And Now For Something Completely Different
Nov 25th, 2010 by 'holic
As you might imagine, I get all manner of email traffic, daily. Around the time of the North London derby I am always impressed at the number of different drug and porn offers that various bots try to share with you. Reliable filters generally sort out the worst of it leaving me to sift through various requests for free advertising, your genuine questions, and just now and again something different that grabs the attention.
Those who have joined me for a beer at the Arsenal will know a couple of things about me. I invariably wear my 1971 home shirt, thus confirming my antiquity, and ankylosing spondylitis has decided I am a suitable vessel to leach onto. So when I get a mail asking to help out the charity Arthritis Research with their new ‘Taking the pain out of sport’ campaign, and see that Bob Wilson is participating, I reckon this is worth a quick mention.
Active people are being asked to share their stories of sports pain or injury as leading medical charity Arthritis Research UK seeks new ways to keep people active throughout their lives. The charity wants you to share your experiences of playing sports via a quick survey at www.painoutofsport.org and at the end of the survey you can enter a free prize draw to land £250 worth of Nike vouchers as a thank you for taking part.
I saw on ATvO last week that Bob, the bravest goalkeeper I ever saw, had recently discovered that in a brutal League Cup semi-final with Tottenham in 1969 he had broken his leg, and didn’t know until now! I remember the game with some fondness as we eventually triumphed over two legs, and recall the challenge on him by Alan Gilzean. Not only would it have resulted in a red card these days, but probably a custodial sentence as well.
Anyway Bob, or should I say Mr Wilson OBE, says “Although my playing days are behind me, I still feel the strains of a top-level career which, as a goalkeeper, meant operations on both hips. I wasn’t aware that osteoarthritis could affect me at such a young age when I retired, and this view is shared by many people who aren’t fully informed about the risks of sport on the joints of the body. I am backing this Arthritis Research UK campaign to raise awareness of osteoarthritis as a result of sport, and hope others join me in bring this neglected condition to light.”
My second favourite shirt is my 1971 FA Cup Final goalkeepers shirt. Not the original, obviously, but a copy that brings back memories of Bob’s contribution to that double season. I’m only too pleased to be able to share the charity’s campaign, and news of Bob’s participation, with you. I reckon I know a couple of ‘holics whose professional views will be welcome too. Go for it, all of you, please?
Good Luck With The Recovery Aaron
Whilst the topic of sporting injuries is hot, the club have today announced that Aaron Ramsey is joining Nottingham Forest until the turn of the year. On the face of it this is an excellent deal. The player is likely to see more action with Forest than Arsenal in the coming weeks as he continues his recovery from the Shawcross assault. If all goes well we will have a fully match-fit young talent challenging for a place in the crucial second-half of the season.
Good luck, Aaron.
59 Responses to “And Now For Something Completely Different”
First and thirsty!!
Whatever Nez wants Barkeep.
Nice post good old Bob Wilson just before my time born in 77 but is a great ambassador to the Arsenal and the charities he promotes. Definetly will check out the website when I get home after work
A swift large Jd with a touch of coca cola please barman as I need to be off to my bar in a minute and shake a few cocktails
best blog in cyberspace by the way Cheers
Not many wore replica shirts back in 71 holic… I knew you were unique 🙂
I am one ripe old dude for that survey Holic – 2 ripped calf muscles in the last 12 months alone so I will go off and complete it now!
It’s either footy or spend Sunday nights with zico Management. If your old enough, your fit enough…..or err, whatever that saying is.
I’ll have a fresh orange juice – my body is a temple (of doom!). 🙂
Jennings or Wilson who was the best!!
Better question than you might think, cus. I suspect Pat would get the majority vote, although I saw both close up for many years and would call it a draw.
Pat had those wonderful huge hands and could catch things one-handed that not one ‘keeper today would attempt with two.
Bob was just unbeatable in one on ones when he dived head first into the ball.
They would both be worth more than most outfield players today, that’s for sure.
Bob is a legend.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6820/bobobe.jpg
As for Ramsey, it makes perfect sense to send him away for a month. I doubt Forest will use him every game (I think they play eight or nine in the loan period) and he would only have two reserve games to play for us. I’d rather he rehabbed away from our first team, as we have enough half fit players in it as it is, and we aren’t playing enough reserve games to help him.
Oh and a small wincarnis for the old duffer at the end of the bar please.
Evening Holics, we’ve got Pat Jennings at number 1, we’ve Pat Jennings, number1. He’s still my fave Arsenal keeper, of the past 40 years.
Good luck Aaron and speedy recoveries to Cesc (but please don’t come back until you’re fit) and Eboue.
Extra Cold Guinness please.
CoYRRR’s
Exactly that with Aaron, Ricey. He and us will find out very quickly if he is going to be up to it. Won’t be long until he takes his first whack as they have a couple of derby games coming up. If he stands up to them we have a footballer in January. If he doesn’t, we were never going to get him back as he was.
My money is on him to come through with flying colours.
I thought Jennings was magnificent. Bob Wilson was a good keeper too, but Jennings wins it for me.
Incidentally Holic, watch out for BtM arriving at some point to tell you that Gilzean only became “that type of player” after he went to play for the LWCs 😉
Jimmy Robertson was a Dundee lad too, if I remember correctly, and wore both lilywhite and red.
We also had Ian Ure 🙁
Dundee has a lot to answer for…
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Arsenal FC, Arsenal News. Arsenal News said: Goonerholic | And Now For Something Completely Different http://bit.ly/gKCVc4 […]
Evening ‘Holic
Just going to hobble over (not joking!) to the boiling pasta, and then I’ll come back and share a few thoughts (through the Stella and Penedes Blanco…)
Jimmy was good player too! Jennings was an outstanding keeper and he had that ability with his enormous hands to stop the ball dead with one had. A feat I have ever yet to see repeated.
For him to go on have such a good career with the Gooners was an absolute heart breaker for me. Nicholson could have gone and walked under a bus for all cared.
You should do piece on Bertie Me for the Goonerets Holic. he was the first successful Mourinho from what I understand and probably laid the way for Wenger!
Ha Ha !! We beat that comic strip WB last night, just one more win and its tops of the group.
Holic @ 12 – Dundee does indeed have a lot to answer for – fortunately I wasn’t exiled that far North 😉
Back on Ramsay, am I the only one who thinks this loan is a big risk/gamble? I understand the game time bit but….
Interesting cus. Bertie was a regimental physio, not a true football man like Billy Nich. I will put the usual aside to acknowledge him.
Anybody who could win a title with your lot was clearly very special indeed 😉
Evening Holic
Did you ever have the privilege of seeing the ” Black Spider ” in action.
Still to my mind the greatest goalkeeper ever to have played the game.
He is still to this day the only Keeper to have ever won the European Footballer of the year award.
To grow up in the late 50’sand early sixties watching 3 great keepers in Jack Kelsey,Wales and Arsenal, Bert Trauttman,Germany and Man City, and the Black Spider,was a wonderful experience.
By the way,His Bobness gets my vote.
cheers
clive
If, after reading ‘Holic’s piece, any of you guys needs an additional reason to give up just a few minutes of your time to support the charity (and have a chance of winnign some clobber), then let me tell you this;
You WILL get arthritis. 99.9% guaranteed. In fact you have it now, to some extent. That twinge in the back? The nagging recurrent “tension” headache? That is arthritis. So is the stiff hip and the slightly dodgy knee.
There are literally hundreds of types of “arthritis”. They’re all cunts. Some more than others.
Osteoarthritis we will all have – it is the degeneration of joints, be they spinal, hips or knees through wear and tear. The more you do, the more you will get. So the more sport you play the more you will suffer. Nice eh? The last 6 months I have spent gimping about on a dodgy right knee / right hip combo. I can’t kick a ball about with my 3 years old son. I’m 42 years old. Because I played loads of sport as a kid.
AND I am privileged enough to have access to free care from as many of my friends / colleagues as I like.
Osteoarthritis is a process – some days good, some days bad, but overall it will worsen. If you are over 21 you will have some degree of degenerative changes in your joints.
And osteoarthritis is only a lesser cunt. At least there is some logic to it.
The other general type of arthritis are the “auto-immune” variety. This is where your body gets itself a little confused and basically attacks itself. Ankylosing Spondylitis is one of these. As a chiropractor I hate these, as I know there really isn’t much I can do about it.
But Ank Spond is a kind of medium cunt. It generally gets you (and as a guy – apologies for the sexist assumption – you are more likely to get this, in about your 30’s).
Rheumatiod Arthritis is the one that can fuck up children – the body attacks itself to the point of joints (anywhere, but not often the spine) being totally physically destroyed. At its worse kids and young adults are in wheelchairs.
It will also affect organ tissues – in particular the heart.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a complete and utter cunt.
And there are many more interesting varieties of suffering. They may not be sexy and they may not kill you (although they can), but they certainly will restrict your life in one way or other.
And there is no cure. You MAY be able to control and manage your discomfort / pain / disability through medication, chiropractic (I know a great quack in Barcelona) , physiotherapy (Trev), osteopathy and many other professions. But it is a life long affliction of varying degrees.
Go and fill in their survey – you’re helping no one but yourself.
I’ll have a beer please.
Hello Clive, I only saw Lev on television, but his image was in most magazines and annuals of the day. Clearly regarded as number one worldwide, hence the old song, ‘Aye aye aye aye, Wilson is better than Yashin, Radford is better than Eusebio, and Tottenham are in for a thrashing’.
Bob wasn’t, obviously 😉
Catalan, thanks for telling me I’m beyond help 😉
Help from me ‘Holic, help from me – there are plenty out there who can help you. I get frustrated as my ego takes a hit!
Ultimately it is your body that will heal what it can. Your task is to find the best people to help it do so….
PS – from the last post;
@Goonertown. NO, you may not have an Apple & Blackcurrant J20. Whatever that is. You will have a proper drink or nothing at all.
Now, what’s it to be?
A Guinness for Zico in the meantime…and for TS, Trev and all of the others who may be furtively slipping in to the bar.
Evening Holics
Totally agree regarding Ramsey if he makes it through than we have a great player from January with us but I’m a little concenrned that he will not be under our medical team supervision, on a positive note he is tons younger than Eduardo and I’m positive he’ll pull thorugh.
Good luck Rambo and please come back soon, fit, heathly and ready to help us lift that cup come May time 😉
Like youer shirt collection Holic I always wanted a retro one and with your memories they are priceless!!!
Barman a round is on me for everyone in the Holic Bar, here’s to a good day hunting at Villa Park! 🙂
Catalan
Talking about arthritis I already have arthritis in me bloody neck and I’m only 33. She tends to click now and again and sometimes it’s a bloody relief when she does I tell you that and sadly yes not a lot can be done.
Thank you very much for your insight into it, really good stuff!
A drink for Catalan please Barman and a large one…
Only kidding Catalan. Thanks for that. I knew you (and hopefully Trev) would have a big input to this one, and it is much appreciated.
‘Holic, interesting post.
No contest re: the greatest goalkeeper.
Jennings was superb but Bob was ours and ours alone. He was/is Arsenal thru’ and thru’. I can’t think of a better ambassador for the club. He’s a great human being too.
So brave, so sorely missed when replaced by Geoff Barnett to recover from knee surgery. Did he ever wear a pair of gloves? When he was in goal you just knew that it would take a special player and/or shot to beat him.
PS: I had a John Radford #9 replica shirt when I played footie at my junior school. I made my mum sew on the number and everything. Glorious memories invoked by this blog once again, cheers!
This will make you laugh even Dudek is at it… ha ha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70f6oERyp7A&feature=related
Catalan
Thank you for the fine medical lesson. I’ve just got back from 5-a-side and now feel even older having read your information packed post. *Reaches for the ibuprofen and weeps*
BTW, not sure I enjoy the description of “furtively slipping-in” but I’ll join you and other ‘Holics in the bar for a drink anytiime 🙂
Barman? You know what to do by now…. pretty please.
ATG
Shocking truly shocking. I agree with everything AW said in his pressie today re: those red cards. Maureen needs teaching a lesson.
‘Holic
BTW, you might find this useful to complement the the title of this post
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rutX0I6NxU
Nearly time. C’mon England, pitch it up!
What about George Wood? Was he that good?
The best keeper in specs.
Arthritis as degrees of cuntdom. If only I could explain it to my patients like that.
Line and length boys…… make them play!
Hope your predictions regarding Ramsey come true, Holic.
His talent deserves a longer showtime.
New post http://www.postmatchpint.com
a QPR fan thinking that maybe he doesn’t want to get promoted…do you wantb another london club in the premier league?
twitter @postmatchpint
Hey ‘Holic
I unfortunately know all about Anky Spond, my late dad had it. Bugger of a thing. He was a lifelong Gooner too, but I’m sure that’s coincidental :o)
Strangely I don’t seem to recall seeing Jennings much although I do remember one time from the West Stand with my brother in law (Utd supporter) when he saved a penalty and got us a draw. TBH I don’t even recall who it was against now. Weird, I guess I always preferred Bob.
Someone told me a pub here in Lymington was run until recently by an ex-Arsenal goalie who had played for England, and knowing it wasn’t Seaman I had to conclude it was Barnett. I even drank in the pub without knowing it, Wikipedia says he’s running a pub in Cheshire now, anyone enlighten me?
Holic, I can’t believe that the Alan Gilzean you reference is the gentle leaper I recall from 1961 – 64 when the only way you could get a Dundee replica shirt was to have your mum knit you one on her pins. Gillie was a vastly better player than Yogi Ure. Had he gone to Highbury rather than Spuds, with Ure taking the “low road” history of that time might have been different.If he hadn’t passed on, Dundee would probably give him a game now, osteoparosis or no! I may pen a reminisce one of these days of the Dens Park glory days. I feel sure that Aaron Ramsey has all of the character it will take to make it back. He’ll go on to be the future of the club. STEVE-O, I’ll be in Singapore Saturday night. Where are you guys watching the game?
Well done HOLIC,never like to miss any of your wonderful post. You are the best writer in any of the ARSENAL BLOG. keep it up. A bottle of large guinness stout and a plate of fresh fish pepper soup please
Hello holics,
I was in a good mood today morning until I read catalan’s post 🙁
I’m 23 and I have all those niggles that you talk about catalan and you have me real worried about this arthritis thingy 🙂
It is really enjoyable to read the older holics’ posts about The Arsenal of the old. Good stuff.
I’ll have whatever catalan is drinking, Holic…
Cheers
BTM
If you in Singapore Sat night, only one place to be, The ‘Liz at the Elizabeth Hotel – HQ of Arsenal Singapore and probably the best supporters club bar you are likely to find, anywhere
Theman_iac
Harsha
Prevention is better than cure – find yourself a good chiro / physio and learn what to do / not to do. The sooner the better.
Sorry – didn’t mean to depress people!
I find beer helps…
…. and Arthrotec and Diclopheniac (spelling?)…. creak, groan, fizz, pop
CG,
Was that furtive enough for you? 🙂
TS
More furtive than ‘Arry with a tax return…
Even day in the cricket, so still advantage to the cons.
Keith @40
Will be there, sir. I’ll be the one wearing the red top with the white sleeves. I can see it from my room here so even I should be able to find it. Stumble home shouldn’t be too difficult either.
BTM,
Wish I could join you for a few jugs of Tiger but Im now based Athens so will be with the Arsenal Hellas boys. Send my best to Al, (he’ll be the other one in red top n white sleeves) and all the rest of the lads there.
Holic,
Nice post. I will have a look at the survey when I get home tonight.
My last training session was for a club on the Chelmsford Circuit 6 years ago.
I broke my wrist trying to block a goal shot, although I was actual playing attacking Midfield.
I spent two months off work. I have been a little apprehensive to play since, especially after going self employed 4 years ago, but I am always itching to play.
No doubt I will get back in to it at some point in the near future!
Holic,
Don’t say it too loudly – Is Wenger under pressure?
http://wp.me/p1cykJ-2u
comments welcome
robbiedavids –
The last paragraph of that article sums it all up for me:
“On a final note – Arsenal currently lie two points off the top of the league, are going well in the Carling Cup and will advance to next stage of the Champions League if they beat Partizan Belgrade. Such is football.”
My take is that things are not as bad as they seem ‘at the moment’. However Wenger and the whole club are under pressure to win something this season, as Arsenal is a great Football club with a great history who have not one a trophy in the last 5 years.
Barman – a cup of cha please!
@robbiedavids
Is Wenger under pressure?
Not from me or from most who post on here. Doesn’t mean we agree with everything he says or does, nor is he immune from criticism.
As for some of your comments e.g. “like it or not, Cesc Fabregas has his mind elsewhere”… how do you know this? When did you last speak to him? Could it just be that Cesc is struggling with fitness and is on his own personal downer due to that?
Most Arsenal fans are frustrated at inconsistent performances – but its only the championship manager generation who would seriously suggest that sacking the manager will change things for the better.
I haven’t seen you around here recently, I wonder what your agenda is?
Lol!
Nice to see you Zico
Barman – A double of whatever Zico wants please!
Thanks, I’ll just have a coffee at this hour, Goonertown, otherwise someone will have to drive me home! 😉
Lol
Gooners!
I feel the threat of Robin Van Persie is a little underestimated in our squad at the moment.
I feel he will be vital for us while Fabregas is out of play this season (provided he is also available to play). Not to mention alongside our Captain.
RVP is a natural leader, who is lacking fitness and a little confidence due to the WCfinal. He is showing a little consistency at the moment, staying at a reasonable level fitness wise and hopefully he will stay on long enough run in order to do what he does best and at the same time, benefit the squad.
My gut feeling is that, as the season progresses, so will RVP and our squad will reap the benefits!
Big Pat was number one for me, but only becaise he was No1 when I started attending regulary, I saw Rimmer a few times and he of course was great too.
I shook big Pats hand once, bloody hell they were massive, almost like shovels. Me and my mates always tried to hold the ball upside down in one hand like he did, never could quite do it though.
The late great Mr Kelsey used to work in the Arsenal shop and we often popped in to say hello and listen in awe at one of his stories from days gone by. Bob Wilson, as others have mentioned is a true gunner and we all owe it to him to have a look and support his caues if possible. Thanks for brining it to our attention ‘Holic, sir.
Here’s hoping we can maintain our excellent PL away form with a win against the Villiams. COYRRR.
Catalan, you almost had me worried mate, until I remembered that for me participating in a sporting event usually entails just watching from the bar, and like every good “athlete” I keep myself well hydrated, well at least wet anyway. No chance of my sporting past catching up with me, cos I haven’t got one. 🙂
Quick barkeep, I’m feeling dry…. Cider please.
Cheers.
Off topic (sorry) but this (from The Guardian) won’t shock you most likely – but if does sum up why we need to make the most of our opportunity this season.
“The front-runners, Chelsea, have fewer points (28) after 14 games than any league leaders at the same stage this century”
Also, good luck to Aaron…I guess match time is good though I’d rather he was on our team sheet than D******N at present…
@Tim: In the last decade each champion has scored between 2.3 and 2.5 points per game. After 14 games a past champion would have between 32 and 35 points.
Whether this season is a blimp or the beginning of a new era remains to be seen. In any case being 2 points from the top is always an opportunity…
Re arthritis: it can be debilitating if you’re unlucky like some of my close ones. Good job raising the awareness Holic and Catalan whose posts made me realize how lucky I am not to have any of the symptoms. Yet.
Evening ‘Holics,
I see Catalan has already posted a summary of the major types of Arthritis, so no need for me to try to elaborate on that.
I am not a State Chartered Physiotherapist – that is what you would recognise as a NHS Physio – but I trained for 4 years under a tutor from the National Centre for Sports Injuries, in sports physiotherapy.
As such I use a range of soft-tissue and connective-tissue techniques, and osteopathic manipulation.
While it’s true that the degeneration caused by arthritis cannot be reversed, the secondary pain caused by the resulting contraction in the soft tissue can be significantly reduced with various soft tissue techniques.
There are also some genuinely helpful supplements that will help (and a lot that wont!). I have personal experience of these, as I have a long history of osteoarthritis in my right knee. That was caused by someone stamping through the joint when I was playing, and has subsequently required 8 operations at different times.
To cheer you up a little perhaps, ‘Holic, I have had a couple of great successes with Ankylosing Spondylitis. I would be very happy to offer some advice which may possibly help, if you would like.
I can’t do it right now, but I will get back on here over the weekend to add some detail.
Don’t despair just yet!