It’s the day that takes me back to a golden era. Parents will understand there is a point when you move a long way so your offspring flee the nest. At eighteen I hopped into a bedsit, changed jobs, and started following the Arsenal everywhere, week in and week out.
Back at home the Irish couple who ran the local took me under their wing. Intelligent, funny, wise (them, not me, obviously), they introduced me to the joys of Paddys Day (and the horrors of the day after). If it was in the week a couple of days holiday were in order. We would start at half ten in the morning, they would buy every other pint of Guinness, and occasionally slip you a sneaky poteen. A couple of times during the day an earthenware pot of stew would appear in front of you. “Soak it up, son”. Bless you Florrie.
The weekends meant train journeys, either just into Paddington, or to far-flung corners of the country, following those who had a significant impact on the young ‘holic, and all of my generation. Pat Jennings, the man with shovels for hands, who endeared himself to those at both ends of Seven Sisters Road. No mean achievement, that. Pat Rice and Sammy Nelson, one a self-made right-back who epitomised what could be achieved with application and limited talent, the other a pacy, fierce-tackling left-back famous for bearing his arse to the North Bank after hitting a late equaliser in a tedious home game with Coventry.
The young David O’Leary was making quite a name for himself as a new breed of stylish young central defenders began to emerge. He would go on to break the record for appearances in an Arsenal shirt. Ahead of him in midfield a young man was carving out a name as one of the finest footballers ever to pull on the red and white. Liam Brady could peel oranges with his left foot. There’s not a week passes by where I don’t think, at least once, of that goal at the Lane and the celebration in front of the Shelf. Up top the young Frank Stapleton was learning his trade alongside the some of the best in the business. He started to flourish alongside Malcolm Macdonald.
The latter trio and the people I used to go to games with were much the same age. At away games one or other of the young Irishmen would come out of the dressing room with complimentary tickets for a few of us. There was a rapport being the supporters and the supported. It was a golden age.
And of course there was a common link between those players. It was the reason most weeks you would see the Irish tricolour in the crowd. It seemed like some weeks the entire expat community in London was up the Arsenal. Next weekend there will be a bit of a get-together of the excellent Arseblog community around the Villa home match. It is a blessing in disguise that it is not happening today, I would imagine. It will be great to see everybody again. Intelligent, funny, wise, (them, not me, obviously), but above all bound by the love of the Arsenal.
Here’s to you, Paddys. Have a great one.
But beware tomorrow.
105 Responses to “Sláinte”
Sláinte!
What Snir said.
agreed! a round of green spot for the house, on lars’ tab.
First glass today raised to Pat and Florrie, wherever they may be.
Second glass to you ‘holics.
Third to the Arsebloggers.
Don’t expect any sign of me early tomorrow.
Happy St. Patricks day to all of you, from a surprisingly sunny Cork city.
Im off to the pub in the next hour or so, Im a little late this year!
How I wish my beloved Arsenal could re-establish the link with Irish players, but to be honest, my country just doesnt produce Liam Bradys or o Learys anymore…
The Guinness and the poitin will flow today!
Hope you all have a great day, Im looking forward to Ryo peeling some spuds this evening! Whats more, Ill probably get to see three of him by 5.30pm.
TiocFaidh ar la (at least in the arsenal sense – next year
surely has to be our year)
let’s hope the Irish win the rugby, the welsh
do the French and Ryo tears the English spuds
a new one!
With no arsenal on today, thank goodness
my Guinness…enjoy!
Top ten…not too shabby I suppose.
go raibh mile maith agat
Beannachi na feile Padraig.
Thank you too, Liam.
And happy Paddys Day to you, Gunnerfishing.
Aah – when the reds had a sweet green streak running right through the middle. Fine St. P’s day call ‘holic. It’s put me in the mood for a pint that has (never too tricky, to be fair) with a hint of an Arse twist, on another Arse free weekend
Ureds (with green bits – and some black stuff thrown in)!
@ Goonerholic no mention of the pretty boy JohnDevine? *Swoons*
It was close, Phil. Jimmy Harvey too. Not really legends though 😉
Nah agreed, me neither I had John Devines autograph on an old pound note (remember them? they gave you change frome them at the turnstiles) Spent him at the next home game. Managed to get Sammy’s after his draw-dropping game Legend!. xx
the only reason i support arsenal is because of eddie mcgoldrick!!!
Nice St Paddy’s Day post ‘Holic, lovely reminiscing 🙂
Nice one ‘Holic.
As advised before, Chippy, Big Pat et al were the first Arsenal heroes I saw in the flesh.
Whose idea was it to suggest Happy St Pats yesterday?
Simply said, I was wrong about the drinks available at that wedding reception. They had Arthur’s best on tap and me and my mate assaulted that barrell with some gusto, with Roxette glowering in the backgound. This morning, my head felt like a whirly doughnut.
Counting the minutes till I can grip that hound that bit me by the collar. Would it be ok if I had a pint of Beamish?
Some bastard stole my “c” 🙁
Drink, please……
I take it the wooden spoon is no problem for you, Dr Z?.
Perhaps if it were a wooden pint….
Not much of a fan of egg chasing Ollie
They’re flogging Guinness in the Tollie for £2.50 today…..if you happen to be passing….. 😉
Happy Paddy’s day to one and all.
Feeling a bit rough today, I’m not much of a whiskey drinker, but had a few visitors from the Emerald Isle in last night and we polished off a couple of bottles of Jameson, mixed in with the compulsory FFF night beers, well you can guess how that turned out. Suffice to say rolling into bed at 06:30 is not the smartest thing to do when you have to open up again at 10:00. *Boilk*, I think is the expression.
Very evocative of lovely memories. It brings it alive for those of us who are so far away in time and place. Happy indulgences, ‘holic. 😀
Paddy Vieira – always worth a mention ? 😉
The greatest Arsenal Irish legend and general all round LLLLengend is Liam Brady, still at the club passing on a talent that was ahead of it’s time.
As above here’s to John Devine who served the club well and has been through some tough health issues. Seen him recently and was good to see he is still involved in football in Dublin.
COME ON BOLTON! PEEL THE SPUDS FOR PADDIES DAY DINNER!
Everton cup replay good for Arsenal?
Played Trev – is Marc O’vermars admissable?
Second glass being raised to you lot.
HPD ‘holics. Love the lot of ya.
Totally irrelevant, bt8, as it’s not just after we play them.
Finbarr, sorry to hear of JD’s health issues. 🙁
Afternoon All ,
Great post Holic . The Brady side was the first real side after childhood adoration had transmogrified into adolescent fanaticism .
With The Dubliners on the Coach stereo , and an Irish manager , there was more than a hint of the Shamrock about us in those days .
Brady and Rice – 2 Club legends from both North and South .
Happy St Pat’s Day to all the Irish Gooners .
Starter for Ten , who was the last Irishman to play for Arsenal in a competitive fixture ? Round of Cheese Toasties to the winner .
Off to watch Ryo scare the living daylights out of the LWC’s .
Lovely post holic. My dad,as Galwayman was a hurling fan but brought me from a young age the short distance from Holloway Road to home games at Highbury. After the game we would invariably spend the evening at one or other Irish pub on Camden High St. , where I would bore the patient regulars with facts from the game and the league in general. Good times. Guinness and shot of Paddy whiskey for the old fella watching from above.
Slainte
Slainte Holic. A recession brings out the best in us.Black Gold all round
Get in !!!! Monkey boy Bale doing the business at the wrong end 🙂 🙂
Bah, tabs, now he gone done it at both. Ryo has to shut him straight away.
Does Anthony Stokes get me a toastie, TaBS?
No, he doesn’t. Can’t believe he didn’t play a senior game…
Don’t tell me it’s Kwame Ampadu?
No, Graham Barrett was after him…
I’ll stick at Barrett.
Cheese and pickle in mine, please 🙂
No need to put the toaster on at the mo Holic 🙂
cant believe im going to be in 2night,on paddys day!! the old age is catchin me up,28 next month and im gone all slippers and tea
Steve morrow??
God bless Fabrice Muamba, I hope that as serious as it looks he survives and plays again.
Just saw a headline ‘FA Cup Tie abandoned’ after Muamba collapses, fuck 🙁
I watched it live on TV, very serious. Scum fans were top, though, helped the Bolton fans chant him, and were obviously frightened for him. I’ve read he started breathing on the way to the hospital…hopefully no brain damage. 🙁
Really does not sound good guys. Kind of puts it all into perspective. Who you may believe in, it may be time to say a little prayer or two. Let’s just hope for some positive news.
Scruz. I hope you are right.
Steve its all just rumours ATM. Praying for him and his family…
Praying that Fabrice pulls through 🙁
What the fuck.
Busy afternoon over here and just logged on to see that a young, supposedly healthy proffessional athlete colapsed during a game.
My prayers are with him at this momemt, I hope he pulls through.
Thoughts with Fabrice and his family; hope he fights through.
A somber St Patrick’s evenin’ to you ‘holic & ‘holics!
Shocking scenes at WHL that go far beyond football!
Fabrice was one of our very own youth players and I’m utterly devastated! Used to watch him play in the youth set-up before his transfer to Birmingham.
This is all very sadly reminiscent of the late Marc Vivian Foy who used to play for Man City!
My deepest prayers and best wishes go out to Fabrice and his family at this awful time! Life certainly is very fragile and you just never know what can happen to you at anytime 🙁
Respect to all the Spurs fans and their club has to be applauded, and for the valiant efforts of the medical staff….
Been out and about all day and came here for the usual dose of laughs and fun, but thought I’d check the cup scores first and was shocked to hear about Muamba. Really, really hope he comes out of this ok.
SSN reporting the hospital saying he is stable…praying it’s so.
Hopeful news on Sky.
Fingers crossed Fabrice. Father first, footballer second.
Sky News
“Fabrice Muamba is stable and breathing again.” Lets all hope and pray for more positive news.
Very hopeful news Guys – thanks .
Awful , awful thing to watch . Hoping that the longer it goes without any news is good news .
Come on Fabrice .
The fact that he’s breathing again is such a positive.
We (Maccabi) had the same with a player of ours on 26/1/2002 and he was breathing with the help of machines for a month.
Ten years later, he has permanent brain damage so severe he can’t communicate with the world and needs to be 100% assisted by his family. The most he can do is blink and make sounds :'(
Fabrice is breathing so hopefully no brain damage because the options aren’t great, either have brain damage or pass away like Jarque and Puerta.
Returning to football won’t happen, let’s just hope he returns to full functionality. Enough to live a life!
I hadn’t heard the ‘positive’ news until I saw it above.
As some have aleady said, these things go beyond football. We can only hope that everything turns out well for Fabrice Muamba.
What we can do for sure, as these things do transcend football, is to pay due respect to the Tottenham fans who, to a man, according to all reports, sang Fabrice Muamba’s name and applauded him from the pitch before gradually leaving the stadium in total silence.
Well played fellas. There are times when football rivalry is irrelevant.
I’m so moved by the outpouring of well wishes for Fabrice and his family. Praying for the best for this young man.
‘holic and all,
I sincerely hope you’re right about the current news.
Let’s hope that is officially confirmed by the London Chest Hospital and Bolton FC soon. Fingers and toes crossed in prayer.
trev, that is exactly what i saw on television. and their grief was real, clear, and palpable, as was their respect. scum they may be under normal circumstances, my hat’s off to them for this.
and all I care at this time is he can speak with his wife and son again. football, as my wife would say, “non’esiste”, it does not exist.
Holic, Lovely trip down memory lane…always enjoy the bits of color you and other holics share with those of us who have such different backgrounds.
Thoughts with fabrice at the mo.tabs I’ll take u up on the cheese toastie and say mr G stack??by the way hol love the opener slante chant!
Not Graham Stack Garsguns .
Tabs – Connor Henderson ?
Conor Henderson
Ah I see Trev beat me to it – the virtue of only doing things by halves 😉
zico – a shame I am only half virtuous 😉
Offical update from Bolton: Muamba is critcally ill and still in intensive care.
Have to say that does not sound very good at all.
Sad to say Lars but from what I heard on the radio, the medics were carrying out CPR for 7 or 8 minutes.
That amount of time offers very little hope of a good outcome, but hope we will.
Well done Trev , cheese toastie on its way .
Runners up prize , neeps and tatties , to Dr Z .
Yes, but he immediately received oxygen to the brain through mouth to mouth, and later on with oxygen masks, so hopefully there won’t be any irreversible permanent brain damage, which is the most important thing right now.
I just want him to live a functional life, fuck football.
It’s my pleasure to say I know that young man who promised so much Graham Barrett,a true gent whom I watched with my beloved gunners bang them in berkamp esk,then he signed for Coventry no luck with injuries and it went titts up,football can be a harsh game.my own brother who in my eyes wouldn’t have the ability of a Barrett but what he lacked in teckers he made up with in sheer determination and luck,still playing week in week out in league 1.
Lars – Unfortunately you’re right 🙁
It’s not usually promising with an update like that but it is also made not to raise hopes unrealisticlly high.
I do only pray that the medics at the scene were able to somehow resuscitate Fabrice successfully and rapidly enough before he reached the ICU because if they managed to, his residual injury and progress may be hopeful.
Everything is now in God’s hands and prayers and thoughts go out to Fabrice, his family and all concerned at this very sad time….. 🙁
SG,
I truly hope you’re right, sadly though, the reality from my experience is never that straightforward. 🙁
It is a terrible thing that has happened to Muamba. Until we know the prognosis, we can only hope and pray for his recovery. Thoughts, too, with his family.
Cheers Tabs – being the sort of chap I am though, I would be glad if you could deep-fry the cheese toastie and send it up to Zico 😉
He’s from Sidcup! 🙂
Who is ?
Oh, Henderson – I thought you meant Zico !
CH has represented Ireland though – it was only a virtual toastie though ‘Holic – don’t be too upset ! 😉
I want my cheese and pickle 😉
I’ve talked to friendat, both nurses and doctors and they all fear the worst. Having that said, Muamba probably got as good help as he could in a much shorter space of time than most that has a heart problem. He, and we, shouldn’t give up just yet.
I just want him to be alright. I have very fond memories if him as a youth player. Get well Muamba, even if it looks bad right now!
iPhone spelling…
Boilk
Hah, Snir.
You obviously caught the backdraft of my boilk yesterday 😉
Trev @ 79 – that’s more a west of Scotland delicacy. Much more refined here in the Kingdom – some have been known to eat a salad 😉
Deep fried salad?
Holic @80 , so David O’Leary , (born Stoke Newington) , wasn’t Irish then ? 😉
They all have one thing in common: they’re more Irish than Cascarino.
Hello.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Living on Sotheby Road – off the Blackstock Road – as I did I used to go sit inside Highbury..
Sometimes the players would be there doing their fitness work running up the stairs of the West Stand…
Other times the Groundsmen would be out and I’d grab a fork and go help them..
But sometimes I’d be there in the stadium all by myself..
I’d try out different seats – even in the Directors Box and in the Dug-out
I would wonder over to the Indoor Pitch at the back of the Clock End to see if old Jack would be over there – usually he would and he always had something for me to do (0;
Sometimes I would find a ball…yep there would be balls just laying around left behind between training sessions…
I remember this one time I got a ball at the Clock End and dribbled all the way down the left side of the pitch, cutting this way and that – like Geordie Armstrong – to the edge of the 18-yard area…and cutting in on my right foot hit a lovely shot towards the far right corner of the goal..
…it bounced off the angle of the bar & post!
…and running on I collected it on my right and half-volleyed it right in the left side of the goal…
Then I turned round and ran towards the halfway line and did a Charlie George right there in the middle of the pitch….
…I then turned round and ran towards the halfway line and did a Charlie George right there in the middle of the pitch….
yes me laying there in the middle of the hallowed turf looking up towards the heavens. That was one of my fondest memories ever (0;
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