Feb 23
As a very young Gooner I can remember seeing 2 of the greatest players Sir Stan Mattews & the recently departed John Charles. They stuck fear in my heart when they played the GUNNERS. Over their careers neither were cautioned (YELLOW CARDED). I don’t remember back then seeing too many players sent off. Back then in the 50s the players took care of dirty players. I am proud to say until I left in 1959 I cannot recall any ARSENAL earning a reputation for being dirty or a diver.
3 Responses to “Great Sportsmen”
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February 23rd, 2004 at 12:38 pm
Times have certainly changed, but I don’t think the tackles are that different from in the past. In the 90s some referees took a look at the Leeds v Chelsea FA Cup Final replay from 1970 using the rules of the day and concluded that both teams would have finished the match with 8 players each. If they tried the same experiment today it would probably be less.
Also, I don’t believe there is a significant increase in the number of dodgy decisions. It’s just that TV pick up and evaluate more.
Alan Smith was only booked once in his entire career with Leicester and Arsenal at that certainly was a bad refeering decision. As the ref reached for the yellow card. smudger said “I’m Alan Smith, I don’t get booked”. Unlike his namesake at Leeds.
February 23rd, 2004 at 5:25 pm
Like ronnierooke, I have been a supporter since. 1946. My first game was at Spurs seeing Arsenal lose to Charlton 2-1 because Arsenal’s ground was bombed. My first full season was 1948 when they won the championship with Rooke, Mercer, Logie, Compton, Swindon, etc. I watched them until I came to Canada in 1968.
However, today’s Arsenal are the best that I have ever seen because I suffered through the 50’s and 60’s when Arsenal were crap and Spurs were winning everything. What a turnaround!
I live in Mississauga ON just outside Toronto. If anyone lives near me, please contact but remember I’m 67 going on 68 and you might find me to be an old fart!
February 23rd, 2004 at 6:52 pm
I have also been an Arsenal surporter all my life. Growing up in Woodford Essex all my friends were all little Jimmy Greaves’s. I could walk to West Ham or Leyton Orient if I wanted a 90-minute walk each way. But no, I had to support a team that had it’s last honours when I was 2 and nothing until the Fairs cup 2 years after I moved overseas.
As far as cautions — let us not forget the great offenders Ian Ure of Arsenal, Dennis Law Man U and the whole Leeds team of the 60’s with special honours to Billy Bremner and Jackie Charlton.
The long term fans know the agony of defeat in the league cup final to Swindon and Leeds (it was a real cup back then).
To get back to the point, I don’t think all the shirt pulling would have been allowed in the 50’s & 60’s and the offenses get worse from there.
It is a different time now and the game has changed, but I am lucky enough to be able to watch on Fox (bless Rupert Murdoch) the best Arsenal team ever, playing the most beautiful football ever. I don’t understand how anyone can support anyone else!