Strong By Name, And Strong By Nature.
Jun 17th, 2013 by 'holic
I have to confess to having been brought down to earth by the news of Geoff Strong’s passing. Regulars will know my first idol was Joe Baker, but Joe’s partner in the Arsenal attack of the early sixties was a slender but powerful Geordie who also had an eye for goal. Geoff, who had battled bravely against Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, passed away peacefully on Monday morning at his Southport care home.
A competitive junior sprinter in his native north-east, Geoff was signed from non-league club Stanley United, aged just twenty, in 1957. He turned professional a year later and scored on his first-team debut, a 5-0 beating of Newcastle United, alongside David Herd in 1960. He didn’t complete his national service (ask your grandad!) until a year later. In those two seasons he played approximately half of the fixtures and racked up an impressive 22 goals from 39 games.
Strong in the air and on the ground, with a powerful shot in both feet, he was clearly destined for better things.
In 1962-63 he established himself as the preferred partner to record new signing Joe Baker, hitting the target 21 times in 39 league and cup appearances compared to Joe’s 31 goals from 42 starts. The following season would see the partnership peak, with both strikers grabbing an astonishing 31 goals in a season that witnessed Arsenal’s first campaign in European football.
The first match of the 1964/65 season saw Arsenal at Anfield in the first ever Match of the Day broadcast. The visitors came from 0-2 down to level with the lethal strike duo scoring impressively. Of course Arsenal, as they were prone to doing in those days, allowed Liverpool a winner. That was Geoff’s second goal for Arsenal in matches in front of the Kop and just three months later he was a Liverpool player when the Gunners accepted a bid of £40,000 for his services.
He went on to make 201 appearances for the Scousers between 1964 and 1970, scoring 33 goals. He was part of the team that clinched the club’s first ever FA Cup win under Bill Shankly in 1965 and won a League championship medal the following season. He spent a final season at Coventry as his first professional club landed the double in 1970-71.
I would like to think that in another place tonight Geoff and Joe have been reunited for a beer and a chat with George Armstrong about that first Match of the Day, and the enormous pleasure they gave to Arsenal supporters with precious little else to cheer about in those barren years.
Thanks for the memories, Geoff.
180 Responses to “Strong By Name, And Strong By Nature.”
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Posts like this are what separates this blog from the rest.
RIP Geoff and thanks ‘holic.
Good piece
Steady on Cynic, I can’t afford any larger hats 😉
Thank you both.
Nice shout holic!
Holic,
You have a way of writing history that just makes me want to read more and more of it.
Have you read his eyewitness account, The Day We Discovered Fire?
It’s a page turner.
Lovely piece, ‘holic.
Trev @5, said it all for me.
R.I.P. Geoff.
Classy post from a classy blogger. RIP Geoff Strong. I just wanted to thank you ‘holic for educating a younger fan like myself about the history of AFC. You seem to make it come alive! Long may it continue.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane ‘holic. A vastly underrated player I assume by the Arsenal management viz a viz selling him to the bin dippers. (Some things never change!).
Holic-thankyou for this.
In the previouis drinks I mentioned Strong and Baker-great strikers and able to score in the air and on the ground although not big men.
You and I clearly were both touched by Joe Baker’s charisma. a great striker and dapper fellow.
Geoff Strong was the first of two arsenal strikers to be sold to Liverpool and converted successfully into midfield players. Poor Ray Kennedy who has struggled with parkinson’s was the other. Two great clubs are united in soirrow tonight at the passing of a fine player.
Nice one Holic.
Sadly, Geoff Strong is only a name to me. I may have seen him play once or twice, I may not. He was an Arsenal player and that’s good enough for me. I too take some comfort from the though that he, Baker and Armstrong are raising a glass together somewhere.
COYG
Lovely tribute H
For those of the younger generation who only have Golden oldies like myself,Uply and TTG,and a slightly less ancient Holic to rely on for stories about life in the 50’s and 60’s following the Arsenal,we could talk forever about what a ‘ Gentler ‘ time it was, going to see the team you followed without any fear of violent altercations with opposing fans,standing side by side on the terraces with Father’s with young ones in tow from the visiting team,many of whom would have left home to catch the 5am milk train to London,particularly from
‘ Up North ‘.
In our time, all they were interested in was seeing a good game,exchanging pleasantries with the locals,and indeed appreciating good skills from both sides.
Time for a chat and a hot Bovril,with home made sandwiches at
half time,no one ever left early,and at the finish of the game,and win,lose or draw, ‘ All the best for the rest of the season ‘ was a common farewell.
Geoff Strong embodied all those sentiments, a nicer man you couldn’t wish to meet,and yes i did meet him,and get his autograph and a friendly ruffle of the hair outside the Stadium one Saturday,when eagle eyed Sweeper Dad spotted him making his way in through the Main Entrance.
For TTG,
I too was at that Spurs game in Oct ’63,as i have posted on here before,
Mid week game against one of the best sides in England,who had done the Double in 60-61.
Game delayed for 30 mins because of the crush,Sweepr Dad reckoned close to 70,000 inside,with probably 10,000 more outside,
[ the clever turnstiles operators made a fortune that night !!] all the young ‘uns me included,ended up sititng around the perimeter of the ground.
4-2 down with 10 mins to go,George Eastham made it 4-3 and then from a corner,soaring above the Spurs defenders was Geoff Strong to head the equaliser.
Geoff played 38 games that season,and scored 26 goals,in what was his best season in Arsenal colors.
In tandem with Joe Baker who also notched 26 goals,they led defences a merry dance as we notched up 90 goals for the season,unfortunately with our then very charitable defence,we managed to concede 82,and finished 8th.
In fact we scored only 2 less than Liverpool,who won the league,but they only conceded 45.!!
The following season Geoff only played a handful of games,and then was gone to Merseyside.
But still today in my mind’s eye,after all these years,i see him leaping to meet Geordie Armstrong’s corner,every Gunner in the stadium holding their breath,and then the explosion of joy as the ball rockets into the top corner of the Spuds net.
Geoff brought a lot of pleasure to Arsenal fans young and old,in his short time at the Club,and will always be remembered for his
Grace,Style and Elegance.
Vale Geoff Strong,At peace now, in the Arms of the Arsenal family.
The Sweeper.
Good evening/morning, Clive, Very nice tribute to Geoff there.
We scored 90 and conceded 82? Safe to say we didn’t play with the handbrake on those days? must have made for thoroughly enjoyable end-to-end games.
You can add me to your ancients, Goonersince54. I’ve been a gooner since ’50 when, as a kid, I was asked what team I supported and claimed Arsenal who had just won the FA Cup. I’ve never been remotely interested in supporting any other team since. Mind you I’ve lived, first in Aussie and now in NZ, since 1967, so have rarely been to live games since. The last time was in 2011 on my last UK visit. My daughter, through her mysterious contacts, secured me tickets for Liverpool at the Ems (0-2) and ManU at OT (8-2) the following week! It was all my fault guys. 🙁
Fortunately we get full live coverage here of most Premier League matches on Sky, including all involving Top 4 teams, plus all CL matches and the latter stages of League and FA Cups. Being retired I am able to have my breakfast in bed watching Arsenal on the plasma every week during the season, either live or recorded if the game is an early start. Consequently I haven’t missed a game in many years.
There are compensations to living in the colonies quite apart from the weather!
Like Oxon I probably saw Geoff Strong during his heyday at Highbury, but don’t remember anything clearly. It was, after all, the ’60s and I owned a rock n roll club at the time!
Oskar
Well done, ‘Holic.
BMBD
Apolgies Oskar
I did know you were an old timer,but forgot to add you to the list.
Unlike you though,i remember some wonderful times watching the Arsenal play in the 60’s,home and away trips that Sweeper Dad took me on,one of the most memorable for all the wrong reasons, was a trip to Old Trafford in Jan 62,for an FA cup tie wich never took place.!!
But that is a story for another day.
cheers
The Sweeper.
Just to add to the Arsenal /Scouser connection, we have a young Scouser staying her this week as part of a football camp. Nice kid, even admitted that he likes Arsenal but can’t stand Manure. Fair play to him.
Cheers all
‘Holic, Clive: touching remembrances of a player from a more innocent age. Thank you, both.
Hey, Oskar, if you can remember the ’60s you weren’t really there.
I also am an ancient… First match in 1961 or 1962 and although I remember the name I can’t remember the player. I can remember Baker, the winger John(?) McLeod and the Ulstermen at full back McCullough, Eastham as well I think but not sure if he was at that first game. My favourite player in the early days was Skirton but my first real idol was John Radford! How times have changed I remember knees up Mother Brown and “We are going to rise again” in the mid 60s and never dreamt we would see a period like the Wenger years. In one way much happier times as the league was much more open with 5 or 6 teams in with a good chance of winning!
A nice piece and powerful response from everyone
Oskar I have been in Canada since 74 and missed almost 20 years of games but since the late 90s we got good coverage on TV and Now i see most the same day. As an aside the last two championships We won i coincidentally was at the home games against Liverpool so if anyone wants to sponsor a trip and ticket next season a league win is assured!!!!
Cheers ‘holic, excellent tribute, article and drinks. Just before my time!
thanks, holic. another outstanding lesson for someone like me who hasn’t lived a lot of arsenal history. a drink on the bar for you, whenever you wake up 🙂
It’s not a complete fog, Gs54, I remember seeing Len Shackleton running rings around us (for Sunderland), although that was c1956/7 so not the ’60s NBN. I also remember a game at WHL when I think we thrashed the LWCs 4-0.
Oskar
After checking out all the puns relating to our new chairman I can confidently assert that we now have Chips with everything!
Oskar
Gooner since 54@ 13
A lovely evocation of an epic game. Health and Safety would have taken action nowadays with all the kids around the pitch and I can remember Jimmy Greaves helping to settle kids down on the touch line.
Arsenal / Tottenham rivalry was intense then but without the vitriol that exists now. They had a magnificent team then so we did extremely well to hold them. If the game had been on TV it would be regularly repeated on Sky as one of he all time classics.
Isn’t it good to see such lovely memories existing at the bar even though they only come to the fore at moments like this. The Gooner family is worldwide and eclectic and united by a real sense of identity whatever age people may be
COYG!
So much for the memory … after checking results it couldn’t have been 4-0. It was most likely the 1958/9 season (still not the ’60s NBN) when we won 4-1 at WHL. Whatever it was a great day out with a Spuds mate of the time.
Oskar
Excellent stuff. A nice gentle early morning back drink, taking in the memories of a few maestros!
I’ve missed the bar!
Darn work…. 😉
Good stuff ‘holic. Cheers. A Strong beer and a croissant from the Baker’s please.
Strong was a lethal striker in his time. Sadly he left the gunners because he couldn’t see the gunners under former England captain Billy Wright fight for the title. Later Baker left for Forest.
It seems some of the gunners who left went on to win trophies. FF2013. Wenger better start winning a trophy. Fans won’t care if he doesn’t bring in anyone but can create awinning team to finally win a trophy.
If the gunners are out of the epl race by end OCt/Nov,you can bet there will be calls for his exit.
Very nice one Holic
Hello ‘Holic.
A lovely post about a man I sadly know little about, who clearly gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of fans. Joe Baker had more of the limelight really, from the perspective of posterity (and I suspect at the time as he stole your young(er :-)) heart football-wise). It is nice to have a mention of George Armstrong too. Thanks fella.
Ollie 31 heh
Clive/ttg/Oskar/Neamman. I was also at that Highbury game in 63, standing in my normal place at the clock end. Tiny Totts were the glamorous team of the moment…we were the underdogs. I reckon there were many thousands more in the gound than the official attendance capacity – the turnstile operators must have all collected their holiday money that night. It was one of the best matches ever, coming back from behind to for Geoff Strong’s equaliser in the last few minutes (was it 2-3 mins from full time?). Even from the clck end we could see the net bulging!
There was never any real trouble in the clock end in those days, it didn’t kick off with visiting “fans” until the mid sixties…first time was the blue scum(Chelsea) but as Clive says, that’s another story.
Thank you for the heritage lesson Maestro.
The Sweeper, magnificent at #13.
Always a good read in here.
Holic. A fitting tribute. Very well said.
Clive. Different class. Fantastic tale. I loved reading that as well.
Sir,
I have today seen the first (veiled) call of the season for the manager’s sacking.
Is this a record?
Yours
I. T. K. Clutch-Featheringstonhaugh Adm (retd.), Mrs
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/18/e7ujedyz.jpg
🙂
I have now, begrudgingly, come to the conclusion, that there are some older people on this site who have probably forgotten things about Arsenal which could possibly amount to more than I have ever known.
“There is only one cure for grey hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine” (Wodehouse)..!
It is when reading posts like the ones posted here by Holic, Clive and others that I really wish I had a time machine so I could go back and see these things for myself. But pending the invention of such machines, the next best thing is reading these accounts. You can’t beat first-hand eye witness accounts. Cheers all for sharing your stories.
Cheers ‘Holic, lovely piece.
Some great memories too from so many. Great stuff Clive – looking forward to hearing the Manchester United ’62 story.
By God that Ron Yeats was ugly – they just don’t make ugly like that now
Thanks for the account Sir Holic and RIP Geoff Strong.
Being one of the “youngbloods” I can’t say I have any firsthand accounts to share but I will take part in a solemn toast.
anicoll5@43 – It’s a sad commentary on the decline of standards over the past few years. I blame the Atom Bomb.
Nice one Maestro.
R.I.P and condolances to the family.
Too long to quote, but I suggest you check F365 Mediawatch on the topic of Kinnear. Could be fun at Newcastle really…
(mental)
Cooling Down
Qatar 2022 World Cup committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi tried to reassure everyone this morning that those at the tournament wouldn’t be burned to a crisp, after all.
“When we bid for the World Cup our intention was always for it to be in June,” he is quoted as saying by ESPNFC.
“The weather is not very bad in Doha in June, it’s not so bad. I’ve had many people come to Qatar during June and it wasn’t the horror story people expected, that they would burst in flames. It’s not armageddon.”
Perhaps not armageddon, but according to Weather.com, the coolest temperature in Doha for the next couple of weeks is 39 degrees.
Went out for lunch, it was definitely over 40.
However, this is a bit bullshit, as it goes into the low 30s at night.
Ollie – Time was that in Kuwait, if the temperature rose above 40C, employers had to send their outside workers home. Funnily enough, the official temperature never seemed to get above 39.9.
I discovered yesterday that I couldn’t spell ‘Armmagedan’.
Still, that’s not the end of the world …………. 😉
Boo, hiss :-/
Great posts by our resident keepers of history, thanks gents.
heh Trev.
‘Funny’ indeed, Oxon, I’m not surprised.
For our 9th date I took my wife to see the Batman film that had just come out.
So the beginning of our relationship went: dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, BATMAN!
If there are any other Pink Floyd fans in this bar, you might be pleased to hear that all their albums (save for a compilation or two and the “Is There Anyboudy Out There?” live album) are now available on Spotify.
😀 😀 😀 @ 54!
Camber! That’s hilarious 😀
Found another one too 🙂
http://cheezburger.com/6963907840
haha nice one CoR
Cynic @39, Camberwell, 🙂
Clive @13,
Finally got round to reading that. Lovely stuff.
In the spirit of red gunner@32 I’ve been none too impressed by Moyes,Mourinho and Pellegrini since they took over. If they don’t amass points soon they might be out before the end of September. In fact if the kick- in doesn’t go well in Maureen’s first game I can see Abramovich having him out then.Ye Gods!
Thinking about the sixties I can’t help thinking it was a saner game then. Unfortunately we didn’t win anything but we had some terrific times. Great clubs produce wonderful memories .Of course trophy wins are great but the collective energy from all the great matches and wonderful players stays with you forever.
It’s nice to share with the young whippersnappers! You will be the old ‘uns soon enough!
Heh TTG.
Great reviews from the 50s and 60s. Though I share the 60s vintage, growing up in Scotland meant that I saw too little of Arsenal in that era until the TV broadcast of the spectacular recovery at Highbury to win the UEFA cup. The collective memory of supporting the Arsenal in the 50s and 60s on here is truly a valuable resource (so much richer than an official archive) and should be preserved for posterity. Over to you Holic.
Well it may have been grey all day, but temperature was ok. After work sat in the garden with the neighbours, the sun appeared about half six, and one Guinness turned into five.
Never has a ham salad tasted better 😉
Heh Holic. Nothing like an English summer day. 🙂
You can multiply Guinness by factor of 5?
The next time I see you in a real bar, I’m going to stand next to you, pint glass in hand.
Bath @63
A great shout. There’s more than a slim volume there!
TS, you may have to follow me to the wee room 😉
Evening all.
Was finaly a day worthy of the time of the year here today, so I grabbed the oppertunity to lounge in my beer garden (It’s a dirty job……)
Caught up on some of the goings on in the Footy World via the old smartphone. Still caan’t make any sense of the decision by Mike Ashtray to appoint JK “Director of Football”. I know some of us aren’t always completly convinced when it comes to our BoD, but thank heavens they don’t do stupid shit like that dodgy clown MA. Its like he delibratly undermines the club, they’re more like a car Toon the The Toon.
Still, the new Director of Football has a very apt name……
I’m sure there will many Geordies walking around SJP thinking- Ït’s a fuckin’ Joke in ‘ere” 😉
Fixtures tomorrow.
Like it’s getting closer…but it isn’t.
This atmoshpere is a bit like an Irish Wake. Tributes and stories shared. Glasses raised in a final salute. When I say this establishment and its clientele are in a class of their own, it’s just because it is so true. Geoff attended games at the Kop while suffering from Alzheimers. When I read that about him, I started to cry. He really must have loved Liverpool FC and I’m sure it comforted him, to be back in familar surroundings. The late Chris Reeves (Superman) once said in an interview (after his riding accident that left him paralized) that in his dreams he was still able to walk, etc. I hope God extened this tender mercy to Geoff as well …
Interesting seeing today that Iraq’s current manager is Vladimir Petrovic.
To all the Holics that commented on my ‘ Nostalgia ‘ post,
many thnks for the kind words.
That 4-4 draw would still rank in my top 3 all time favourite games.
The other 2 would be the Fairs Cup win over Anderlecht,when at the end of the game there seemed to be more fans on the pitch than off it.!!
Even Conservative Sweeper Dad was spotted,hugging and dancing with complete strangers at the North Bank end of the pitch.
The 3rd game for more poignant,personal reasons for Sweeper Dad would be the 71 Cup final win over Liverpool,which clinched the Double,the back story of which,curtesy of one of Holic’s early
‘Guest ‘ Posts was relived here.
Nothing before or since,has even come close.
Cheers
The Sweeper
har @69, h2h.
sub-tle.
and while i thought ‘holic could walk on water ( 😉 ), i didn’t know he turned guinness into more guinness (stout fellow)…
Those commenting so graciously on those who remember the 1950s can console themselves with the thought that they will likely see the 2050s, while we almost certainly will not… 🙁
In fact the 2040s would be some sort of miracle!
But I’m determined not to leave until Arsenal have won the CL, it’s about the only thing left to complete a so far excellent life. 😉
Oskar
Ron Yeats ugly, anicoll5 (*43)?
He’d be Prince Charming compared to Tevez and Ribery!
Oskar
Sky Italia report that Wenger has a signed agreement with PSG from 2014. Get in their!
Not buyin’ it, RT.
BMBD
Hearing strong rumors of Bendtner to Malaga for 5m. Wonder if that’s true? Everything else making the rounds seems to be the same old, same old…
How’s everyone doing this fine day/ night? Enjoying the Confederates Cup? What is the meaning of that tournament and how do countries qualify?
Clive@73: the older we get the better those games were.
SG@74: why do you think the crests of waves are white and the rest of the sea is dark?
ICoR@79: Confederations Cup is meant to be a dry run for the organizers of the following year’s World Cup. One team from each of FiFA’s regional constituent federations.
RT, Can’t see AW wanting to leave without a trophy under his belt, but the gaping hole in his CV is the CL. If he thinks PSG is the better bet for that, he won’t let sentiment hold him back.
CG@54: it is the way you tell ’em…
H2H,
I’m curious if you have any thoughts or opinion on Jozy Altidore?
He scored for fun for your league winning home team.
Drinky on my tab for any thoughts.
Altidore seems to find scoring in the Dutch league a lot easier than in the Spanish or English leagues. That may be because he is at last hitting his stride now he is 23, or because he is a good striker but not of the very highest level. Next couple of seasons, and his next move, will be critical for him.
Have we signed the second coming of Vieira yet?
Memo To all Holics (of a certain age 😉 We (clears throat) will no longer use terms such as ‘older’or ‘over the hill’ to define us. No sir! The Buzz Word is ‘experienced’ 🙂 And it’s not ‘grey’ hair, It’s ‘Silver’! Thank you very much for your cooperation in this most delicate matter 😉
Thx for the comment, Ned. Altidore seems to me like he has finally developed into a decent player. I agree that the question is always if its the player or the competition, however, I think both he and Michael Bradley have developed into good players in the last year or two. I think both could play for bigger teams and contribute.
Thanks
Bendtner to Malaga for 5m, iCoR? Is that how much we’re paying them to take him?
Oskar
Heh 🙂
If we did it would be money well spendt 😉
Fixture list!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fixtures
Well, Villa at home and Fulham away and then the tiny totts at home for our first three games.
We were talking about a boat trip for Fulham away, and the second game of the season sounds like a good opportunity to do that.
Incidentally, the FA Cup final is back to having its own date in the calendar, a week after the season ends, so that should make people happy.
Last 3 games of March:
Sp*rs away
Chelscum away
Shitty home
Then 6 “‘easier'” games to close the season out. (Had to heavily invert the commas for that word…)
Lars @91
That boat trip is a must. We might even have a nice day for it.
Tickets to the game at the Cottage may be an issue but there must be a local hostelry that we could take over and watch the game on a dodgy satellite.
I think Holic might even have indicated that he knew of several down there.
bath – There are some fine pubs by the river, some with decent Sat TV too. Apparently (I was told this but haven’t verified yet) Fulham FC offers tickets on-line for away fans of clubs that take the whole of the away end. Please stop tempting me 😉
Charlie – Good point @ #92. That means, having secured the league in March at The Bus Stop whilst watching The Splashal One openly weep onto Arsene’s shoulder, we can play kids in all the remaining league games and look forward to our first Cup Final victory at the new Wembley (we won’t make it to the COCUP final) before resting again for our CL final in Portugal where we will beat Bayern Munich 2-0 after Robben & Ribery have both missed penalties.
UTA!
Lars – The Viking tradition of boats and debauchery is safe in your hands 😉
‘Holic @ #68 – Many thanks but I have an endless supply of that Special Brew myself 😛
Heh ! TS,
@95 looks like you’ve found an endless supply of a few things. 😉
Olliesque…
Why do we always get the toughest draws? Some really decent teams in there.
Well in uncle Charlie!
Trev – If you can’t dream pre-season, when can you? 🙂
Geoff Strong was my wife’s uncle and my mother-in-law’s brother. They are both Geordies as are my children, though I was born near the Arsenal ground and have been a goner for over 50 years; my son is also a goner, though born and brought up in the north east. I saw Geoff play when I was very young but obviously grew to know him very well in more recent years. He was, as people have described him, a lovely and generous man as well as being an outstanding footballer. He also was an excellent golfer and sprinter. On behalf of Geoff’s family, I would like to thank all those of you who have commented so warmly on him as a man and a player. Your comments are much appreciated.
Well in Mr Grigg @ 103. We love a good legend in here.
You’re welcome Mr Grigg!
March looks like it will be a very busy month for us, the depth of the squad will be tested severely, it’s also the perfect month for someone looking to visit London for a month, there’s the possibility of seeing 7/8 games within that one month.
Thanks David for taking the time to share that with us. Our thoughts are with the family.
What ‘holic said, Mr Grigg.
David Grigg: condolences on your loss.
—
Some random fixture-related thoughts to while away a few minutes of an unexpectedy slow day at work:
Looking at the fixtures, you can of course often guess with fairly good accuracy what games will be picked for what time slots by the TV companies but I have to say that the first day is a bit trickier, but my guess is that ManU (as champions and more importantly the first game without Sir Rednose) and Chelsea (Mourinho) are nailed on for TV selection. I would assume that ManU will be the 12.45 on the Saturday, and Chelsea the 5.30 Saturday. Seeing as we are playing a qualifier in medweek, I don’t think we are very likely to be picked to play on the Sunday so that would mean our game being on at 3PM on the Saturday is quite likely.
However, the home derby on August 31 will without the shadow of a doubt be moved to the Sunday because that will be a Super Duper Multi Mega Sky Sunday as that weekend also has Liverpool v ManU. Me and the missus fly to Crete early that day but should be there in time to watch it at a bar even if our game is the early kickoff.
Looking at other teams’ opening sequence of games, I must say that ManU have a rather tough first five games. Swansea away, Chelsea at home, Liverpool away, Crystal Palace at home and then Man City away. No such thing as a nice and easy start for Moyes, in other words.
Oh well, nought to do but await the tv selections so proper planning for travels can start.
Afternoon all.
NorCal. I have seen Altidore play a few times lately and I suppose the nicest thing I could say is that he has found his level, I don’t think he would make it in a tougher league.
Sounds pretty harsh, especialy when you consider that he scored a hatrick in one of those games (v Vitesse) I was at, but I just see an average player. He’s a big strong lad, but he has no particular skill set or speed, he also looks a bit frumpy, I couldn’t believe he was only 23, he certainly doesn’t look it.
He had an up and down season this year, he scored a few goals and won a cup medal, but AZ flirted with relegation all season, only securing safety a week or so before the end of term. If I were him I’d stay put, but if he’s offered more dough somewhere else he’ll probably go, but like I said before, if it’s to a tougher league then I believe he will struggle.
I could be wrong though, it ha sbeen known to happen. 😉
There was a piece on F365 about the Ere Divisie strikers who tried their luck elsewhere;
http://www.football365.com/f365-says/8777754/Buyer-Beware-For-Eredivisie-Strikers
This guy is some shotstopper;
http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/53292835531/keeper-plays-full-match-with-9mm-bullet-lodged-in-head
David Grigg,
Lovely stuff, many thanks.
Geoff Strong was in the Arsenal team in the first and only game my dad ever took me to. I was to young to remember much, if anything, of what really happened in the game, but I still remember nearly all the names of the players.
“Geoff Strong” sounded like a great name for a footballer, and he clearly lived up to it.
Condolences, for once, may find their true target and they are sincerely offered.
yet another reason to love it at this fine establishment.
mr. grigg, many condolences to you and your family. thank you for taking the time to come here and share your family’s story.
Trev’s real name is Trev Punnard.
There are 2 things about QSG:
a) they are being a laughing stock again
b) Sadly it does also reinforce the idea that they really think they’ll get AW next year….
H2H, thanks for the response. I value your view, otherwise why would I have asked? 😉
I was afraid that was the case. I have only seen him in the odd game for the national team and while I think he has shown improvement and is in a good run of scoring form I did wonder if that is what it is.
As mentioned above, I do think Michael Bradley has turned into a good player. Not flashy but efficient and a good deep lying playmaker/ box to box type player. It shows that to really improve your game you still need to go to Europe to play. He is now playing at Roma.
Cheers and your drinky awaits you
David@ 103
My condolences also. Geoff was a man to be proud of knowing.
Re the opening fixtures I hhave seen some faithless Gooners bemoaning the fact that the LWCs arrive at our place in August. Another 5-2 mauling awaits them.
The LWCs don’t start the season well nor do they finish well either. They are outstanding in mid- January when most of the games are frozen off though.
I think it’s time for Arsene to give us a couple of big signings to make us feel even more smug.
Mr. David Grigg
Thank you for visiting the bar and sharing your memories of Geoff Strong.
Condolences to your family.
Please come and visit us again in happier circumstances. There’ll be a drink and a chair waiting for you.
Cheers NorCal, my pleasure mate.
I’m afraid that drinky seems to have evaporated…..;)
Engerland! Engerland! Go on Tredders!
TS @95 – tickets for away fans available without being a member of the Travel Club cartel? If you find it so, do let me know.
Mr Grigg, may I add my condolences to those above.
TS and baff I know someone who got a ticket in the ‘neutral’ section on matchday last season
Have we sold Higuain yet?
Apologies team. Will be happy to co-ordinate, but chances of me being allowed out to play three weekends running are somewhere south of me lifting the £141m on Friday’s Euromillions!
First home game and LWC’s are unmissable events in the calendar, and the fourth weekend (international break) I have a golf day. Being rather keen to keep my bits intact I will have to skip Fulham. What a shame. There could be no better time to go there.
That doesn’t stop you lot from getting it together and turning me green with envy 🙁
(…unless I do win the £141m on Friday!)
@ 124
There’s always divorce 😉
I am awaiting news from Professor Storey on how the refit from locomotive to hovercraft is coming along……
Blimey !
Zico’s in da house. 😉
You have been missed.
Sorry,
That was supposed to say – You have been pissed. 😉
Pre-season training, Trev. 8)
I think I can just squeeze in the 1st 3 games of the new season
before heading back to OZ after 6 years. Can’t wait! Moved over the summer we sold Henry and then we sold cesc and the skunk and won nothing…now we are about to turn the corner…and I’m off! Brilliant!
none of you would believe the day i’ve had
and that’s me sayin it
jeez an fourteen louise
zz
If it has been a weird day for you, cba, this we just have to hear 😉
Evening Dr z…
Thinking of you Tommy. You can follow our fourteenth title winning season on here 😉
i tried
and i tried
did i succeed
no i buggerin did not
people can be obstinate twats wallowing in their own ineptitude
the bollixes
.
anyhoo
howdy ‘hol an ‘hols various
Let me guess, cba,
you were bitten by a rabid bullock?
no zico no
Hi David
I would just like to add my condolences to you and your family on the loss of Geoff.
In the short time he was with us,he brought a lot of pleasure to many Arsenal fans,young and old.
At a time when we never really in the hunt for Trophies,the only pleasure Gooners got in those days,was celebrating the goals we scored.!!
For two brief shining seasons,62-63 and 63-64,Geoff and his little mate Joe Baker delivered those goals in spades.
We scored 86 league goals in 62-63, and 90 in 63-64.
Between them,Geoff and Joe scored 99 of them.
It was a privilege to have watched Geoff play.
The Sweeper.
aww jeez
sweet holy mother
swept under the carpet – hide em
The Very Sweeper
Holic, will certainly make things easier!
Although, may struggle with the tales of boozy
adventures pre and post match at the tollie…
Did you sample the pink ipa?
Our thoughts are with Geoff’s family and friends top bloke!
nope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwFhRigCHzY
still got it
la feckin folie
Hats off to Japan! Italy as usual sliding their way in!
Nice tribute `Holic. I was unaware of his death, so I`m a bit sad this morning. like you, my first hero was Joe, and I also loved George Eastham, but the player I seemed to notice most, (mainly because he seemd to be operating directly in front of me), was full back Billy McCulloch. I could never understand at the time, why we sold Geoff to Liverpool. R I P Geoff.
It is now officially 6 days since I last had a drink.
Abroad.
Did we sign anyone yet…….?
Thought you were still there z…
Well there was always the risk that they wouldn’t let me back in…..but Border Controls are not what they once were 😉
Hehe 🙂
Indeed, Lassie used to be a star on the box and on the silver screen……………..
What???
Ooooh. Border CONTROLS…….
Sorry. 😉
We sign anyone yet?
Is ‘Higuain’ to Arsenal?
It’s starting to sound more likely…
http://www.football365.com/news/21554/8785052/Transfer-news-Arsenal-backed-to-land-Gonzalo-Higuain-from-Real-Madrid-with-Sky-Bet
Speaking of TV/Movie stars, on a more serious note.
R.I.P James Galdolfini.
The Sopranos was one of my all time favourite series.
Interesting little nugget from the Mirror:
“Suddenly, what last year represented Arsenal’s stagnation now makes them the only club with stability amid a sea of uncertainty in the Premier League’s top four.”
Did I read that right? Is that a mainstream journalist actually NOT taking cheap shots at Arsenal for once, and actually offering a controversial point of view that – shock horror! – maybe Wenger is actually doing it right??
Instead of boring yourself with all the transfer tittle tattle do yourself a favour and read this: it’s the last episode of Mister Spruce’ Chronicles of the Canon http://t.co/RYZHvVOLHp
camb@151: It certainly looks that way. However, as we both know that is impossible. I propose to lie down in a darkened room until the illusions pass and I suggest you do the same. (In a different darkened room, naturally.)
Big Jim sleeps with the fishes.
Oxon, Glad you made that clear. Just before I read it I was reaching for my overnight bag and packing a clean pair of socks!
Headline-writer’s dream: Messi goes to court over tax evasion, leading to headlines like…
Messi summons over Spain tax fraud
“This could get Messi” – Spanish Attorney General
Leo sues his book keeper over messy accounting methods
Galactico’s finances a mess
Footballer’s millionaire lifestyle meets Messi end
http://www.football365.com/mediawatch/8784998/Mediawatch
Messi might miss first CL game…
Also if you check F365 mediawatch, you can see that J.Cross just likes to stir shit, not just on Arsenal matter it seems.
Your photos have gone all Photobuckety, ‘holic.
Hello all
Just dropping in. Fantastic history posts from holic and the sweeper. Really enjoyed them
Hey Ollie, how’s Doha treating ya?
And what cynic said
HWSAY?
It’s so bad to drink alone…. 🙁
Pours another one.
Hi bath, just finished work – bar seems empty.
Two weeks tomorrow since Ivan promised us exciting news “in 48 hours”
There must have been something fairly certain going on for him to say that. Only Arsenal can turn 48 hours into 12 days. 🙁
Ok, and Roxette in a shoe factory.
And Holic in a distillery. 😉
Bath….you are probably long enough in the tooth to remember ” You are never alone with a Strand” Happy to join you for a wee dram.
Trev…from the same team that brought you ” xxxxx will be back in 3 weeks” . 😉
Sure, we’ve seen enough articles about the subject already (except the one that actually counts!) but this is as close as it gets when it comes from the Guardian and mentions specifics.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jun/20/arsenal-gonzalo-higuain-real-madrid
Can still go pear shaped. Remember Ramsey to Utd and that they actually wrote that they signed him on their own website?
But still. Looks like this one really has some beautiful legs (one french the other argentinian!)
Ooooh, maybe it’s because it’s the weekend, but I seem to have connection with the laptop, at least for now.
Hi Ollie – I had to check my calendar when you started talking about “the weekend” but then I twigged. Do you still need to borrow a neighbour’s small child to go grocery shopping on a Friday?
Strand was much too sophisticated for where I spent my formative fag-smoking years. Real men smoked Capstan Full Strength or Woodbine. I cut my lungs with Number 6. Bleugh.
Er, what, Oxon?
I don’t know, but Carrefour seems to be open (except midday, unlike the other days of the week, bit weird).
It’s not that far, but with the traffic….
I think there’s a sort of cornershop/small supermarket not far, but I don’t know if I can be tempted to walk daytime in the heat.
In other news, apparently today QSG are after blanc. REally starting to laugh, they seem to be linked with a new name every week, or sometimes on consecutive days…
Think they’ll settle for Tony Pulis?
Bath…Strand was a shit ciggy, just a catchy advertising theme. In my yoof, before I gave them up, it was Weights or Woodbines ( or roll your own).
Years ago the guvnor of my local work hostelry advised he was finally cutting down from his eighty a day to 40 per day but changing from “Senior Service” to “Captsan full strength”!!! They were a ready made coughing machine 🙂
@ 64
Quiet….. 😉
Uply. I graduated from No 6 to Peter Stuyvesant. I liked the cool pack though it was regarded as a fresh air cigarette by the ‘ard core. After that I discovered Gitanes and the rest were history. Nuffink like that French tobacco.
Hi 🙂
Gitanes Maïs, heh, nasty stuff.
Agree 100 % Bath & Ollie, when I occasionally went back to having a puff ( that’s puff not pouff Wolfie ), Gitanes were my fag of choice. Not only did they have some “flavour” (if that makes sense), you could also smell one alight at 100 paces in a crowded room.
Hi Wind….studying / exams finished yet. Unusually you seem rather lost for words 😉
Wind, please don’t back-drink!
I have to admit that the climate here does not tempt me to smoke. So that’s a good off-season break.
I’m sure the temptation might be too great when football and beers come back, but if I were sensible, I’d just stop being even a recreational smoker for next season.
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