[quote]Reg, seriously, have you ever considered writing a book? You write very well and have a different perspective from the mainstream books.[/quote]


I couldn't do it, I need to protect the guilty!!! If it was it would be a cross between Nick Hornby (my sensitive side) and a Cass Pennant.

[quote]couldn't do it, I need to protect the guilty!!! If it was it would be a cross between Nick Hornby (my sensitive side) and a Cass Pennant.[/quote]

All the more reason to write it Reg.I think snappy should write one as well that would be a cross between Hitler (his sensitive side) and Attila the Hun.

[quote]I think snappy should write one as well that would be a cross between Hitler (his sensitive side) and Attila the Hun.[/quote]

Just kidding mate!

Sorry, I was away annexing the Sudetenland. I know

[quote]Sorry, I was away annexing the Sudetenland. I know[/quote]
Your a funny man snappy

R&R....

do any of you remember or even went to my first game.....

april '82 v spuds, we lost 1-3 but it was memorable for a good old fasioned tear up on the north bank.....

i was a wee laddie, the memory is a bit vague

I was born that year, apparently we played them 2 days or something before my birthday and won 2 - 0

[quote]Come on AK; 999,999 questions still to ask![/quote]

Nah, I think 999,997 or so . I will dig up some more questions