I haven’t been going to Highbury since I was a little kid. My dad didn’t take me to the stadium when I was five. I can’t possibly say the stadium meant as much to me as it did to somebody who lived down the road from it.
But I do appreciate history. I respect tradition. Highbury is not just a stadium, it’s a landmark and it is just important in the history of the club as Norris, Chapman, Hapgood, Drake, Brady, Mee, Adams, Rocastle, Bergkamp, Wright, George, Thomas, Bergkamp, Henry and all the other great players who called the marble halls their home.
Highbury is class, just like the club that called it home for so many years. Yes, it is time for the Arsenal to move to a new stadium. It makes sense to do so, but respect should be paid to that fantastic place.
I was lucky enough to see a game there this year. I took my seven year old son. Mostly he played with his friend, he didn’t pay that much attention to the match. But 10 years from now, he and I will both think back to that March day in 2006 when we saw the Arsenal play and it will be special because we’ll know that we can never have that exact experience again.
I was also lucky enough to get a tour from Jill Smith last summer. I know a little something about stadiums. I worked for the Yankees and spent an entire season at Yankee Stadium. I’ve been to my fair share of stadium, from the U.S. to Holland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Belgium. Walking into Highbury gave me the same type of feeling as walking into Fenway Park, or the Bernabeu or the San Siro. No, they don’t all look the same, but as you step into the bowl you get that, ‘important things happen here’ feeling.
The Emirates Stadium is going to be a phenomenal venue, with every conceivable convenience. But it’s going to have to work mighty hard to match the magic, the mystique and the pure class of Highbury.
52 Responses to “Farewell Highbury”
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May 7th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Wait till 1pm Rick. Farewell you must be joking it feels like get well soon if you heard the breaking news.
Spurz players down with food poison..Sorry but this will killed us off if this Spurz game don’t go on..
May 7th, 2006 at 8:32 am
Game is going ahead. I wonder how many of their players will make a miraculous recovery?
May 7th, 2006 at 8:37 am
The poisoning has probably managed to evade the Carrick’s and Keane’s and fallen on superstars such as Lee Barnard and Paul Stalteri.
I dread to see Jol’s fat head if they finish fourth.
May 7th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Well what does Jol expect will happen to his players if he keeps feeding them squirrels?
I can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like at Highbury. I have been thinking since last night about what the stadium means and how people who live around the stadium would feel come Monday morning. Each stadium grows to mean so much for its fans and over the years Highbury really has been precious.
If you look at the tactics and innovations introduced by Herbert Chapman, to the current team’s brand of football, Highury truly is The Home of Football!!! So many great players, mananagers and graced this great stadium over the decades. And generations of fans have grown around following this team, be it in North London or on the other side of the planet.
I am thanksful for having been to Highbury twice, on one occasion I didn’t have tickets so I watched the excitment build up around the stadium 4 hours in advance. On the other occassion, I skipped the pregames build up and saw 2 games inside the stadium. I am thankful for my share of memories of this historic landmark!
45 minutes till kick-off:
Right now, the stand is probably full and the singing would be heard all around. People might be buying their programmes and other memorabilia, parents and their kids heading towards the stands, others gulping lager or munching balti chicken pies, chips, crisps….smells, noises and sights.
Historic day, indeed!
May 7th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Strangley the poisoning managed to avoid every one of the first team players they had available (staltieri was injured anyway), it even seems to have helped Robbie Keane recover from his 10% of playing injury…you have to hand it to Totteringham, they have taken gamesmanship to a whole new level this season.
FACKING CHEATS.
May 7th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Un-fecking-believable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1-0 to WEST HAM!
1-0 to ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 10:18 am
No sooner was I relieved with the score-line, it is 1-1. Still hanging in….
May 7th, 2006 at 10:47 am
Now that Robin van Persie is getting the respect he deserves i expect him to roast Wigan Atheltic today. It’s all in our hands now, Tottenham have to score 2 goals to beat West Ham who are winning 1-0 a Upton Park. While we are 1-1 with Wigan at the moment which means we are level on points with Spurs but are way ahead on goal difference. Now it is time for van Persie to step up to the plate an mesmerise Wigan like he did to them at the JJB stadium and the Carling Cup with that free-kick! I expect RVP to score a couple of goals today and save our season. Then in a fortnights time it’s Barcelona in Paris, COME ON “THE COBRA”
May 7th, 2006 at 10:53 am
Half-time: 2-2 for Arsenal and 1-1 for Spurs.
We should win first before we look to the Spurs result.
Poor Lehmann, he must be having recurring nightmares of Quedrue’s goal last year.
Jason Roberts is giving Campbell a torrid time.
Arsenal are looking extremely shaky on set plays.
But we are also looking good on attack. Let’s hope for some goals in the second half and a clean sheet.
Let’s also hope West Ham can hold on.
May 7th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Well, we’re leaving it very interesting at home versus Wigan! 2-2 at the half…
Can’t start the party until we put this team away.
I’d like to think we’ll get the next 2 goals and win it 4-2… Bear down, at the half… and finish up strong.
Over at West Ham… anything could happen in the 2nd half. If they go down a goal, I think they lose or draw… if they score the next one, West Ham will bring in their replacements and roll over. (if they aren’t thinking about that anyway)
Why do we have to rely on f-ing Sherringham?
I could see him missing a gaping empty net ON PURPOSE… just to screw us.
One Half TO GO in our last match at Highbury. All to play for here and in East London at Upton Park.
Fingers and toes crossed everybody?
May 7th, 2006 at 11:06 am
actually I expected that @$%% to score an own goal (from a corner especially) to help his ex-team.
Nerve racking. Here goes……
May 7th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Yup, there U go…
just like I said.
Sherringham MISSES a penalty.
Why let him even take it.
May 7th, 2006 at 11:19 am
totally agree mate. on the radio, they keep saying ‘Sheringham is having a very poor game - not like him’…just watch as he lets his runner go from corners as well.
May 7th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Rubbish! I thought we have sorted out this set-pieces crap! Sol Campbel is all over the place! And Jose Antonio Reyes is just rubbish! There is no organisation at the back and worse of all Robin van Persie is on the bench again! After his last two breath taken performances against Sunderland and Man City he loses his place to Jose Antonio Reyes out of all people. So Adebayor is injured insted he put van Persie to start he put Reyes a man that can’t score double figures to save his bloody life. Imagine if both Reyes and Adebayor were injured i bet Arsene Wenger would put Arturo Lupoli to start insted of van Persie! Wenger is making me sick by doing this to RVP. I don’t care how natually talented Reyes is he is or that he cost ?16 million from Seville, he is just **AYE CARUMBA**(censored). Yes he scored a double against City a couple of days ago but this guy only scores frequently when the weather is hot enough.
Things look like it will all go pear shaped for West Ham sooner or later if they just rely on Teddy Sheringham all the time. As it stands Tottenham are a point ahead of us, lets just hope West Ham hang on at 1-1 and we beat Wigan 4-2 or 5-2 or something.
Bring in Robin van Persie, so he can change things for the better. Henry can’t work with Reyes, we all know the history of theses two not getting along and that will cost us 4th place for sure.
May 7th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Henry hat-trick!!!!
Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Up the Arse!
Keep the Faith
Kiss the Crest!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
I’m forever blowing bubbles….
May 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
Sherringham off for Harewood…
thank god.
Henry with a hat trick, we’ve done our part.
What better way to close Highbury than an Henry 3 spot?
Get BERGY ON THE PITCH!
Come on WEST HAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
2-1 West Ham! Benayoun
BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!
Highbury must be going CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-1 Hammers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:44 am
YEEEESSSS…thank you benayoun….
May 7th, 2006 at 11:45 am
You should’ve heard the roar on the net radio broadcast, Stag.
Bergy was coming on at the same time & Highbury erupts & Winterburn doing part of the broadcast starts laughing & saying “Bergkamp’s a massive legend but even he doesn’t get a reception like, West Ham must’ve scored!”
May 7th, 2006 at 11:46 am
What atmosphere…Thanks Hammers…Let’s get mental!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:48 am
ARSENAL…ARSENAL FC…(continue)…
May 7th, 2006 at 11:56 am
FOURTH IS OURS!!!
Thank you, Mr. Wenger! Thank you, Henry! Thank you, Bergy!
BRING ON BARCA!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:56 am
Easy!
May 7th, 2006 at 11:56 am
Now that is Magic.
May 7th, 2006 at 11:57 am
YES! YES! MAN I’M A KID ALL OVER AGAIN!
Arsenal 4-2 Wigan
West Ham 2-1 Spurs
IT’S OURS! IT’S OURS! Love Pardew for this once.
May 7th, 2006 at 11:58 am
Hahahahahahahahahahaha!
Take that you cheating c*nts!
I’ve got tears in my eyes. It could never have been more exciting and beautiful.
Up the Arse
Kiss the Crest
Keep the Faith!!!!!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
WOW. Bloody Amazing. What an ending!!!!!!!
Ha ha. Even with all their unsporting behavior and help from former players, Spurs still can’t make it. Hilarious.
But for Arsenal, what a fitting end to Highbury. Thierry is the MAN
May 7th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Sorry, too excited to get anything right at the moment.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I don’t know if they are still showing things in the US cos I remember alot of times they would cut the feed but if they are not then just to let you know the Arsenal players are bouncing up and down singing ‘are you watching Tottenham’ and wrighty is going mental.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Spurssssss… CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?! YOU ARE HAVING A LAUGH!
You can CHEAT, but you CAN’T WIN!
As danny said, you BOTTLED IT!!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Serves Spurs right for trying to do that South Americanesque match moving garbage. EAT IT, SPURS!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Spurs got what they deserved. Maybe they can sign Sheringham to play in the UEFA Cup.
I would like to commend Wigan for being worthy opponents for the final game at Highbury.
Highbury and Bergkamp will be gone but NEVER FORGOTTEN.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
Hell yes! EAT IT, SPURS! Trying to do that match moving garbage! Didn’t work for Chile in 90 WC qualifying either!
There should be an inquiry looked into that garbage… but in the mean time…
Can I be a North Londoner for the day?
May 7th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
The saying is true then. The Squirrel has had more Champs League experience than Spurs!!!!! And even though Spurs may have deep fried that squirrel and had it for supper, they still can’t make it to the big tournament. And running off and crying food poisoning is no excuse. There are 38 league games in the season. And Arsenal have the class to see the entire race our, fair and square!!!!!!! No cheating goals…..
A well deserved rest and then May 17th…A dream final awaits…
‘We are going to Paris’
May 7th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
HA HA HA! Spuds choked at final hurdle! Or was it the food poisoning?! LOL! Hmm. Last hattrick at Highbury - Thierry Henry. Last goal scored at Highbury - Thierry Henry. Definitely a nice ring to it. Now onto Paris!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
TH is pissed off in the interview with sky saying to tottenham that you don’t sing after thegame that they won against bolton but you wait until the end of the league. He also said that “WE have to go through the qualifying stage next year”
May 7th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
hopefully not, if WE win in Paris we’re straight into the group stages
May 7th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Better pray hard RvP comes out of the racial abuse hearing against David Sommeil smelling like a rose. Bcos if he is found guilty, he may not have a future in Arsenal.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Told you they would bottle it, they were literally sh*tting themselves.
Wenger’s got the players through to the Ch League final. no injuries - they’ll be fully rested.
Mixed feelings about last day at Highbury, never been a big fan of the stadium personally. The results today were so important it overshadowed the last day at Highbury.
But as ever the class shone through!
I love you Arsenal.
May 7th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Even to those who have never been there, Highbury will always be a special place. Growing up following the Arsenal, Highbury was always there. I may have never seen it with my own eyes, but I’ll never forget the sights I saw. From Wrighty making his record, to the low camera angle, to the clock end. Those memories will stay with me forever. I have shared my joy with my wife and friends with Highbury as the backdrop and will save my DVDs to show my children as they grow up Gooners. We in Chicago have Wrigley. Boston has Fenway. New York has Yankee Stadium. There will only be one Highbury. So as I sit here watching the Farewell online, I look forward to visiting Emirates in the next couple of years and see the new development at the old stadium.
Cheers Highbury!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
WE… good sign he’s staying
May 7th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Sendoros appears to do a better job than Campbell in organizing against setpieces with Toure. If we defended like in the first half today against Barca, the CL final may be over by half-time. Has Sendoros recovered?
May 7th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Skill so nice they named him thrice…Wright Wright Wright…Are you watching are you watching are you watching cheating spurs?
May 7th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
If we win we are through to the group stages?
Can we confirm this?
May 7th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
that’s what they said on the bbc
May 7th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Karma is a **AYE CARUMBA**(censored)! “Play, Play” takes on a new meaning!
May 7th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
brilliant…seems they change the rules every year..fair though…come on you gunners…
May 7th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
100% affirmative. If we somehow neat Barcelona, though if fate is listening we have no chance, then we go into the group stages.
May 7th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I really don’t think he was ever going anywhere & especially after making the final, why would he jump ship to Barca now? We’ve proven we can get to the final (with a supposedly lesser team), so it makes no logical sense he would jump ship to Barca, if he did it were to be about the money & I think Henry’s prior record has shown it’s not about that with him.
But again, I honestly don’t think Henry was/is ever going anywhere.
Look at it logically- why go to Barca?
1. Chance to win an ECL? He’s got that here with Arsenal this year
2. Make more money? Don’t think it’s about that with Henry & I’m sure he lives pretty comfortably as his.
3. Why go to Barca where he’s just another in a group of superstars? At Arsenal, he’s the man. He’d be an absolute idiot to leave that & obviously, Henry is not an idiot.
4. Play in a warmer climate? He’s 29, not 49 & while you do feel each knock a little more with each year, he’s a world class athlete with world class medical care, I think he can survive a few more English winters, but that’s just me.
October 2nd, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I was born in Islington and my brother-in-law’s mum lived behind Highbury stadium so I’ve been a gooner since I can remember. I’ve seen the John Radford’s, Ian Ure’s, Frank McLintock’s and have loads of happy memories of going there. I moved to the U.S. in 2001 to get married and watch the boys as often as I can on Fox soccer channel. I went home for a visit in April 2006 and took some pictures of the old stadium before they pulled it down. I also got Dennis Bergkamp to sign a Arsenal jersey for me! - that will be framed and hung on the wall in a place of honour!! My wife’s ex stepson is a Man U (ugh)supporter and we have a standing bet of a chinese meal if either team wins, I’m two up so far! ha ha!
Are there any other Gooners in the Springfield, Illinois area, or am I the only one? (Except for a guy I met at the Illinois State fair, Trevor who’s from Chingford and who is also an Arsenal fan who now lives in Tremont, IL).