Rise of the new Clock Enders?

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We’re the Clock End, we’re the Clock End…anyway you know the familiar refrain from the days we spent in the sun at Highbury.
>Now, though, we can restore this and other similar songs based on where you watch the rip-roaring Reds as the ‘Arsenalisation’ of the Emirates at last has something worth getting mildly excited over. You see the clock is back. Well, it’s not THE clock but a replica that has been erected behind the south end of the ground in readiness for next season (next step for Ivan Gazidis* is to buy a dead horse – rather than flog one – and bury it under the north end of the stadium). Will this giant timepiece, as I hope, encourage a better atmosphere at our somewhat soulless bowl?
Surely we can get the old North Bank-Clock End community singing on the go again! As a season ticket holder in the East Stand Upper at Highbury, we always felt a little left out but me and Adrian and sometimes Ben and Pete would give our version…’we’re the East Stand Upper Tier’. On the subject of Adrian, he says he is getting fed up with AW and last season he missed the odd match or two. Mind you he is getting on a bit. Must be nearly 50, poor old sod. Proper Arsenal though.
Talking of proper Arsenal, might the development encourage those hardcore, old school supporters (you know who you are Tim and Andy et al) to start coming to more home games rather than watch them in the pubs near the ground? Could be lively. Or will the young lot migrate to that end to berate visiting imbeciles in a fashion akin to the 70s and 80s. No. Probably not. Just a thought.
Anyway, enough of my mates…what other news pertaining to the glorious Gunners will get you salivating ahead of the new season? (By the way, does anyone know when the Sky/ESPN games are announced?) Well we have got some ‘glamour’ friendlies coming up and I am not talking about the Emirates Cup or a trip to Warsaw or Austria.
Rather, the reserves will be facing AFC Wimbledon, Crawley Town, Dagenham as well as Redbridge, and Welling. All grounds worth notching up if you happen to be of an anorakable nature. I’ve seen us at Crawley a couple of times…FA Youth Cup and a friendly a couple of seasons back. Reasonable non-league ground with large clubhouse. I recommend a visit.
I will try to take in the Wombles who play at Kingstonians’ old ground, Kingsmeadow but now known as, wait for it, The Cherry Red Records Fans’ Stadium. How many of you used to trot off to Plough Lane back in the day when the Dons were top-flight bad boys? Remarkable games where virtually the entire crowd were Arsenal fans save for a few of their lot in the home end. Brilliant. I think Alan Smith got a hat-trick there one year, possibly first game of the season I think. Those of you of the appropriate years might be able to confirm or indeed refute this.
Me my Dad and Old Ted (RIP) used to drink in a pub right near the ground but the name escapes me. Again, anyone remember any boozers there?
What other non-league grounds have you seen Arsenal at? I saw the reserves play Brighton once at Bognor Regis Town’s Nyewood Lane ground, memorable for a lovely chat with the legend that was and is Geordie Armstrong (RIP) and the incredible drinking capability of a certain Andy Linighan. He supped eight pints of Guinness after the game before getting on the team bus with some carry-outs! Another anecdote of dubious quality is that I shared a urinal with Paul Dickov, who had also taken a drop or two, and all he kept saying to me was…’we fucking hate Tottenham.’ Indeed we do.
Anyway, another piece of good news is that the team that dare not speak his name are, apparently, nowhere near getting a shirt sponsor for the new season. No sponsor, no real chance of a new ground…manager is up in court soon. Nice. Up the Gunners and come on Holland.
*Gazidis’ father served time in South Africa it has been revealed. Might think better of the bloke if you read what he’s been through. See here.