Guest Post By Gary Lawrence: Constable Alex Morgan Remembered
Mar 13th, 2018 by 'holic
I am massively indebted to Gary Lawrence, (@garythegooner56 on Twitter) for tonight’s post remembering a significant figure in the youth of a generation of Arsenal supporters, as well as a fund of memories from Pat Rice and David Miles. Thank you very much Gary, and all the “Friends of Alex”.
Last summer in the first Arsenal programme of the season there was an article about the sad passing of Constable Alex Morgan, who sung for many years on match days at Highbury accompanied by the Metropolitan Police Band. I posted the article on Twitter and so many older Arsenal fans responded speaking fondly about our singing policeman. A group of us got chatting, including ‘holic, and we thought as Alex was such a unique part of the Highbury match day experience it would be great if there was some sort of memorial to him so that he’ll always be remembered and younger fans would know who he was and what he did at Highbury.
Gavin (@SheWore) started a small group on WhatsApp and called it “Friends of Alex” and we discussed maybe getting a memorial tile by the Thierry Henry statue, then someone suggested contacting the club first to see if they had any plans to do something to remember Alex.
I contacted the club and spoke to Tom Bennett who works there. He said it sounded like a great idea and he would sound out some of the older members of staff like Ken Friar and get back to me. Following a series of e-mails between myself and Tom and later another colleague of Tom’s, Andrew Pigott, the dialogue was maintained over the last six months. The club eventually arranged with Highbury Square to put up a memorial plaque for Alex in the very spot he used to sing from, which was as you probably know in the corner of the East Stand where it met the Clock End which was perfect.
Andrew kindly asked me if I’d like to attend the ceremony and I gladly accepted the club’s invitation, on behalf of the “Friends of Alex” to meet at the marble halls at 10am before the game against Watford. He said Alex Morgan’s family would be attending as well as somebody from the club.
It meant an early start and an old familiar journey to Highbury by tube that I hadn’t made for some years as these days I usually drive there. I arrived at Arsenal Station and as I walked up the tunnel it brought back memories of the time we played West Ham many years ago, when I was about 12 years old. I recalled walking down the tunnel with my Arsenal scarf wrapped around my neck when a big West Ham skinhead, aged about 18, grabbed the end of my scarf tugged it and sent me spinning like a top as he ran down the tunnel disappearing into the distance with my scarf in his hand!
I arrived at the marble halls early and was soon joined by Andrew Pigott. Shortly after that Arsenal Secretary David Miles turned up accompanied by Arsenal legend Pat Rice. Both looking very smart with club ties and jackets on. Standing in the marble halls stimulated the conversation to talking about the past. David Miles pointed out where he nervously sat 47 years ago waiting to be interviewed for a job at Arsenal. He said you could never go upstairs to see Ken Friar or Bob Wall without wearing a jacket. Pat Rice simply said it was standards and class.
We talked about queuing up for Cup Final tickets with the vouchers. Fans walking down the line saying has anybody got a spare voucher number six! We laughed about how fans tried to get away with photocopying missing vouchers or altering a three into an eight if they were one short.
I told them I was on the pitch at White Hart Lane after clinching the Title in 1971 and that I dug up a bit of the pitch and have still kept it all these years later. Pat laughed and said it was like a home game for them that night. David Miles then told a great story that Ken Friar had told him about that night. Bertie Mee in the dressing room after the game was told the fans were calling for him on the pitch but they were very rowdy. Bertie stood up proudly all 5 foot 4 inches of him and said “Sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do” and marched out to greet the Arsenal fans. Three minutes later he returned glasses on his head Eric Morecambe style, jacket pulled all over the place looking very dishevelled. “They’re animals” said Bertie.
We then talked about some of Pat’s old teammates. We all agreed what a brilliant player Geordie Armstrong was, and David said the club always look out for their old players and their families and that they always invite the Armstrong family along to the Emirates once a year as their guests. I think that shows the class of our club. I said I was gutted when Liam Brady left the club and Pat said he was a fantastic player no doubt about that. I said had we kept him and Frank Stapleton, adding Kenny Sansom, we’d probably have won the Title and Pat agreed with me. I said David O’Leary was deceptively quick and Pat said he was so fast that I used to say to Willie Young you just go and head everything. Don’t worry about the ball going past you Spider will take care of that. I said I thought we’d had it when Manchester United got back to 2-2 in 1979 FA Cup Final. Pat looked at me and said “You’d thought we’d had it, imagine how we felt!” But he said we always had a chance with players like Liam, Rixy and Sundy in our side.
We then spoke about that week in 1980 when we got beat in two finals. It was such a hard slog playing 70 matches that season. Pat said Billy Bingham the Northern Ireland manager phoned him at the end of that season and said we’d love you to come on tour to Australia and give you your 50th cap. Pat said there’s no way I can do that as I’m physically and mentally exhausted.
I mentioned it was a shame the captains choice on long or shorts sleeves seems to have disappeared. Pat said there could be freezing conditions with snow and ice but if Tony Adams said short sleeves today lads, everyone wore short sleeves 100% with no exceptions.
We were then joined by David Price one of the club’s official photographers, before a big contingent of Alex Morgan’s family arrived. They were absolutely delighted that the club were doing this for them and were chuffed to bits at seeing Pat Rice there. Brief introductions and some family photos were taken with Pat next to Herbert Chapman by David Price and then we were off down what was once the players tunnel leading down to the pitch. It took me back to the time when Pat was our skipper and he’d kick a football out onto the pitch from the tunnel. These days Pat has to walk with the aid of a cane. Time catches up with all of us even club legends like Pat.
Pat with some of Alex Morgan’s family in the marble halls
As we walked down to where Alex’s memorial plaque was situated Pat pointed out to us where he used to bunk into Highbury as a kid! I said were you at Highbury when the Busby Babes played their last game in England. Oh yes said Pat the famous 5-4 match, yes I was there I bunked in that day as well!
Then we reached the memorial and it was time to do what we’d all come here for to honour the memory of Constable Alex Morgan. The family placed a wreath underneath the plaque, as well as a framed photo of Alex singing at Highbury on the day of the final match there against Wigan. One of Alex Morgan’s grand-daughters then put out a small speaker that plays music from a phone and the unmistakable voice of Alex singing at that last game came through it loud and clear. After Alex finished singing everybody spontaneously applauded. One of Alex Morgan’s sons then made a short speech thanking us all for making the day possible and ended with him saying what a classy and special club The Arsenal were. After that the family got some more family photos taken with Pat next to the plaque. David Miles and Pat then shook hands with everybody and said they had to go as Pat had to get back to the Emirates to meet and greet some more people before the game. Let’s hope we get three points today said Pat as they left Highbury Square.
Pat with some more of the Morgan family members
I then said my goodbyes to the Morgan clan as well. We all have a moan about the club and I’m no exception, but it’s things like this that The Arsenal do so well. The Football Club handled the whole thing with a touch of class. I’m so pleased that our little group the “Friends of Alex” came up with the suggestion to do it, because Constable Alex Morgan and the Metropolitan Police Band were as much a part of Highbury’s history as the Commissionaire on duty at the Main Entrance to the East Stand, and as much a part as the marble hall itself, with the red cannon, the Chapman bust and the beautiful staircase.
Now there is a permanent reminder of our singing policeman there as well.
The Alex Morgan plaque
46 Responses to “Guest Post By Gary Lawrence: Constable Alex Morgan Remembered”
Nice.
A tear in my eye reading that.
Dad and i always stood in the standing section in front of the East Stand after i was old enough to graduate from the kids standing section on the other side.
So every home game we had a close up view of the Band and Mr Morgan.
Many many happy memories from a time long gone.
Even at my youthful age **ahem** I remember Alex Morgan and the Band, on my kiddy visits to Highbury.
Forward 40 years and I live in London and have had a season ticket for best part of 25 years. One thing rings true, that is – when the club does it right, it does it with Class and Style.
Thought you’d enjoy that Clive. ?
Thanks bt8 ?
Dubs, you’re not old enough my friend. ??
A lovely read about a man with a lovely voice!
Where Arsenal is concerned , form is temporary, class is permanent
Elsewhere we can see why we couldn’t get past the last 16 in the CL. Sanchez was a jinx!
H
It’s nostalgia posts like this one that the younger supporters of the Club need to hear about more often.
Trouble is most of them are probably watching the Bachelor/ette or UK Idol or some such rubbish,or are playing silly games on Xbox, and have the attention span of a Gnat.
Such is the way of the World today.
TTG
Very disappointing result for the under 23’s at the w/end.
Lost at home to the Spuds 1 – 3 and blew our chance of going above Liverpool into 2nd place with a game in hand over 1st placed Leicester .
We were as usual missing the best players from that group,who were in the first team squad for the Watford game .
Next game is against Chelsea at London Colney which apparently is an Invitation only game. ??
How does that work.
Another memory of Alex.
https://imgur.com/B0heRux
Thanks for posting this ‘holic. Like Clive a tear in my eye reading that. Memories of a bygone age standing at the clock end. Never paid the extra 5 shillings to stand twixt clock end & East Lower – valuable beer money ( that would get you 3 pints !).
Another “Touch of Class” from The Arsenal ?
What a fantastic post.
Thanks Uply and the neighbour. It is something of a matter of pride that the club didn’t leave the memorial to the supporters. Let’s credit them for that. The Arsenal still are class.
Classy endeavour by classy supporters of a classy club to commemorate a classy guy. Well done Garythe gooner.
Yes indeed, ‘holic, the club deserves great credit for supporting the idea. Good to see Pat Rice again, and sad to note the stick even though he’s not that old (compared to some of us!).
Great read. Thanks Gary. Nice yet again to see that we still have that class that separates us from the rest.
Thoroughly enjoyable Read! Always want more of these historical accounts! Absolutely right about letting the younger generation being introduced to these sort of stories! Well done and thank you!
Thanks all for the kind comments much appreciated
Fabulous piece. Those of us of a certain age remember the Met police band parading. So proud the club, for all their current faults, can still do this kind of thing right.
Great post and lovely touch from the club.
great piece, pass the tissues. this mostly took place out of my knowledge because they didn’t ever show the singing or the band here on the television in the states. it still touches me, and makes me even more devoted to this club with such class, and care.
cheers, all.
I’m not a regular contributor but regular reader down here in S.Aust. Always interesting opinions. Very touching tribute to Alex Morgan who i well remember. I also recall the Met Band marching (surface permitting) and the mace bearer throwing the mace up to ribbing from the crowd. One day he did drop it…Also does anyone recall, prob 1959-60 a young bloke would come on to the ground and perform “goal-keeping” acrobatics in the goal? Nowadays of course, he would be swept up and probably banned for life.
Great article. It brought back so many memories from when I was a young lad and used to stand at the Clock End with my mate. Three shillings to get in and sixpence For a programme. We used to get in at about 12.30 to get a good spot at the front, eat our sandwiches, and Alex and the band would start playing songs from the shows from about 2.00pm until almost kick-off. Everybody loved it when at half time the band marched around the pitch and the mace was thrown up in front of the North Bank. Priceless memories. Wouldn’t it be great if they brought this whole ritual back at the Emirates. I’m sure everyone would love it.
.
Great read. Brought back the memories. As others said, when the club does it right, it does it with class.
Thanks, great article, I was on that whl pitch in 71 too, great memories, great club
I really enjoyed it.
An excellent read Gary. Good work by the ‘Friends of Alex’ group and the Arsenal. Classy.
H, very much enjoyed that.
Fantastic post. Thanks to all.
I’m touched and damn proud to be a Gooner.
Thanks Gary, memories of yesteryear came flooding back of the days when I stood at the front of the West Stand on the halfway line with a group of lads I had met at Filbert Street. Alex had a really good voice and we loved the police band. What a splendid idea to get the Club to remember him in such a classy way.
Gosh, those were the days when Jimmy Bloomfield was my favourite player and the train fare from Kings Lynn to London was £1-6p . After the game we all went over to the Supporters Club for a cup of Bovril to allow the tube queue to disperse and then one of the lads, Peter Hasler, would accompany me back to Liverpool Street.
In fact Gooner Malcolm took me to the Supporters Club pre. Ostersunds game, the first time I had been there in 58 years!
Bloomin’ marvellous piece !
Good to see the club is still moved to do this sort of thing.
JohnC,
Ah, the hurled mace !
We used to shout louder every week as the mace went up to try and make the bugger drop it ! ?
I knew you were always a hooligan, Trev! ?
Nice. Very nice. A lovely tribute. I remember Alex Morgan and the police band.
Saw Pat Rice at the Brighton game last week. Looked in good spirits, although, like most Gooners, he’ll be thoroughly disappointed at the way we have been playing, not just this season either.
A great pity that his playing days are over as we could do with dour and resilient defenders of his class.
But once this great club can find someone to lead us on the pitch, they don’t seem to make ’em like Tony Adams any more, we’ll be up there again, fighting on all fronts.
“stay out of the black
and into the red
nothing in this game
for two in a bed”
.
R.I.P.
Stephen Hawking
CBA@32,
I’m welling up as I read your heartfelt eulogy for the great man. As the professor himself would (probably) say (via voicebox) “super, smashing, great”.
dorset M ?
CBA@34,
I should have gone for the Hawking/ Bowen double, but I wasted my dosh on the racing instead. Drat.
?
A really moving tribute and very classy of Arsenal to commemorate someone who was not a club player.http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/heritage/the-story-of-constable-alex-morgan-arsenal-s-singing-policeman-1-5163139
My thirteen year old daughter walked out of school today with her classmates, and high schoolers and middle schoolers in many other places, in protest of school violence and inadequate gun control laws. Here’s a toast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_cQB_LQB8g
my teenage self walked out of various places
with other teenagers
guns pointed at our backs
.
i’ll write a point
at some point
gun point
perhaps
just not now
ooooh
bitta politics
And a bitta anti-politics, just for balance:
CHAMPAGNE MOMENT – ARSENAL LIFT THE CUP
FT: Arsenal 1-0 Man City
A moment to remember for this group of Arsenal players as they lift the 2018 Continental Tyres Cup.
Kim Little hoists the glittered, circular trophy aloft.
have some candy floss
ya gloomy cunt
?
Chelsea, Sp*rs and Manure all out in the same week. I’ll have a drink to that.
Them’s fightin’ words, cba. Good thing you were smiling when you said it. 😉
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