Lament for Highbury

February 1, 2009 | 2 Comments

“Mind the Gap” intoned that lovely English female voice on Tuesday afternoon as I entered into a multicultural congregation on the London Underground. The journey on the Piccadilly Line rumbles past stations at King’s Cross, Caledonian Road, Holloway Road, and then to Arsenal. I remembered how, Herbert Chapman, the very successful Arsenal manager from the 1930’s who proposed many innovations in football such as numbered uniforms and floodlights, had convinced the London Underground to change the name from Gillespie Road to Arsenal. Arsenal are (that is how the Brits say it) still the only team to have a Tube stop named for them. Walking up through the windswept tunnel, I emerged on Gillespie with not a clue where The Arsenal Stadium that everyone knows as Highbury might be. Heading east past Tudor cottages, many in need of significant repair, there was no sign of a 36,000 seat football ground. Then it appeared, no not the stadium, but the sign. It was tucked between two cottages, no wider than a two car garage, the sign leading to the home of legends and history. Arsenal and O2 Welcome you to Highbury-The Home of Football. Smaller signs direct to the North Bank Stand and announce the upcoming match, Arsenal versus Fulham, December 26, 2004. In the distance I could the lights and grandstands of the North Bank, where my tickets were for the upcoming Boxing Day clash were located. There was no getting in that day; the gate was locked.

Continuing down Gillespie I came to Avenell Road, and up the hill to my right what would my wondering eyes see but the signature Art Deco exterior of the East Stand. I walked in awe up past the heavy wooden doors that led to the famous marble halls with the bust of Herbert Chapman, past the football home of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. Stopping to take pictures I wished I had days to spend instead of a few short hours. My next stop was the Arsenal Shop. Despite the terrible exchange rate, my closet needed an Arsenal sweatshirt, polo shirt and two jerseys, one for my son who is also a Gunners fan. The stadium tours were sold out, so I had my own walk around outside the ground. It was south on Avenell Road to Aubert Park and then West to Highbury Hill and down the hill past the equally magnificent West Stand. If you ever see the movie Fever Pitch (the real one from England with Colin Firth about Arsenal, not the U. S. rip off about the Red Sox), you see this view as the father and the young son leave Highbury after his first match. The classic beauty combined with the light London fog to give an aura of unreality.

A stop at the Finsbury Park Arsenal shop allowed more additions to my customs declaration. Then there was the future to explore. Around the corner on Drayton Park at Ashburton Grove, the 60,000 seat Emirates Stadium was being constructed with private money, the approximate equivalent of $900,000,000 US. Our cities should take note. Although it was a short distance from Highbury, it was miles away in mystique. Finances had dictated that Arsenal move to keep up since there was no room to expand at Highbury.

Trying to find my way back to Highbury, I got lost in the early darkening December eve. The young lady I asked for directions ignored the Yank, but eventually the Arsenal Stadium loomed ahead. The Arsenal Shop said there were tours available the next day, but there was Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to see with my wife. Highbury had to wait until Boxing Day on Sunday. Then Gillespie Road filled with vendors, so an Invincibles (Arsenal had gone undefeated the previous season) T Shirt and Arsenal placemats joined the booty. Thierry Henry was quicker than you could possibly imagine, like the ultimate feline moving with amazing pace and athleticism. He took a ball into the left corner and cut back, leaving the Fulham defender on the ground as he snap shot the ball into the far inside netting past Edwin Van de Saar for one of the goals in Arsenal’s two-nil win. On the North Bank stands the seats were so close to the field that the fans joked with the Fulham player as he took a corner. In the end American Brian McBride did come on for Fulham but could do nothing to stop the Gunners. With thousands of my “closest friends” I squeezed down the breezy stairs to the Underground knowing I had witnessed a treasure soon to be lost.

Twice I have seen Arsenal play at The Emirates, and I have toured with Arsenal Legend Charlie George. It has become a lovely modern Stadium with the most beautiful pitch man could ever develop. The facilities for the players are magnificent. Highbury has become the Stadium at Highbury Square, a home to apartments and penthouses preserving the Art Deco facades of the East and West Stands, using the former football pitch as gardens. How I long to hear the Arsenal chants ring again from those lost stands, but what a joy it was to have been there.

Posted by chapgray | Filed Under Arsenal News, Highbury Memories 

Highbury Highs…

October 7, 2006 | 15 Comments

I miss Highbury.
Let me just state for the record that I live in Boston, USA.
I have not been to the new Stadium, Emirates… and I haven’t been to London since Spring of last season to see MY last game at Highbury. But I have this nostalgic feeling towards Highbury… and the area surrounding the stadium and neighborhood. I have “that itch” every season to get there and be a part of the atmosphere and people. I would long to be back at Highbury… Arsenal Stadium… the Home of Football.

I would love to hear from some of the folks who have been to the new stadium. Their impressions of the place. Comparisons to Highbury… the good? the bad? the ugly? It doesn’t seem like the atmposphere is close to what I have experienced at Highbury… but its hard to decipher from 3000 miles away watching on TV. Whats the new place like, anyway? I just don’t have the same gravitational pull yet about “getting to Emirates”… but maybe I should.

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Highbury Memories 

World War II and Highbury

July 10, 2006 | 1 Comment

I am pretty bored now that the Cup is over and the season has yet to begin, so I’ve been passing the time with a little net surfing. I managed to come across this little site that is pretty interest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/ is the BBC’s archive of World War II Stories. So on a lark I decided to look up Arsenal during the war, and stories about Highbury. Wow–there were quite a few. You can run this search to find out about Highbury during WWII

Anyway…in case you need a way to pass the time until the season begins…

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Highbury Memories 

Farewell Highbury

May 7, 2006 | 52 Comments

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.
Read more

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Highbury Memories 

New topic as the season draws to a close

April 18, 2006 | 3 Comments

I’ve created a new topic for the next few weeks that will allow people to share their favorite memories of Highbury. Just click submit and go to the bottom of the topic list to submit your favorite memory of your favorite place to be on a Saturday.

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Highbury Memories