Arsenal really is a massive club with supporters everywhere, and we got direct evidence of this fact with the way the Southeast Michigan Arsenal America (SMAA) chapter started. Two individuals, Trevor McManamon and Shareef Amer, independently and concurrently noticed that Arsenal supporters in this area needed a way to gather for matches and each tried to start the local branch. After finding out about each other’s efforts, they decided to team up to make SMAA a special group for fellow Gooners.

In the same way that Trevor and Shareef met through their love of Arsenal, SMAA can allow similar opportunities for others. Whether you are a student at one of the local universities or a professional out in the West suburbs, whether you’re a diehard Arsenal fan or just new to the game, you should come and meet new people who are all out to support Arsene Wenger’s red and white army. 

Just don’t bring any of your Tottenham friends.

You can find the Southeast Michigan Gooners at:
Connor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub and Restaurant
318 S. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 665-2968
http://www.conoroneills.com/

Follow them at:
 https://twitter.com/SMGooners
And on Facebook:
 https://www.facebook.com/groups/272423332868119/

Branch Managers:
Shareef Amer
Trevor McManamon
smgooners@gmail.com

If you love Arsenal, and are in Baltimore, come on down to The Abbey Burger Bistro experience The Charm City Gooners.  We meet up every week to see our beloved Arsenal.  From pints to pitches, we talk and debate it all.The Charm City Gooners in Baltimore area can be found at The Abbey Burger Bistro.  They will be the ones singing and cheering for our beloved Gunners!  ARSENAL!  ARSENAL!  ARSENAL!
The Abbey Burger Bistro
1041 Marshall Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
443-453-9698
If you are in town and want to meet up, feel free to drop us a line at baltimore@arsenalamerica.com.  You can follow them on Facebook or Twitter.  See you at The Abbey!

Boston – boston@arsenalamerica.com
Boston-area Arsenal supporters catch matches at The Lir in Boston. For more info on catching matches in Boston contact the Boston Gooners at boston@arsenalamerica.com.
The Lir
903 Boylston ST.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 778-0089

Charsenal Branch Manager Travis Poole got his first taste of Arsenal in 2002. He always loved soccer and began to follow the EPL while in high school. Looking for a team to support and knowing right off, it wouldn’t be Man U or Chelsea, Arsenal grabbed his attention.  Their one touch passing, attacking football was very easy on the eyes.One of Travis’s favorite Arsenal moments was watching the ball curl into the net after it left Arshavin’s boot defeating Barcelona in the Champions League.  The sheer
excitement from all the Arsenal supporters will never be forgotten.After attending a match at the Grove and experiencing the overwhelming feeling of belonging Travis had the idea to start a local supporters group. Charsenal was the answer. Charsenal seeks to unite supporters in the Charleston area so that Gooners cancollectively view matches, talk strategy, and laugh at Spurs. Together we’ll live, breathe, and dream everything Arsenal. The Future Is Bright…The Future Is Red And White.Madra Rua http://madraruapub.com/1034 East Montague AvenueNorth Charleston, SC 294054917(843) 554-2522Branch Manager:Travis Poolecharleston@arsenalamerica.comFacebook: Charsenalhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Charsenal/217982858216574?sk=info

The Arsenal obsession started pretty much when Henry joined in 1999. Michael Petko followed him during the 1998 world cup after a buddy of his had a t-shirt with Henry’s name on it. At first he thought it was strange, a French national team jersey with that name on it! When Henry moved to Arsenal and Michael saw the style of football they played, it was over. So attractive to watch! They would make those passes that looked like they were to nobody, because even the camera man couldn’t keep track! Like all of us it was sad to see him go, but the obsession with the team had already taken over.Michael had been thinking of the idea of starting a supporters group for a while. It was only just recently when he just decided to give it a go! He had been on soccer forums for years and knew there were supporters here, but it never occurred to him to try and organize them. He also know about 5 or 6 Gooners just through the Sunday league that he plays in. Michael knew Arsenal America was the only way to go, as Arsenal America had helped out when he and his dad went to their first match at the Emirates in 2007. He’s hoping the Charlotte chapter gets to the level as some of the other big chapters! If not, they’ll have fun regardless!
Michael Petko,
charlotte@arsenalamerica.com

Big Ben British Pub & Restaurant,

http://www.bigbenpub.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Queen-City-Gooners/245044975517267

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/QueenCityGooner

Website: queencitygooners.weebly.com

Begining at the start of 2002/03 season a couple of Gooners name Steve and Chris started meeting up at Trinity Hall to watch matches. It started out small with less then 5 people for the smaller games. As the word started getting around about the attendance grew. Big matches have drawn 40+ Gooners recently and today is still the go to place to meet up with fellow Gooners. If the match is on TV a group of Arsenal supporters will be there.The Londoner14930 Midway RdAddison, TX 75001Dallas – Steve Rossen – dallas@arsenalamerica.com

The Central Pennsylvania (CEPA) Gooners were founded in early 2011 when a group of Arsenal supporters from the area wanted to watch matches together.  Since then, the CEPA Gooners have grown, found a home base bar and had many a good debate over good beer.  Whether you live in the area or just find yourself passing through all are welcome to join us in watching the Arsenal.

 

If you’re in the Harrisburg area, come join us at MoMo’s BBQ and Grill at 307 Market Street, Harrisburg on match days (www.momosbbqandgrill.com).  For more event details and some epic banter, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CEPAGooners.

 

Kristen Ortiz

CEPAGooners@gmail.com

The lack of football-friendly pubs in Jackson, Mississippi has not given Frank Garrison the blues. The Atlanta native settled in Jackson about 8 years ago, and when the idea of Branch Offices was floated around, he eagerly volunteered for duty.Frank first caught sight of Arsenal watching the Fox Sports highlight shows in the mid-late 1990′s. In the spring of 1998, He made it to Highbury where an FA Cup tie was taking place. Unable to get inside for the match, he was still in awe of the stadium, the neighborhood, the supporters and the atmosphere.The romance continued as Frank watched Arsenal players help France win the World Cup that very same year. He also says, “It helped that the name, Arsenal, did not include a specific geographic reference, so it was easier for me to feel an alliegance to a club that did not have a place name in its title”. By the time he made it over for his first match, the love affair was complete.After his initial trip in 2003, he went back again in December/January 2005/2006 to see the Gunners against West Brom and Villareal. More recently, in November 2007, Frank saw Arsenal and ManUre play to a 2-2 draw, as well as an away match versus Slavia Prague.His favorite memory is the Champions League Semi-Final match in 2005 at Highbury. He recalls, “Final night match at Highbury, only European Semi at Highbury, and I was there. 1-0. Magical.”Frank is also an Ole Miss season ticket holder and says “Supporting Arsenal is the closest thing I’ve found to (and in many ways, it surpasses) the fervor, the passion and the dedication of SEC football here in the USA. The devotion is absolute. I have to respect that”.“Aside from the fantastic football”, Frank continues, “my experience, while certainly not extensive, has been that Arsenal supporters are the friendliest, most open supporters there are if you know what you’re talking about, football-wise anyway, and I usually do (I think)”.The lack of football-friendly pubs, means match meet-ups in Jackson, are highly irregular. When they do happen, they’re usually at Frank’s place.ArsenalAmerica Jackson, MS Branch Manager, Frank Garrison “with” Lauren.Frank Garrison – jackson@arsenalamerica.com

True story…Jacksonville Gooner Adam Guillette was 10 years old when his father brought home two footballs.  One was an Arsenal ball, the other?  Spurs.  He chose wisely.  Ask him…Fast forward a few years and many conversations and Adam realized that there were OTHER Gooners out there, so why not get together and cheer on the club together? “Arsenal plays the most attractive football in the world, and we have an obligation to share this beauty with as many people as possible.” Well put Adam!Come visit Adam and the rest of the Jacksonville Gooners…
Culhane’s Irish Pub
967 Atlantic Boulevard
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Jacksonvillegooners.com
Branch Manager: Adam Guillettejacksonville@arsenalamerica.com

The renowned college town of Madison, WI, has quickly become a multinational melting pot. With that comes football supporters of every club, and thankfully there’s a group of level-headed individuals who have latched on quite correctly to the red-and-white kings of north London. Madison’s Arsenal Supporters Club branch manager Andrew Schmidt has been a supporter since seeing the 2002 France World Cup squad quickly exit the tournament but not before glimpsing the brilliant combination of Henry, Wiltord, and Vieira. Only Arsene Wenger could bring them all to the same club, and not two years later we’d see them go on to Invincibles glory. And the boys from the Arsenal knocked one down!

Join our social media groups to stay “in the know”.

ASC Madison Facebook Group
ASC Madison Facebook Page
ASC Madison Twitter
ascmadison.com

The Madison supporters can be found on match day at the Claddagh Irish Pub in Middleton; a stone’s throw from Madison’s west side in Greenway Station. It’s a small midwest chain and the local management have been nothing but good to us. There are other club supporters who gather here and the atmosphere is superb (that’s not to mention the pints are extra cold and the food’s not shabby either.) Join us singing, shouting and cursing our way through the season; trying to understand Chamakh’s haircut and positing the possibly unanswerable question: “What is the Europa League and why do they let pub teams like Sp*rs play in it?”
1611 Aspen Commons
Middleton, WI 53562

(608) 833-5070

The Memphis Gooners were incorporated in 2009 after several members decided it was time to move from the living room to the local pub.  Branch manager Chris Lareau has been a fan since 1999 and enjoys the Gunners attacking football.  Recently, Chris has fond memories of Andre Arshavin’s four goals against Liverpool and the Champions League first leg victory over Barcelona.Branch co-manager Dayton O’Brien, who played professionally in the MLS, recently made the pilgrimage to the Emirates for an Everton game.  Dayton and his fiance enjoyed the famous Tollington Pub for a few pints before heading to the stadium.  Dayton remembers the Gunners being down one nil and then Wenger brought on Arshavin who scored the equalizer followed by a Koscielny header for the victory.  Pure class.The Memphis Gooners are about 25 strong for the big matches and love meeting new fans.  Please join us at the Celtic Crossing in Midtown Memphis.  If the Gunners are playing, weekday or weekend, the match will be on at the Celtic and the Memphis Gooners will be cheering the boys to victory.

The Brass Door
152 Madison Ave., downtown,
Memphis, TN, 901-572-1813
thebrassdoor.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brass-Door/237456846287102

Branch Managers:
Chris Lareau

Dayton O’Brien

memphis@arsenalamerica.com

Facebook: Memphis Gooners http://www.facebook.com/pages/Memphis-Gooners/186690488034955?ref=ts

Christy’s Irish Pub

261 Orange Street

New Haven CT 06511

 

Teague Dwyer

newhavengooners@yahoo.com

If you are heading to the Big Apple any time soon, make sure to stop by The Blind Pig and say hello to the New York City Arsenal Supporters Club.  With over 400 active supporters, the NYC Arsenal Supporters Club is one of the largest Arsenal America branches in the country.  Ooh to be a Gooner!  Kurtis Powers is the Branch Manager, and has been a Gooner for years.  If you are looking to meet up with this branch, or simply have questions about the group, please feel free to email Kurtis at nyc@arsenalamerica.com.WHERE TO WATCH:
The Blind Pig
233 E 14th St.
New York, NY 10003The NYC Arsenal Supporters can also be found on Facebook.  Make sure to check them out!nyc@arsenalamerica.com

Calling all Orange County Gooners!  If you have been looking for your Arsenal home in sunny Orange County California, look no further than the OC Gooners.  Founded by Nick Solano, the OC Gooners have been growing quickly, and are always looking for more Arsenal supporters to sing and cheer with.  Make sure you stop in The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant and meet Nick and the crew.  You won’t regret it!
The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant
1120 West 17th St.
Santa Ana, CA 92706
714-550-6700
http://www.theoldeship.com/index.html

Here is a little bit of background on Nick and the OC Gooners:

How long have you been an Arsenal America member?
“I didn’t find out about them till around 2006 and immediately joined. They’ve been a great resource for American Gooners! They’ve also grown quite a bit over the years and it’s great to see such a solid supporters group here in the states. Some supporters of bigger clubs are not as fortunate as we are.”
How did you become a Gooner?
“It’s quite interesting I would have to say. I remember playing the old FIFA games on Super Nintendo and SEGA Genesis’ back in the mid 1990′s. I was in my early teens at the time and didn’t really know much about the international level of the sport but the game featured several Premier League clubs and Arsenal was one of them. I loved the name and the colors and always picked them. As the years went by (and I continued playing the games), I became more and more familiar with the players and what the Premier League was all about and it’s structure. Eventually we got the Internet in my home, which then made it easier for me to learn the true history of the club and the league. As digital cable television also took off, you saw networks like Fox Sports World start airing Premier League matches here in the states.  Eventually the EPL became what is it today and I was able to watch pretty much every match through the seasons. So really, from my teenage years I was introduced to the club in a very 90′s way but over those 15 or so years that passion grew into what it is today, and that’s a Gooner till I die!”
Favorite Gunner?
“This is always a tough question but I’d have to go with Dennis Bergkamp. He was full of class and a top shelf player. You never heard about his wild nights out in the town, or how much he would love to play for another club, or any of that nonsense. He was also the last player for us to get a Testimonial and those are always very special, not only for the player but for the supporters. He’s one of those players that any club would have been proud to have represented them. Hopefully he returns to the club to coach or manage one day.”
What inspired you to start OC Gooners?
“It’s something I had been thinking about doing for a few years. I knew Arsenal America had an LA branch but contrary to what many believe, LA is not just a drive across the road from Orange County, it can take an hour for most people (add an extra hour to those early west coast kick offs!).  We really wanted and needed starting something closer to home. We then met a lot of local Gooners at the Champions League Trophy Tour that came through Orange County in 2009 and thought “We have to get something going down here”. So over the last 6 months or so, I started doing some research and we’ve now got the branch up and running. I do want to thank Daniel Zarate and Keith Hall, it would not have been possible without their help. It is still a brand new branch but we are extremely excited to get things going and we look forward to cheering on the Arsenal with all of our fellow OC Gooners!”
Feel free to drop Nick an e-mail at orangecounty@arsenalamerica.com if you are looking for directions, or if you just want to discuss all things Arsenal.  Don’t forget to join the OC Facebook page.  See you at The Ship!

Fado Irish Pub
1500 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-893-9700
Georgesedgwick@comcast.net (branch manager)

When thinking of Philadelphia fans, most people would associate us with the Eagles, Phillies, or Flyers. This is true in some ways, but the truly passionate fans are the Arsenal supporters, better known as the Philly Gooners.

With the backing of England’s most creative team, we have a reason to look forward to every match day. After starting out as a tiny group of Arsenal supporters who happened to run into each other in 2002, we are now over 250 members strong! Thanks to Mike Kavanagh, the original branch manager, and George Sedgwick, our current fearless manager, Philadelphia has become a great place to be an Arsenal fan.

The Philly Gooners headquarters is at Fado, where we regularly outnumber and outclass the opposition.

Recently, we have been able to create home and away shirts, and we’ve planned road trips to Baltimore and NYC. Our members are very dedicated to supporting Arsenal. All of them have been nothing but great in support of the club as well as for one another. Our Facebook page is constantly buzzing with news that relates to the club or even a funny video about our competitors. It is fun to watch and be part of the heated debates on the page, but at the end of the day, we all support the same great club. So, join us on Facebook, on Twitter, or better yet, in person!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/phillygooners/

Twitter: Philly Gooners@ArsenalPhilly

It was the summer of 2004, Fox Soccer World was showing replays of the previous EPL season and a team with slick passing and scoring goals easily became my team, the Arsenal. From the moment on, I have religiously followed Arsenal. It is a passion not only for the way they play the beautiful game, but also because of its history and the supporters that engross their lives in the club each season. I love being an Arsenal Supporter and it is my club for life!!.

I started the local branch at the beginning of the 2011/12 season because of my love for Arsenal. We have our own Facebook Page: Arsenal FC Supporters of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh sports fans are passionate about the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, and now our Gunners. We are a small, but growing group that meet on match day at

Piper’s Pub
1828 East Carson St.
Pittsburgh PA 15203

http://piperspub.com/

Branch Manager:
Daniel Speegle
statman25@gmail.com

KYCK.com:
http://kyck.com/#/TriangleGooners

Richmond, VA

The San Francisco Branch AKA the Bay Area Gooners meet regularly for match-viewings at Maggie McGarry’s Irish Pub in the city’s historic North Beach neighborhood.  We currently have over 400 members who are kept apprised of upcoming events via the Bay Area Gooners mailing list, as well as our Facebook Page or our Twitter feed.  The San Francisco Branch Manager is Mark Barbeau, you can contact him at sanfrancisco@arsenalamerica.com.

Welcome to the Southern Arizona Armoury.  Two seasons ago, founder Malena Barajas, started watching EPL matches with friends, but she did not choose a team. It was after Barcelona eliminated Arsenal in 2010’s  Champions League quarterfinal, that she became a supporter.  The pain of the losses and the elation of victory, were felt so deep, she figured that had to mean that in her soul she was a Gooner. At the beginning of the current season she even changed my license plate to RSNLFC. She lives her life the Arsenal way: Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory Through Harmony.Malena wanted to start an Arsenal America branch because she knew there had to be more Arsenal supporters in the Tucson area and to spread the word to those who may not be aware.  She also is passionate about developing soccer here in the USA. That development, of course, begins with organizing fans.  The Southern Arizona Armoury is a perfect venue to nurture love for the Arsenal and love for the game.Morning Matches
Sam Hughes’ Place Championship Dining
446 North Campbell #150
Tucson, AZ 85719
520.747.5223Lunch-time Matches
Frog & Firkin
874 East University Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85719
520.623.7507Branch Head: Malena Barajas tuscon@arsenalamerica.com
Facebook Group: Southern Arizona Armoury
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Arizona-Armoury/167496933304812Twitter: @soazarmoury