Nyhetsarkiv

Den förre Arsenalmittfältaren 31-årige Gilles Grimandi, blir den förste franske fotbollsspelaren i amerikanska proffsligan MLS, Major League Soccer.

Saturday 21 December 2002This was my first visit to Highbury since moving to Sweden from England 4 years ago!Why has it taken me so long to return? I should have come back sooner. First off, thanks to our leader Mats for getting me the match tickets and to British Rail for running their trains on time (for once).I was already in England visiting family and friends for the Christmas. So I set off from Brighton about 10:30 with my cousin who was also seeing the game. We caught the fast train from Brighton – London Victoria. Whilst on the train two "Red Grenades" (McEwen’s Export) where drunk. Upon our arrival at Victoria we caught a Victoria line tube to Finsbury Park. As soon as we got off the train we went into the Railway Tavern for a pint of Guinness. Left there, then we went to the ground to see Jill Smith to collect the tickets – North Bank Lower Tier Block 6 Row Y. £35.50 each. The view was perfect (more about that later).Then we went into the Auld Triangle?? I remember that as the Red Plimsoll the last time I was there (sign of the times, I must be getting old with everything changing).Two more pints of Guinness were easily consumed then into the ground. Had a quick bite to eat and another pint of beer (Worthington this time) at the bar/food counters within the North Bank.We got to our seats about 30 minutes before kick off. We sat above and to the right of the goal. The view was fantastic. It was overwhelming. I just sat there soaking up the atmosphere. I could not believe that I was here. The match got under way. The first goal was scored by Campbell from a Gio free kick. The ball floated into the box, Campbell made a late run and met the ball at full stretch with a diving header. 1-0 to the Arsenal and shouts of “Sol’s a Gooner”. During the second half it was all one way traffic.We had to wait until near the end of the second half for the second goal. Henry hit an angled ball past Wiltord to Pires and he fired it low just inside the far post to give us a two-goal lead. After the match we went to Bethnal Green and into the Camden’s Head for 2 pints (I used to run the place). Then over the road into The Sun for a few more pints (3 or 4) where I met a few old friends, and then along a few blocks to the George for some more pints (at least 4). Headed back to Victoria had a couple of more pints at the pub on the station concourse whilst waiting for the train. When we got back to Brighton we went to an Indian restaurant down Preston Street for a curry washed down with a well needed bottle of wine- just the perfect finish to a perfect day. Sorry for not taking any photographs but I was afraid that I would lose my camera or break it through drinking too much beer.    

Jag tror nog att våra rödvita hjältar tycker att det är skönt med en veckas ledighet från match. Det har ju varit match i stort sett var tredje dag de senaste veckorna. Förhoppningsvis kan de spelare som är halvskadade och sjuka hinna bli spelklara till Birminghammatchen nästa lördag. Vet någon förresten om den visas på Canal+?

Han har hotat med att ställa skorna på hyllan. Eller - varva ned i någon förening i hemlandet. Vi talar om 100-målsjubilaren Dennis Bergkamp.