NEW Arsenal America BRANCH – Rhode Island
January 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment
A warm welcome to our newest Arsenal America supporters group . . . the Rhode Island Gooners!
The Rhode Island Gooners are led by Jonathan McCusker and meet up for matches at The Fastnet Pub, which is at 1 Broadway in Newport, RI. This is a great group with passion and spirit. If you are in the Newport area on match day, make sure to drop in and have a pint with the Rhode Island Gooners. Here is a quick note from Jonathan to all Rhode Island Arsenal Supporters:
We have just established the newest branch of Arsenal America and are looking for Arsenal supporters both young and old. We have a rabid following in the Ocean state. Please check out, and join my Facebook page for continual updates on all Arsenal news and RI supporter viewing parties. I have added my contact info below so please feel free to contact me at any time with questions etc you may have concerning our branch of Arsenal supporters. With your support, we will rival the bigger Arsenal America branches by next season! We still have this season to finish out, so join up and lets go Gunners!
rhodeisland@arsenalamerica.com
Hello from the Des Moines Area Gooners!
September 4, 2009 | 6 Comments
Greetings Arsenal Fans:
First of all, a big thank you to Josh, Dave and everyone else who help make this site possible.
My name is Eric Harlow and I am proud to be the Branch Manager of the newest Arsenal America branch : Des Moines Area Gooners. I fell deeply and hopelessly in love with The Arsenal about six years ago, much to the chagrin of my Man U and Lyon supporting family. I have yet to attend an Arsenal match, but am looking forward to a trip to London this spring.
Seeing as there is no place around Des Moines willing to regularly open early for matches, I spoke to the manager at the bar I was formerly employed at and she gave me the green light to come in early and open the bar for ALL Arsenal matches, regardless of time as well as giving us Happy Hour drink prices (Donuts/bagels and coffee will also be available, free of charge).
Therefore, Des Moines Area Gooners can watch The Arsenal at:
A.K. O’Connors West
3530 Westtown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa
More information can be obtained by emailing me at dmareagooners@gmail.com or by visiting our Facebook page here. This branch is still in the early stages, but with a little time and hopefully some word of mouth, this branch can really take off.
I look forward to hearing from all you Des Moines Area Gooners and until then, Come On You Gunners!!
Greetings from the Ann Arbor Branch!
August 27, 2009 | 3 Comments
Hello Gooner Nation,
I’ve been in contact with Arsenal America’s President, David Kilpatrick over the past few weeks, and it appears that an Ann Arbor, MI branch has been given a green light.
A little bit about how things got started:
I’m Brian Marentay, a freshman at U of M, who became an Arsenal fan after a trip to London a couple of years ago. Then when attending a Champions League Semi-Final match-viewing party last year, I was amazed at how many Arsenal fans there are are in Ann Arbor!
Thus it seemed a good idea to get an official branch started to keep the fan base organized – after all, the more people at a match-viewing party, the better!
Anybody located in the Ann Arbor area interested in helping manage the group can shoot me an E-mail or look for our group on Facebook.
Looking forward to hearing from all the Ann Arbor Gooners!
From Yesterday’s Match Day Programme!
April 5, 2009 | 6 Comments
As the San Francisco Branch Manager of Arsenal America, the effort I put into rallying the troops for those early morning match-viewings is truly a labour of love. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say, that I’m “well chuffed” to have some recognition!
And here’s a picture from yesterday’s match viewing. The lone Citeh fan is the pub’s owner. Pay no attention the Hammers supporter who jumped in at the last moment.
AA Jackson, MS Branch: Arsenal at the Crossroads
August 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
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.
The Real Gooners of Los Angeles County
August 19, 2008 | 4 Comments
Casey Duggan might be the newest of ArsenalAmerica Branch Managers, but he is certainly no less enthusiastic. Originally born in San Francisco, where he grew up skateboarding and somewhat oblivious to the beautiful game, he eventually moved south.
Luke had his Obi-Wan and Casey had his best friend Bergin, who badgered him with constant praise for The Arsenal. Eventually, Casey made it to the pub at 6:30AM to catch a match, where upon the Gunners dispatched Liverpool, 2-0.
Amidst the early morning pints, the upraised voices of the Arsenal faithful, the boos of the unhappy Scousers, Casey says, “I had never in my life experienced anything like it”.
The following week, with the 2-nil victory permanently etched in his memory, he found he was so excited; he couldn’t sleep, and arrived at the pub well before it opened. “I haven’t missed a match since”, he says proudly.
When Casey is not busy updating the L.A. Gooners Arsenal Supporters Club website, he and “a great group of loyal supporters” can be found at The Fox And Hounds Pub in Studio City, for every match. All true Gooners are encouraged to come on down and have a pint!
He laments not yet having made the pilgrimage to see Arsenal play in person but says one of the best things about being a Gooner is, “Even if we lose, we can hold our heads up high and know we played better football than the other teams. And we got Kevin Costner on our side”.
Casey counts a recent Arsenal memory amongst his favorite moments, as the Gunners played Bolton at the end of the season. He recalls, “We had not won a game in our last 6 and team morale was at a season low. Arsenal went down 2 nil in the first half, and Abou Diaby was sent off for a horrible 2-footed tackle. Things were not looking good. A ten Man Arsenal returned to the pitch in the second half. By now, it’s pouring rain at the Reebok. It was William Gallas who struck first for Arsenal in the 63rd, Then Robin van Persie in the 69th. Another draw looked imminent when None other than Cesc Fabregas Scored a heroic 90th minute dagger Saving the day. The players were exhausted and soaking wet but they never gave up”.
When not at the pub, Casey can often be found hanging with his cat, named The Bear, who watches all the matches at home, and is a particular fan of Theo Walcott.
Casey Duggan, Arsenal America Los Angeles Branch Manager
AA Chicago Branch: In The Loop About Arsenal
December 13, 2007 | 3 Comments
On a fateful afternoon in August of 1998, Matt Hornberger found himself in a central London pub watching the Charity Shield match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United.
Matt recalls, “The Manchester United fans were classless wankers, so I was hoping for an Arsenal win.” History tells us, Matt’s hopes were realized as The Gunners won 3-0.
Some time later, Matt crossed paths with Arsenal supporters from his local pub, and says, “I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Matt became the Chicago Branch Manager in 2005, but demurs, “In all honesty, our branch manager in spirit will always be Gary Winters. The man doesn’t miss a match and is always waiting with a pint in hand for both the new and old supporters.”
According to Matt, there is only “one legitimate Arsenal pub in Chicago”, The Globe Pub, currently a finalist for Best Soccer Bar.
The Globe Pub
1934 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 871-3757
Asked about the fans at The Globe, Matt replies, “There are supporters present for every single match that is televised. Larger crowds gather for the weekend matches and mid-week Champions League ties. Send me an e-mail and we’ll try to save you a spot.”
Thanks to Arsenal America, Matt was fortunate enough to see the final match at Highbury.
Matt recalls, “There are so many football moments that are wonderful – but my best memory is leaving something special on one of Highbury’s walls before the final match. I will never forget that day and am forever grateful to the friends that allowed me to share it with them.” Then without hesitation, he says, “My second favorite memory is the 25th of April, 2004.”
Like so many of his fellow Branch Managers, Matt reckons the best thing about supporting Arsenal, is “the other supporters I have met in Chicago, London and elsewhere.”
In a city of almost 3 million people, it’s nice to know you can still find a true Gooner!
Matt Hornberger
Chicago Branch Manager
chicago@arsenalamerica.com
AA Baltimore Branch: Charm City Gooners
November 29, 2007 | 14 Comments
If you love Arsenal, and are in Baltimore, come on down to The Abbey to 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.
Gooners in the Baltimore can be found at The Abbey . . . A R S E N A L . . . A R S E N A L . . . if you hear singing and chaning, come on in!
The Abbey Burger Bistro – Home of Arsenal in Baltimore
1041 Marshall Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
443-453-9698
Steve originally hails from Virginia, and has been an avid supporter of Arsenal since the glory days at Highbury. If you are in town and want to meet up, feel free to drop us a line at baltimore@arsenalamerica.com. See you at The Abbey!
AA Austin Branch: The Arsenal Aesthetic
November 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Deep in the heart of Texas, as the song goes, lies the cultural and political oasis that is Austin. Known as a hotbed of live music, art, and film, Austin also boasts a fervent group of Arsenal supporters, and at their core is Derron Podd.
Originally from Connecticut, Derron came to Austin in 2004, to attend the University of Texas. The Austin Branch Manager honors were bestowed upon him, during a visit to Chelsea Piers in New York City for Arsenal America’s Dennis Bergkamp testimonial match.
He credits his brother Sean, and his friend Sebastian, .“..for nurturing my dedication/obsession/love for all things Arsenal, while still in its infancy, but says, as a person both blessed and cursed with an astounding standard for aesthetics, there was no choice other than the Arsenal.”
Derron numbers amongst his favorite Arsenal memories, “stepping onto the Highbury pitch with my fellow Arsenal Americans just weeks before the demolition began, as well as, having a pint and a laugh with famed Gooner Johnny Rotten”, during his visit to Austin.
In one of those moments that speaks of an Arsenal supporter’s heart, Derron recounts traveling to Paris for the 2006 Champions League Final, “After multiple failed attempts to enter the Stade de France less than legally, I was able to negotiate in broken French to buy an unused ticket at half for 100 Euros (10x less than what the TWO scalpers outside that stadium were demanding before the match). Seeing my beloved Arsenal on the pitch for the first time as I ran to my seat was one of the greatest experiences anyone could ask for. Strangely, I don’t have the foggiest what happened after the 76th minute. Weird.”
When asked about Gooners in the Austin area, he proclaims, “The Austin Gooners are a proud family and want all to know. We now best the local Chelsea, United, and Liverpool fans in number, voice, and heart. Despite our large fan-base, we have not been maligned with the “casual fan syndrome” that seems to affect our esteemed rivals. We are there for every match – FSC or Setanta, Premiership, Champions League or Carling Cup.”
For anyone wondering where “there” might be, Derron says, “After the formation of an exploratory committee charged with reporting back on the potential benefits of a location switch, Austin Gooners have decided to stay put at the current home of football in Austin, Fadó Irish Pub. RECENTLY MOVED TO:
Cuatros
1004 24th St
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 243-6361
(Cuatros is located in the West Campus area at the corner of 24th and San Gabriel)
Gooners in and around Austin are encourage to contact Derron about match meet-ups. Of the local supporters, Derron is effusive in his praise, saying, “I’d really like to applaud all the Austin Gooners for their dedication. Check out our ramblings at www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/austingooners.”
In a city known for its appreciation of culture, individuality, and artistic expression, it is fitting that there is such a committed group of people that appreciate the beauty of the Gunners. As Derron puts it, “football is sport, Arsenal is Art.”
Derron Podd
Austin Branch Manager
austin@arsenalamerica.com
AA Atlanta Branch: The Real Thing!
November 15, 2007 | 5 Comments
With apologies to Atlanta’s most famous beverage, those with discerning taste know that things go better with Arsenal. Just ask Atlanta native Doug Goodwin.
Doug began following English football as a teenager in the mid-90′s where he became familiar with Arsenal, and lesser teams such as Newcastle and Manchester United. At the time, there was scant television coverage of the Premiership, so Doug relied on a Sunday evening highlight show to quench his thirst. In 2003/2004, drinking in a flavorful mix of Arsenal matches on satellite TV and those fashionable red & white kits, Doug knew there was no beating the real thing!
Doug traveled in 2005 to see Arsenal vs. Blackburn Rovers and a Carling Cup match
vs. Reading a few nights later. When reminiscing about those nights at Highbury, Doug calls them, two of the best nights of my life! Already active on the BigSoccer site, Doug got the call to be Atlanta Branch Manager when his predecessor moved out of state.
Ask Doug about being an Arsenal supporter, and he is emphatic in his response, We love a team that has a rich, interesting and sometimes controversial history and remains relevant in the football world. When I’m out and about, wearing a shirt or jacket with an Arsenal crest and see someone else wearing one, you can acknowledge one another’s class and taste!
When asked where Gooners in the Atlanta area can catch the matches, Doug mentions at The Brewhouse Café in Little 5 Points, or Fadó Irish Pub in Buckhead as the most likely venues. Note: Fadó is currently in a temporary location and will be moving to its new home in January.
Brewhouse Cafe
401 Moreland Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404) 525-7799
Fadó Irish Pub Atlanta
3035 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone (404) 841-0066
According to Doug, when organized meet-ups do occur, it’s usually for big matches vs. Scum, ManUre, Chel$ki, Liverpool and Champions League action.
Doug implores Atlanta Gooners, SPEAK UP! Let me know you’re a supporter and if you’re interested in getting together for match viewings.
Last but not least Doug says, I love the Arsenal and am red & white til I die!
Doug Goodwin
Atlanta Branch Manager
atlanta@arsenalamerica.com
Log In
Recent Posts
Arsenal on TV in the US
Arsenal USA
- Create the new Junior Gunner Birthday Card September 6, 2010Your chance to win tickets for Man Utd game at Emirates Stadium […]
- Loan Watch: Freeman and Botelho suffer defeat September 6, 2010Yeovil concede four and Cartagena lose at home over the weekend […]
- Koscielny - I'm getting stronger by the week September 6, 2010TV Online: Defender on his first two months with Arsenal […]
- International Watch: Eboue on the scoresheet September 5, 2010Ivorians win but Chamakh's Morocco draw and Vela's Mexico lose […]
- Under-18s: Arsenal 2-2 Reading - Report September 4, 2010Gunners come from two goals down to earn Academy League point […]
- Watch our Friday Night shows 'on demand' September 3, 2010Catch up with Arsenal Live, Spotlight and the Fans' Forum […]
- Arsenal fans wanted for exciting new book September 3, 2010Gunners fans are invited to contribute to 'Arsenal 'Til I Die' […]
- Oxford City Ladies 0-7 Arsenal Ladies XI September 3, 2010Ladies XI get ready for start of new Reserve season with victory […]
- Cruise - Why a loan move appeals to me September 3, 2010'I'd like play in midfield where you see a lot of the ball' […]
- The week that was September 3, 2010A weekly look at the events that defined Arsenal […]
