Thank You ‘Holics
Oct 17th, 2013 by 'holic
Evening all, depending on where you are in the world, of course. If you are here looking for the latest updates about Arsenal players and insider info then you are in the wrong place. Don’t tell anyone I said so, but if you are selective in your reading, the traditional press are still the sources you should be checking, albeit warily.
The original idea behind a blog was a kind of online diary, although not unreasonably that idea has been taken and expanded by folk far cleverer than I. Nowadays the most gifted bloggers are offering a specialised service to spread news and opinion about a specific subject matter far and wide. This one was started merely as a vessel to spread an opinion about a football club that means a great deal to you and I and so many others. I don’t pretend to offer an alternative source of news and ITK comment. I don’t expect anybody to share my views, and it is fine if you don’t.
What has happened over the course of time though is that a number of you have seen fit to drop in, be it now and again or regularly, and friendships have been formed either in the flesh on matchdays, or virtually between people who have shared experiences down the years watching the Arsenal. I have followed a select few sites down the years and observed the way that communities have formed around the best of the blogs.
Elsewhere I have seen good people lost to us and the incredible reaction of the communities around them. Only this year though did it happen to us. The loss of Terry Williams, or Gooner Terry as everybody knew him here, affected people I didn’t know before. Your reaction to that loss has been remarkable. Obviously our thoughts were, and are, with Terry’s wife Taina and his family. Their loss is far greater than ours. Still your coming together to raise funds for a memorial for him has been amazing.
Your contributions have paid for a stone on the North Bank terrace so there is a reminder of Terry for those who visit the Emirates in his footsteps. They have also provided a contribution in excess of £500 for his preferred charity back in the place he loved. You have my thanks, but far more importantly Taina’s, Thank you.
Sometimes you would be forgiven for thinking that football is all about division and conflict.
You would be wrong.
Thanks all.
90 Responses to “Thank You ‘Holics”
Lovely!
I’ve been waiting for this one, thank you Holic.
And thank you all, that contributed to this fund.
I’m proud to belong to a group like this. It’s a lovely reaction to a very sad situation. I hope it is of some comfort to Terry’s wife and family to know how highly he was thought of here. I’m only sad I never met a person who seemed to be very special. RIP Gooner Terry
Well said ‘H.
Thoughts are with Terry’s family.
No other club like the Arsenal.
No other blog like this one.
As H2H said in the previous drinks, this place is the best. And for that, thank you, ‘Holic.
Great thanks to you ‘holic who else brings out all these great characters like Gooner Terry.
Great stuff truly amazing what AFC is all about and the majority of the people who make the experience surrounding Arsenal a good one.
Well done Holic nice to see the man remembered.
thank you, holic. what a wonderful thing. a special tribute to a special person in this special place.
Rest in peace GT. U will be missed.
Goonerholic…so many of us stumbled on this blog by chance….and took a seat longer than we thought we could. This place is eternal as long arsenal is a football club…ViVa holic!
*raises glass to all the holics*
It was a privilege to know GoonerTerry through his insightful and good humored posts here in this great bar. Every time I read one of his amusing bit of reminiscence or his mild reminder about broader perspective when discussions went into overreactive mode I wished I had known him personally.
And it was a honor to contribute to the charity of his choice. Jamaica, for all its well documented social-political-economical problems, I have found to be a fantastic place where the majority of people have a great spirit often in face of daunting difficulties.
I first fell in love with the Caribbean, especially Jamaica,as a seven year old through Sports, Cricket. It was 1983 and Lloyd’s buccaneering West Indies team was visiting India (admittedly with revenge on their mind after the 8 loss in One-day World Cup final in 83, my first really strong memory of cricket on TV). That team, IMHO, was the best Test team in the last thirty years. More inventive, outrageous, imperious than Waugh’s Australia and more skillful and crafty and intelligent than Richards’ West Indies that followed even though statistically speaking these two sides were more successful (I think).
I loved fast bowling — maybe because it was such a rarity back in India at that time — and I found my heroes in the WI fearsome quartet, but mostly in the majestic and elegant art of ‘Whispering Death’ Michael Holding. Marshall was definitely the better bowler — Marshall at his peak could be simply unplayable on any pitch and under any condition, and since then only Wasim Akram came close to match his combination of pace, craft and intelligence — but the combination of brutal power and effortless poetry that was Holding at his very best had me converted to a WI cricket follower for ever. (Many years later I would find another West Indian hero to have that breathtaking combination of violence and music but this time with the bat: Lara at his best.)
Later I came to know more and more about the history and culture of the Caribbean, and especially Jamaica which in addition to being where my childhood hero was from also seemed to be the epicenter of the English speaking Caribbean (sure the Trinis and the Guyanese won’t agree). After moving to US I became friends with many expatriate Jamaicans, traveled there and have always found this volatile, pulsating, lively island of quite breathtaking natural beauty a great reminder of human possibilities and human follies.
I wish the charity of GoonerTerry’s choice to which we have had the honor to contribute all the success in the world.
There is at least one other blog where such generosity of spirit has been displayed Trev. The Arsebloggers have lost a couple of theirs too. Good people, never forgotten.
Thanks all.
Been quite a week ‘holic! RIP Gooner Terry. Will try to make a brief visit to the actual stone (like viewing the Arseblog YAG stone) next time I’m at a game.
Started coming over here after H started popping over to The Arses, about 2007 from memory, as it was obvious he and I shared many of the same attitudes about being an Arsenal supporter, starting with the fact that its a privilege not a birth right.
Its now probably my favourite blog and Arsenal community on the interweb, or maybe a very, very close second. Long may it continue!
What everyone else said.
*Raises glass to GT*
Thanks ‘holic and congratulations for hosting a very special community of Arsenal lovers from around the globe. Your blog improves my quality of life on a daily basis and it’s great to feel part of this community, long may it continue.
R.I.P. Gooner Terry : You are greatly missed
Top man, H.
RIP Terry.
Sometimes you would be forgiven for thinking that football is all about division and conflict.
You would be wrong.
So true. So, so true.
Terry, this drink is for you.
Fine words and fine memorial H.
RIP GT.
If there was ever such a family that shows such togetherness in the world of football, its the #GoonerFamily… I am glad to be part of this family. Bur evrynow and then sad things happen. I am not one to dwell on this so I say a round of malta guiness for evryone in the bar today. Cheers to the life of gooner terry. NEVER MET HIM, NEVER MIGHT FORGET HIM…
So if my understanding is correct, Terry’s stone has been laid in the North Bank Terrace?
Next month, I’ll be scouring the Terrace for it if so, maybe with NorCal in tow 🙂
@ 20Wind
Yeah, I was going to ask if there were any ‘co-ordinates’ as to its location. Would like to pass a moment there myself.
Excellent piece guv’, but way too modest imho.
Yes, there are many fine contributers to this site, ladies and gents who’s company and opinions I thoroughly enjoy, however they, as I, were drawn here by your style, and it’s you that keep us coming back for more.
So I’m sure I can speak for all of us in thanking YOU for this wonderful place.
Beautifully written and moving tribute ‘H to a great guy. Thank you.
RIP Terry.
And what H2H and others have said about this place. The thanks are entirely due to you.
Well said H2H
Esso @ 21, that would be very helpful I’m sure.
H2H @ 22, very well said my man.
Thanks all,
The stone was only ordered earlier this week. Not sure how quickly they are being laid at the moment. There should be one from another of our number there by now with Trev’s inscription from memory. I will try and get there early on Saturday and look for it.
As soon as I have the co-ordinates I will publish them so we can all go and enjoy.
Cheers.
Most Fitting Tribute H.
Thanks…..yet again!
Holic will provide the co-ordinates to get stoned.
At last, somebody else doing the work for a change. 8)
Great post Holic. I hope you and all of the other holics are having a good one!
Totally agree with those above, Holic, that this special place is what it is because of the standards you have set, and the atmosphere that you have maintained.
Heh @ the Dr.
Glad my daughter hasn’t seen this or my savings would be draining away one quarter at a time. And all masterminded by poultry. 😉
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00423/VIDEO_Chicken_plays_423648a.jpg
Dr F, 🙂
please post a picture of either, or both stone(s), for the benefit of those who wontbe able to see them in the flesh anytime soon (lucky bahstad, norcal).
To the likes of Myles Palmer and Piers… This is why I am happy supporting this club regardless of the on field results!!!
Fine words and sentiments ‘holic and fellow drinkers..you’re simply the best.
A very moving post,holic .It is obvious by the numerous responses that Gooner Terry was part of your community, and is sadly missed.
Being civil to one another is all that I would ask,regardless of point of view, as we are bonded for our love of all things Arsenal.
Apparently there are more Arsenal blogs than any other PL club but so many are there purely for sensationalism and hits and so many people get fooled time and time again.
I belong to a generation that in our younger years didn’t have the luxury of multiple choices to watch live games, no Internet nor mobile phones.
I used to rush out of the tube after a home match and get the Pink Evening Standard or late edition to see the results,usually in small print on the back page.
All conversation was face to face and looking back it wasn’t such a bad thing.
Beautiful ‘holic and RIP GT.
As the saying goes ‘Virtual bar, real friends’ (sorry I can’t recall which holic to properly credit that with that fine saying but perhaps someone can jog my memory).
Bearded Gooner, it was Trev. I’ll be back in a bit, need to read all the comments.
Gooner Terry use to say “I’m boycotting Goonerholic, until after the game.” I use to think, oh no Terry, please don’t go! He had such a presence. Cheered things up, whenever he was around. You know, I could picture him grinning, holding that bat of his … how he loved the holics! 😉 Holic, we know you don’t feel comfortable with praise, but too bad! As you can see, it is because of you, that our paths crossed with someone as special as Terry. Clive, again thank you for being there for him. Takes a very special person to be able to do that as beautifully, as you did. xx
Great point about Clive, abb. He is a busy man, and will be back, I’m sure.
So many good ‘holics.
Thank you all.
Thanks abb and cheers Trev.
Cheers ‘holic, great stuff.
@ 35 South African Gooner
Love you Geezer! Good style.
So, I guess it had to happen. I have joined the 21st century and purchased a spiffy little tablet on which I am now composing this drink. I’d like to do the job properly and download the Android app, but when I clicked (tapped?) the link above I went to some website that seemed to want me to create an account. Since I’ve just had to create an account to use this free wifi and then another to get Google Play (wtf?) to tell me that I didn’t have a device (WTF?) on to which to download an Adobe Reader, I’m feeling a little jaded and would rather not.
Please can one of you fine folks tell me how to download and install the ‘HolicApp. Thanks.
Abb – Best of luck on the health front. I was composing a long complicated joke about Priscilla Queen of the Nile only to find she was queen of the desert. Damn and blast!
While I did chuckle at Gazidis’ Spurs dig.. I hope ti doesnt come back to bite us.
I wish i contributes to this bar d way i want it but being a 20 year old nigerian guy with restricted liberty prevents me..can’t count how many times i had used the window to watch d team i love and cares for play..RIP GOONER TERRY..holics..nice work here
Evening all. Top stuff Holic. You should feel very proud of what you have created and continued to develop here. Since the sad news about GT was broken to us all by Clive, the blog has been inundated by moving and fitting tributes. Like others I hope that those tributes along with the impending stone and donation will be of some comfort to GT’s family. RIP Terry.
ABB. Whilst back drinking I came across your post mentioning your own health battles. My love and best wishes to you Nursie. Your posts are always full of kindness and positivity. I am sure that those great qualities will serve you well in your recovery. Keep smiling.
Thank you Panglossdroid. Holic, Clive is one of those fellas, who we really put weight in what they have to say. What their really thinking! As for Gooner Terry, he was so spiritual. A part of me believes he really isn’t gone, for he lives on in his beautiful daughters. Overwhelmed by the responses here, but not at all surprised…
See, I just turned my head, and saw Steve T in the corner… ♥
I think we owe a huge debt of gratitude to you ‘holic, as well as all the people who contribute to, and read this blog. It’s always a fine place to be, as witnessed by the support for the Gooner Terry stone.
What Fin said.
Well done sir.
South African Gooner – Nail. Head, Sir.
“This is why I am happy supporting this club regardless of the on field results!!!” – South African Gooner #35
——-
Trust me, with very few exceptions the results of late have been far better than for most of my time following this best of all clubs in the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s … for much of which time we were even considered inferior to our closest neighbours ffs. The last two decades have been like emerging into sunshine after a lifetime searching for a way out of some dark, dank forest of despair … finally dragging our kicking boots out a Bunyanesque Slough of Despond.
Okay, not that bad, but Arsenal today – compared to most of the time (62 years and counting) that I have supported the club – is a bright shiny thing of beauty both on and off the field which I am also proud to support.
Öskar
I have been moved as many of us were by the fact that in the recent tributes to two great Geordie Gooners who have passed on- Geoff Strong and George Armstrong we were able to connect with their families and show our very real appreciation. That is a lovely thing. To bring comfort to others in their loss and to have a real connection with heroes of the past even long after they have gone. It was special to receive their families’ acknowledgement that our tribute had helped them.
Arsenal is such a strong thing in my life. It is a relationship that predates my marriage and which has remained with me even after my father who died three years ago has passed on. The connection it gave me with my father was a special bond that even now I feel after a great moment when I think my old Dad would have appreciated that! In the last ten years of my father’s life as he became increasingly frail and his eyesight started to fail the chance to follow Arsenal on the TV and through my accounts of the games and poring through the programme was one of the last great pleasures of his life. Reading Bergkamp’s book as I am now it is clear that he was hugely moved by the love that he felt from the Arsenal crowd and the depth of their love for the club. That love is manifested in things like the stone for Gooner Terry but also in respect for the values of our club. I understand this more with every passing day and one of the reasons for this is the attitudes and kindness of people on this site. Thankyou Holics wherever you are
Well said ‘Holic and all the others in the bar. I never knew Terry but after reading so much about him I know I missed out on something and someone special. My heart is with his family, I can no imagine such a thing happening. It is to his credit that he was quite the comrade in life and has brought so many together with his passing.
Cheers all.
Absolutely have a tear in my eye and a heavyness in my heart reading this edition and the drinks that follow. When I started to become a “regular” here in the bar, Gooner Terry was a contributor that I often looked for with his insight and ability to keep things in perspective. His contributions at this place I’m sure were just glimpses of his contributions to the “real world”. You are missed Tel, but your memory continues in those you touched.
This place and it’s contributors have become my friends. I have met a few in person and have the opportunity next month to meet several more. Without this bar I would never have considered coming to London to watch the Arsenal on my own. However, I have no concerns to do this now because I know I am welcome in a worldwide community that may not always agree but always has a place for one another. Thank you Holic for providing a forum for us all to gather.
Clive,
If you read this, you are a very missed entity. And I hope you are well and return soon. Last year you and I contributed to Young Winds Arsenal experience and in turn made me a friend for life. Much appreciated.
Cheers all. Very much look forward to breaking hops with you next month.
abb — Finally catching up with all the drinks from this and last post. Wishing you a speedy recovery, and bravo for the effort in raising awareness.
Good Morning
Off subject but does anyone know why we played in our away strip in the last two matches against WBA and Swansea as there was no colour clash.
NorCal @57,
Lovely stuff. Look forward to meeting you next month.
Hi fellow Gooners
Great to see the affection that Terry endeared in others… a great tribute to him & family
Hats off to him from all gooners in Australia.
Am now back in Sydney, and after few days rest if allowed would like to pen a few lines about trip to arsenal.
As a person of holic’s age( born 57), i too remember only too well the barren years at highbury. the late 60’s and the mid 70’s were great but thousand turned up every week
first game with dad would have been around 1963.
Every other saturday was at highbury and as many away games as were safe or could afford.
When i moved in Australia in 1986 it really was the soccer i missed.
Then you had to dig the result out on monday in the paper, or try to pick up on the radio.
The advent of Foxtel/Sky in the 90’s was a saviour to us in this part of the world
Now we can watch live ,albeit at 2-5 am depending on time of year.
So my first trip back to the uk in 20 years was a chance to see the best team in the world. On first look at the fixtures was not in London , so you can imagine my delight when Arsenal v Napoli was announced.
3 x tickets were quickly obtained via an on line agent (not cheap).
On the 1/10 drove down from Scotland where we had been visiting relatives to reach the hotel at 3pm.
Tickets were waiting for we, and after a pub dinner me, my wife and 11 year old son set off on the tube to the game.
As i stepped of the tube and walked out into the air, memories came flooding back.
We turned right and there was the stadium!
A magnificant site.
It was built on the area near where my dad and i would get of the coach.
How they fitted it in i never will know.
To say the stadium is beyond belief is an understatement.
The smells of the hot dogs and onions were still in the air.
The touts were looking for tickets under the noses of the police.
we went straight into the shop, and very quickly spent close to china’s military budget on a full kit for son with name on, and various other items.
We got to our seats in the upper clock end as the teams came out.
The noise was deafening, the Napoli fans were in fine voice as well.
My son’s eyes at this stage were as big as saucers, he had heard about nights like this for years.
The first goal went in and again everybody was up. What a goal!
Ozil steered the ball in, and for a second i think they stadium though “did he actually just do that”.
Then Giroud poked in from an Ozil assist , me and 58,000 others were in heaven.
By now my wife and son were clapping along with crowd.
Arsenal were playing some of the best football against a world class team i can remember.
When the game ended, i savoured the atmosphere for few minutes many pictures were taken and then we joined the throng to the tube station. This too was fun in its own way with the banter and singing.
Back to the hotel and really could not sleep.
one of the best nights of mine and i think my sons life
thank you arsenal , you have been part of my life for 57 years and mean as much today as ever
cheers from sydney gooner
Whast a lovely post, sydney.
Talking about touts do any of you older gooners remember the king of the touts Stan Flashman.
Great post @61 Sydney.
It will be an evening your son will never forget. Reading it revives one’s own first experience of attending a football match – the smells (pipe tobacco), the colours (the bright green pitch and the brightly coloured shirts) and the noise(the chants and the roar of the crowd).
Magical.
He’ll be badgering you for another visit soon, you know!
NorCal @ 57, 😀 I feel the same way man 🙂
I e-mailed Clive yesterday about returning, hopefully he reads it soon if he hasn’t already.
Sydney @ 61, you never do forget your 1st game, so I’m glad that your son got to experience a win! Glad for you and your wife too, imagine trekking all that way, and for what! A Draw! A Loss!?! 😉 ;P I kid I kid, Win/Lose/Draw, its a privilege to see the mighty Arsenal, especially as so many around the world cannot do so with ease 🙁
Sydneyred, really happy to hear you had such a good time! Reading your post put a huge smile on my face.
Sydney. Great stuff. As someone who has been fortunate enough on several occasions to go to games with one or both of my kids I know exactly where you are coming from. I am glad it was such a memorable game for all of you. You certainly know how to pick a game to see.
The fact that people banded together via the medium of this website, and ponied for someone they’d never met, and likely never would, is quite an inspiration. It’s just another reason (as if we needed any more) why this site is a breed apart.
Happy Friday all, and best wishes to Taina and the family.
Magical stuff Sydney. Here is a daily dose of ‘smile’ for everyone
instagram.com/p/fm3HDnkrtF
So many lovely posts up there, but may I also join the chorus of praise for Sydney’s post. So pleased you had a great time at the Ems.
I, like everybody else, also keenly await the return of The Gooner since ’54, Clive. Hurry back mate. I hope all is well.
Great stuff above.
24 hours ’til the real footy returns.
Bring it on.
Real Footy H2H?
Who does England play tomorrow? 8)
Sydney,
That brought back memories of my first game at Highbury – but that was a somewhat less glamorous 1 – 1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.
A night game for your first experience is magical, and that particular one was pretty magical for those of us who had already seen a few too.
Glad you all had such a brilliant night.
Clive,
What the others said.
Now, we have a proper league game tomorrow and it’s about time a few match faces were put on.
After this week’s events in the bar I’m going to need a box of tissues with me tomorrow.
No, Wolfie, not for that. 🙁
Bergkamp on SSN in a few moments.
Ooops, scratch that. He’s on at 7pm
Hello everyone! No this isn’t GT – it’s his wife, Taina. I just wanted to say thank you in person, for your contributions to the B.P.C. A. -Terry’s favourite charity – and to his stone. Hope you don’t mind me using his blog space, didn’t know how else to do it.
I’ve taken to reading the Holic website and back posts and it makes me cry – and laugh. Terry’s voice is so fresh, your appreciation for him so clear, your love for Arsenal such a bond!
I Just wanted you to know that you kept him going through some very tough times and I thank you.
One more thing, on our daughter Asha’s birthday , Sept 10, the girls and I were feeling extremely sad – it was Asha’s first birthday without her father. Then, surprisingly, we heard one of Terry’s favourite songs on Jamaican radio (“And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain” by Everything But The Girl) and then, on the car in front of us, a bumper sticker saying “I love Arsenal!” We all turned to each other and gave a high 5! We were all absolutely sure that Terry was calling to tell Asha happy Birthday , to tell us that he loved us, and the Arsenal Community!
So love and thanks to you all. What a wonderful season the Arsenal is having! Taina, Asha and Ria-Elena
Oh great, Taina, you’ve set me off again now !
Seriously, wonderful to see you here. On behalf of Holic, I will take the liberty of inviting you to use Terry’s “blog space” whenever you feel like it. 😉
Goose bumps
tania, welcome to the bar. we’re so glad you’ve come, and so sorry for your loss. that’s a wonderful story, about asha’s birthday. trev’s not the only one in tears. do keep checking here, and letting us know how you are all doing. know that terry’s up there, doing his best for you all, and for the arsenal.
sydneyred, congrats on such a great experience. i hope to some day share that with my son, too, someday. glad you enjoyed it so much.
Wow, what a lovely story, goose bumps indeed, thanks Tania.
I too loved that song, I must of played the Todd Terry remix thousands of times back when.
Words are hard to find right now but thanks! Off to take Ria to a conference and Asha to dance class. blessings to All – taina
Great story, Taina, thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
Mega Goosebumps @ 77…Taina thank you and you are welcomed any time.
Well done ‘Holic and ‘holics. Well done.
ABB, many prayers for a speedy and full recovery.
BMBD
Sydneyred great writeup and reading your memories is almost (maybe, since I don’t know) as good as being there. 🙂
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lucky you Sydneyred. I also migrated to Aussie (a few years before you, in 1967) and the next live Arsenal game I saw wasn’t until 2011 (that’s 44 years between drinks!). Did I get to see the kind of triumph you witnessed? Er, no. My daughter had secured tickets for two matches for me while I was in England … the first at the Ems against Liverpoo (0-2), the second at OT against Manure (8-2) … two of the shittiest results in recent decades!
But as a stadium I thought the Ems beat OT hands down. 😉
Öskar
Sorry, this is coming late. Good stuff, Guv.
Great to see you around, Tania, pls come around a lot more.
This is the kind of goal that makes me have orgasm.
I love my Arsenal.