120 – Tear up the Turf

In mid-June 2006, after all the other events at Highbury had taken place, I was lucky enough to get tickets for an o2 event called ‘Tear up the Turf’ where we not only got to play around on the pitch and stroll at will around the East Stand, but also got to take a square of pitch home. Surreal as that was, being accompanied by a quartet playing football chants in the middle of the pitch pushed it off the scale.

As the pitch was complete when we arrived, but not when we left, you could easily argue that this day was the very last football played on the pitch and to celebrate/commiserate that moment here are some photo’s I took that evening.

097 – The Agony, the Ecstasy…and the Agony (part three)

Final part of our journey through Terry Neill’s cup finals. The first picture is undated but is the original from a photo used on page 5 of David O’Leary’s testimonial programme.

“Arsenal Come Back. April 24th 1980.
Luton Airport, Thursday.
Arsenal goal scorer Paul Vaessen arriving back from his team’s Cup-winners Cup success last night, is confronted with autograph hunters at Luton Airport today.
The final score in Turin was Juventus 0 – Arsenal 1.

“Winners rejoice. May 1st 1980.
Brian Talbot (centre right), arms raised in jubilation, exclaims his victory after scoring Arsenal’s 12th-minute lead over Liverpool in tonight’s third replay of the FA cup Semi-Final game at Highfield Road, Coventry.
Liverpool defender Phil Neal is seen (centre of picture) on Talbot’s left, and their goalkeeper Ray Clemence prostrate in his net.”

“Cup Winners Cup Final Arsenal v Valencia.
Liam Brady – Arsenal – after losing the match.”

094 – Random 1970s Press Photo’s (part four)

Where available backslip details are below the scans.

“Arsenal v Derby. 16.12.78.
Price scores number 1.”

“Arsenal footballer Sammy Nelson at F.A. Disciplinary hearing.
Arsenal Manager Terry Neill with Sammy Nelson when they arrived at the F.A. H.Q. Lancaster Gate today for a disciplinary hearing.
29.3.1979.”

“Arsenal Training 26.9.79.
Over the top and away! Frank Stapleton in determined mood at London Colney”

091 – Random 1970s Press Photo’s (part one)

As usual, any backslip details copied below the scans.

“Arsenal v Chelsea Jan 18 1970.
Hands go up to appeal for offside but Chelsea players need not have bothered. Arsenal’s Sammels missed the cross. Behind Sammels ( l to r) is Harris, Webb and Bonetti.”

“Arsenal v Sunderland 28th Feb ’70.
Sunderland goalkeeper Montgommery punches away from Kennedy, the Arsenal scorer, to quell another attack.”

“Feb. 1972
Hector (Derby) tangles with McLintock (Arsenal).”

“Football at Reading. Reading v Arsenal Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup.
It’s there. Pat Rice (right) gives a shout of triumph after he had scored Arsenal’s winner today. Other Arsenal players are (left to right) Ball, Nelson, McLintock and George.”

090 – Arsenal’s London Irish

In the mid/late 1970s it was almost as though Highbury became an outpost for the Emerald Isle. Whilst slightly more dubious in his Irishness than the others, even Terry Mancini got in on the act. The scans below, although out of sync, celebrate that connection with backslip details copied below.

“September 6th 1982.
Arsenal’s manager Terry Neill at Highbury at the beginning of the 1982/83 season.”

“‘Veteran’ Jennings Still Keeps The out.
April 25th 1983.”

“Long Serving Defender.
July 24th 1980.
Pat Rice, Arsenal’s long serving defender and club captain. A Northern Ireland international, he began his career as an apprentice in 1964.”

“All Square at Highbury.
10.2.79.
Arsenal’s Sammy Nelson, Northern Ireland full back, gets in a cross during the action at Highbury today despite the attempts of Middlesborough defender John Craggs. A dour battle ended in a goalless draw.”

“David O’Leary out jumps Mark Wallington (keeper) to score his second goal.”

“Football at Highbury: Arsenal v IFK Gothenburg.
European Cup Winners Cup Quarter Final – 1st leg.
Liam Brady turns away in triumph after scoring Arsenal’s forth goal during their game against Gothenburg.
5-3-1980”

“Frank Stapleton, the Arsenal centre forward, seen in action during the Arsenal v Norwich City match at Highbury.
22/12/79.”

“Coventry City v Arsenal. March 20, 1982.
Arsenal’s John Devine (left) and Coventry’s Mark Hately in action.”