Lee Dixon On The Arsenal, Highbury, And Hillsborough
Nov 8th, 2017 by 'holic
You would have to have been on Mars to not know that the world premiere of 89 is taking place this evening (Wednesday) at the Holloway Odeon. Earlier our expert film reviewer, lots of you will know her as Lucy Gooner, got the chance to speak with some of the legends from that team, including Lee Dixon. He was honest, open, and a little emotional on a couple of occasions. So, what did he remember of that season?
“I didn’t have the connection to Arsenal like the fans did at that point, I have it now. I’d just signed from Stoke, it was my first full season, getting to know what Arsenal was all about. Part of my goal that season was to stay in the team, it wasn’t to win anything. I’d played six games the season before because I was cup-tied. George put me in the team with the number two on my back and that was it, see how long I could last. I was expecting a little tap on the shoulder, “it’s time to go back to Stoke“. That was my drive, to prove people wrong. I tried to work as hard as I can to stay where I was.”
If you are getting the impression that the Arsenal has left it’s imprint on the Mancunian then you are right. He waxed lyrical about being a Gunner, and about Highbury in particular.
“Can you imagine playing here every week? So learning about the Arsenal that season was a big part of my education, and so hopefully I could stay longer. I bought into the marble halls, Herbert Chapman, the lads talking about THE Arsenal, I bought into all that. I thought, that’s it. I wanted to be like Pat Rice. He’d been here years.”
The film doesn’t shy away from what had happened 41 days before that Friday night decider. I remember we were at home to Newcastle when the news started breaking about what was happening at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The first reports were of an incident of crowd trouble, then casualties were mentioned before the full horror of what had happened became clear. Fatalities, and lots of them. Lee recalled,
“When I look back on that season Hillsborough had a massive effect on me. That whole process that we went through was at the time covered up because you’ve got to play. You kind of smother over it and get on with your job. I remember handing over the flowers before the game and giving it (the bouquet) because I had been on the Kop three times as a kid, so handing the flowers in at the Kop was quite a big thing for me. The passing over of the flowers to the woman, it was almost like I was asking permission to go and play. It was so different, we were relaxed, probably because it didn’t feel right to be fired up. Hillsborough was a massive part of that.”
The tragedy of Hillsborough is handled with great sensitivity in the film, and the production team are rightly proud of that. As I tweeted last night if you are going to one of the screenings, or have pre-ordered the dvd, have some tissues available when you watch it.
89 is available in OurScreen cinemas from 11th November & on DVD & Digital Download from 20th November.
27 Responses to “Lee Dixon On The Arsenal, Highbury, And Hillsborough”
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this is gonna be good
If you mean the film, probably it is. Yeah.
If you mean the following drinks…. 😉
?
as ever
“therrrrrrres only ONE see why enn ic ”
“won sea wh . . . . .
.
.
hope yer well chief
I’m distinctly average, cba, which is as good as it gets.
Hope all is well with ye.
hee hee
life round my house has “PREVIOUS , YOU SLAAAG!”
for being shite
*jumps over consul bonnet*
anyhoo
all the best
with yer impediments ‘n’ medicaments
.
.
and
as fer yer compliment fishing expedition
“as good as it gets”
nope
.
never liked ye
.
.
.
“YEAH !!!!!
.
.
*blatantly tells lies*
d’ye think this diversion is sufficient to temper the ebbullience of the 89 returnees ?
I dunno but having seen some pics of the premiere on the Daily Heil, I feel the need to congratulate Tony Adams for his suit. Or I mean commiserate?
aww jaysus sweet merciful mother of all that’s good and back four holy in the world
“where’s me lucky charms”
.
.
.
donkey say dunno
Lee Dixon is a fine Gooner. He retired a Gooner so his recent criticism of the current set-up wouldn’t be easy for him to outline.
Looking forward to the film, it’s a wonderful memory
at least big Tone
paid fer his suit
but
it’s that complete disregard
for what green means
is why
all this fiasco ensued
and such
.
.
*awaits grass response*
howdy m’lud ?
how ye been ?
Nobody gave GG a chance against Liverpool,the all conquering team then. However the genial Scot said Arsenal had a mt to climb and there was no reason why they couldn’t get 2 goals to win.
And boy did they do in style. First Smith’s header was hotly disputed.When it was allowed,you could sense the reds became nervous .So when Thomas slotted in the winner,I shouted till my voice became hoarse..
Btw,for the benefit of younger fans,Thomas goal was scared in the last minute of the game.Go to U tube to relive the moments of
that unforgettable night.
COYG and beat the spuds in the next game.
Thanks Guvnor, Cynic and Trev for
sharing your tech knowledge in the
last drinks. Will happily purchase
the DVD for my son and download
the digital version for me ?
That was a day to be a gooner,
never to be forgotten.
“He was honest, open, and a little emotional on a couple of occasions”.
“I didn’t have the connection to Arsenal like the fans did at that point, I have it now”.
“I was expecting a little tap on the shoulder, “it’s time to go back to Stoke“. That was my drive, to prove people wrong. I tried to work as hard as I can to stay where I was.”
A lovely insight from a “true” Gunner who knew what it meant to be part of a great club; and what was expected of such a privilege too. Can’t wait to hear more from similar legends of that era! ?
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Make sure your telly can display the PAL standard, Matt. Most PAL tvs can handle NTSC but not the other way around.
Nice one Lucy. Let’s ‘ave another one. ??
It’s only the Star but the suggestion is that Arsenal are willing to sanction the sale of Sanchez and Ozil for £30 million each in January. They were set against selling them for £50 or £60 mill in the summer. Have we had £30 million each of value from each player from the start of the season? This is the muddled thinking ( nay incompetence) that gives so many of us a lack of confidence in the management of the club and the effectiveness of the Board. I don’t know which of the current Government or the Arsenal management is the least competent. Both are in a mess.
The story about Ozil being willing to stay if he can have the no 10 shirt would sound like total nonsense if it wasn’t so believable, in the context of spoilt, ego driven, footballers in general.
On the money there, both TTG@20 and Cynic@21. Couldn’t agree more.
Re: TTG @20. Arsenal management enjoying a wee nap last summer, it would seem.
Dapper DanC, replying to the last post, sorry about my english there, ” here” did not mean the holics here, i meant it for people here in India and around me who ask me that question time to time as to why do i support The Arsenal, no offense at all to anyone here or the sane ones across the globe.
just back from Mars…fed up with dust storms
now where were we?
sanchez Watt
what about him?
It’s the turn of Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith and David “Spider” O’Leary to talk with Lucy and a few others. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Career crested at Colchester then coursed to Kerala in the sub-continent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchez_Watt