• Home
  • About
  • Behind The Arse
  • PopuHolics

Goonerholic

Eat, sleep, breathe, drink, Arsenal

Feed on
Posts
Comments

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.

Posted in Guest Tales, history | 27 Drinks

27 Responses to “Lee Dixon On The Arsenal, Highbury, And Hillsborough”

  1. on 08 Nov 2017 at 8:12 pm1can't be arsed

    this is gonna be good

  2. on 08 Nov 2017 at 8:31 pm2Cynic

    If you mean the film, probably it is. Yeah.

    If you mean the following drinks…. 😉

  3. on 08 Nov 2017 at 8:39 pm3can't be arsed

    ?

    as ever

    “therrrrrrres only ONE see why enn ic ”
    “won sea wh . . . . .
    .
    .
    hope yer well chief

  4. on 08 Nov 2017 at 9:30 pm4Cynic

    I’m distinctly average, cba, which is as good as it gets.

    Hope all is well with ye.

  5. on 08 Nov 2017 at 10:10 pm5can't be arsed

    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

  6. on 08 Nov 2017 at 10:13 pm6can't be arsed

    .
    .
    .
    “YEAH !!!!!

    .
    .
    *blatantly tells lies*

  7. on 08 Nov 2017 at 10:18 pm7can't be arsed

    d’ye think this diversion is sufficient to temper the ebbullience of the 89 returnees ?

  8. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:15 pm8Cynic

    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?

  9. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:33 pm9can't be arsed

    aww jaysus sweet merciful mother of all that’s good and back four holy in the world

  10. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:37 pm10can't be arsed

    “where’s me lucky charms”

  11. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:51 pm11can't be arsed

    .
    .
    .
    donkey say dunno

  12. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:57 pm12TTG

    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

  13. on 08 Nov 2017 at 11:58 pm13can't be arsed

    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*

  14. on 09 Nov 2017 at 12:01 am14can't be arsed

    howdy m’lud ?

    how ye been ?

  15. on 09 Nov 2017 at 12:04 am15Wolfgang

    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.

  16. on 09 Nov 2017 at 2:00 am16OsakaMatt

    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.

  17. on 09 Nov 2017 at 2:54 am17Dapper DanC

    “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!

  18. on 09 Nov 2017 at 9:57 am18Cynic

    Make sure your telly can display the PAL standard, Matt. Most PAL tvs can handle NTSC but not the other way around.

  19. on 09 Nov 2017 at 10:16 am19bathgooner

    Nice one Lucy. Let’s ‘ave another one. ??

  20. on 09 Nov 2017 at 10:55 am20TTG

    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.

  21. on 09 Nov 2017 at 11:00 am21Cynic

    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.

  22. on 09 Nov 2017 at 12:55 pm22bathgooner

    On the money there, both TTG@20 and Cynic@21. Couldn’t agree more.

  23. on 09 Nov 2017 at 1:18 pm23bt8

    Re: TTG @20. Arsenal management enjoying a wee nap last summer, it would seem.

  24. on 09 Nov 2017 at 4:14 pm24Vinay

    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.

  25. on 09 Nov 2017 at 5:29 pm25Silly Second Yella

    just back from Mars…fed up with dust storms

    now where were we?

    sanchez Watt

    what about him?

  26. on 09 Nov 2017 at 7:16 pm26Goonerholic

    It’s the turn of Alan ‘Smudger’ Smith and David “Spider” O’Leary to talk with Lucy and a few others. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  27. on 09 Nov 2017 at 7:23 pm27bt8

    Career crested at Colchester then coursed to Kerala in the sub-continent.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchez_Watt

  • Recent Posts

    • David Faber 1957-2019
    • Xhaka? Emery? What Do You Think?
    • Palace At Home – What Could Go Wrong?
    • Amazingly Spirited Gunners Pull Another Cup Win Out Of The Bag.
    • Guest Post – iBtM Europa League Preview
    • Brief Doesn’t Cover It
  • As featured on NewsNow: Arsenal FC newsArsenal News 24/7
    Arsenal charity of the season The Football Blog Network Gunners blogs Arsenal charity of the season
  • Get Adobe Flash player
  • Categories

    • book reviews (21)
    • comment (530)
    • competitions (37)
    • Guest Tales (65)
    • history (102)
    • match preview (746)
    • match review (830)
    • tongue in cheek (76)
    • Uncategorized (1)
    • video (10)
  • Pages

    • About
    • Behind The Arse
    • PopuHolics
Arsenal News Follow TheGoonerholic on Twitter Android app

Goonerholic © 2023 All Rights Reserved.

MistyLook made free by Web Hosting Bluebook