Supporters Dinner Invite

ARSENAL SUPPORTERS GALA DINNER
CELEBRATING THE PAST, CELEBRATING THE FUTURE
The Dial Square Suite, Emirates Stadium
Saturday 26 May 2007
Welcome to the Gala Dinner
WELCOME to the 2007 Arsenal
Supporters Gala Dinner, at which
we celebrate both our first season
at The Emirates Stadium and the
eighteenth anniversary of that
famous night at Anfield.
There is of course a nice
symmetry here. The 1989
PAUL MATZ
championship success came 18
Chairman, AISA
years after the previous one, which
Charity committee
itself was 18 years on from the
1953 triumph.
Generations of Arsenal supporters saw only one
of two title victories in their lifetimes, which is
something worth reflecting on as three
Premierships and four FA Cups have found their
way to N5 in the last decade.
In the same way that many supporters were
desperate to see us mark our final season at
Highbury with a trophy there was a hope that the
first season at our new home would find some
silverware coming in our direction.
For the men’s team at least that proved not to
be the case but nevertheless there is much to
celebrate tonight, and some of the images in this
programme demonstrate the achievements,
enjoyment and potential that the season has
brought.
Ultimately, however, we will not know for a
The opening of The Emirates Stadium also marks an end of era as
Dennis is chaired off the pitch at the end of his testimonial match.
further 12 months, and maybe
even further ahead, whether this
year will be seen as an important
stepping stone to further success.
Our special guests this evening
have a combined total of 1,943
appearances for Arsenal between
them, 11 championship medals, 3
LOIS LANGTON
FA Cups, 6 League Cups and 4
Gala Dinner
European successes. It’s not a bad
Co-ordinator
haul is it?
With two fantastic entertainers and fanatical
supporters also on our top table our cup is surely
overflowing. Some marvellous gifts have been
donated to tonight’s auction and raffle, the
proceeds of which will go to The Willow
Foundation, a cause dear to every Arsenal
supporters’ heart.
Once the Club made the decision to move to a
new stadium AISA campaigned long and hard to
help overcome the numerous hurdles that had to
be overcome if planning permission was to be
achieved, if the stadium was to become a reality,
and indeed even to counter the last-minute
opposition that threatened Dennis Bergkamp’s
testimonial match.
So, as if we need it, that is another reason to
celebrate tonight with friends, we hope you have a
fantastic evening, thank you for your support.
Gilberto equalises against Aston Villa - the first competitive goal by an Arsenal
player at the new stadium.
3
Tonight’s special guests
PAUL DAVIS
1978-95
456 appearances 38 goals, 2 championship
medals, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cup, 1 European
Cup Winners Cup
PERRY GROVES
1986-92
210 appearances 29 goals, 2 championship
medals, 1 League Cup
KENNY SANSOM
1980-88
394 appearances 6 goals, 1 League Cup
medal, 77 England caps, 1 goal
ALAN SMITH
1987- 95
359 appearances, 118 goals, 2 championship
medals, 1 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 European
Cup Winners Cup, 13 England caps, 2 goals
MICHAEL THOMAS 1982-91
215 appearances, 31 goals, 2 championship
medals, 1 League Cup, 2 England caps
BOB WILSON
309 appearances 1 championship medal, 1 FA
Cup, 1 UEFA Cup
1963-74
ALAN DAVIES
Renowned Arsenal supporter, comedian
and actor
TOM WATT
Lifelong Arsenal supporter, broadcaster and
author of "The End", an oral history of the
North Bank
International football returns to Arsenal’s home. Kaka celebrates a wonderful goal for Brazil
against Argentina, in which Julio Baptista also features.
4
Later in the season Brazil play again at the
Emirates, only to lose to Portugal.
Thank you from the Willow Foundation
Thank you
MEGS and I have always been proud to be
associated with Arsenal. To have the Club and
its supporters backing the Willow Foundation
this year has been an incredible experience.
Arsenal fans have demonstrated great
understanding of the charity’s aims and have
shown a real commitment to raising both
awareness and much needed funds.
We founded the Foundation for very
personal reasons, after the loss of our
daughter Anna to cancer at the age of 31. But
it was Anna’s love of life, her determination to
have quality of time, quality of life and to be
treated as normal, that inspired the concept of
‘special days’ and gave birth to the charity.
In our first year we were able to provide 17
special days - this year the total should be
more than 1,200. We have never been more
confident that there is a great demand and
need for the charity’s work, providing special
days for seriously ill young adults.
The funds that Arsenal supporters have
raised for Willow will go a considerable way
to funding special days in the coming year.
Equally important is the increased profile that
the association with Arsenal has given the
charity among football supporters across the
country – helping us to reach out to more
young adults who are living with life
threatening conditions such as cancer, cystic
fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s and
organ failure.
On behalf of all of the staff and volunteers
at the Willow Foundation, and all of the
seriously ill young people that your generosity
has helped us to reach – thank you.
Bob and Megs Wilson
Emmanuel Adebayor ????????????.
5
Anfield ’89
CHRIS ATHANASI The film Fever Pitch did
not do the celebrations outside Highbury
justice. There were so many people it was like
a match day; it was all the New Years and
birthday parties you had ever experienced
rolled into one. I
remember
standing on the
window ledge of
The Gunners pub
and thinking that I
had waited 18
years for this
moment and I
never wanted it to
end.
PETE
BEAUMONT My
brother Bob, a
Liverpool fan, had
a spare seat next
to the Kop and I
reluctantly agreed to sit with him. At the final
whistle I walked down to the front of the stand
until I reached the tunnel. At exactly that
moment the Arsenal backroom staff emerged, I
took my chance and snuck in with them.
Before I knew it I was on the pitch. After
celebratory hugs with Tony Adams and George
Graham I was able to join the press
photographers for the trophy presentation. By
now I’d aroused the suspicions of a couple of
stewards but they were as good as gold and
only shepherded
me off once I’d
managed to touch
the trophy and
shake hands with
virtually all the
team.
DARREN
CONSTATINE I
remember the
short walk back to
the car. Liverpool
supporters sitting
on walls, heads in
hands, distraught,
bemused, gutted
and in tears – but
noble in defeat. One fan wiped a tear from his
cheek and offered his hand in congratulation. A
grown man crying over a football match? Only
a football supporter can relate to the emotions
and feelings that come with supporting your
team.
Any season that has two victories over Tottenham can’t be all bad. Gilberto hammers home one of his penalties in the Premiership match.
6
Anfield ’89
MARTIN DELAHOUSSAYE I was living in
Maidenhead at the time, and sat down to
watch the game surrounded by my four
children, all died-in-the-wool Gooners like me.
Rising from my armchair as Micky Thomas
broke through
the last Liverpool
defender, I
jumped up with
such force when
he lifted the ball
over Grobbelaar
that I literally hit
my head on the
ceiling. As I fell to
my kneed
clutching my head
we had the family
celebration to
end all
celebrations. It
was a moment
that brought me
as close to my children as anything before or
since.
KEIRAN DOVEY My everlasting memory of
that fantastic Friday night will be my witnessing
two miracles. The first was obviously that
Jeremie Aliadiere scored the crucial goal in the Carling Cup semi-final.
heart-stoppingly calm finish by Michael
Thomas. The second was witnessing my
brother’s instant healing of his recently
shattered ankle and the rapid disposal of his
crutches.
JEFF FISHER My wife was in the Clementine
Hospital because of a serious relapse in her
Crohns disease but there were signs of her
making progress, so this gave us the chance to
let off some steam as we watched the game in
Tomas Rosicky claimed the third goal but it was
later credited as a Pascal Chimbonda own goal.
Manuel Almunia and Gilberto
celebrate at the end of the match.
7
Anfield ’89
a small room of the corner of the hospital. This
really happened when Michael Thomas scored,
only for us to be brought down to earth by
some very angry nurses chastising us on our
behaviour and telling us in no uncertain terms
to be quiet or face being booted out of the
hospital.
MIKE FRANCIS When that ball richoted to
Mickey as he bore down on goal, time stood
still. Everyone says now they were screaming
at him to hit it, but frankly that’s boll***s
because everyone was holding their breath,
and you try doing that and screaming
simultaneously. I missed his celebration as I
hurtled down the terrace at a speed which
should have meant I feared for my safety, but as
I leapt on someone’s back I did see Nigel
Winterburn sprinting past with a demented
expression of joy on his face.
MARK JONES I can honestly say
I have not celebrated an Arsenal
goal ever again like I did that
night. As the ball hit the back of
the net, I just remember
grabbing some old bloke in front
of me to stop him going over
and then just going ballistic. It
seemed to last for an eternity,
just screaming ‘Champions!
Champions!’ again and again and
again.
PETER KYRIACOU The halftime rendition of ‘Georgie
Graham’s Red ‘n White Army’
was probably the most uplifting
and tribal experience I have ever
Cesc Fabregas had an outstanding year, but also would have
several entries in any ‘miss of the season’ competition. CSKA
Moscow were one of the very lucky opponents.
8
Justin Hoyte scored an outstanding first goal against Charlton to start a 12-match
unbeaten run.
Anfield ’89
had at a football match. The
volume, emotion and ferocity with
which it was blasted out must
surely have reached and fired up
the players in the changing room.
JAMES LE BLANC Looking back
the only disappointment was the
lack of opportunity to properly
celebrate. It was a case of straight
onto our coaches for the journey
back to London. A very amusing
sight, as the coaches left Liverpool,
were the pockets of Everton fans
applauding and cheering us.
ADAM MADDOX A few years
later I met Ronnie Whelan in my
local and asked him what he said to
the linesman after Smithy’s goal.
His response "Never a goal lino, if you give that
you’re a bloody cheat." I pointed out that if he
looked he could see the mud mark from the
ball on Smithy’s face. I think he hated me for it.
LAURA NEIGHBOUR I was 10 at the time and
my dad kept trying to tell me how important
this game was. Being dragged to Arsenal games
(as the last of three girls who was surely going
to be a boy) I kind of understood. When the
second goal went in I had never, and haven’t
ever seen since, my dad go so crazy. Jumping
around the room, kissing my mum, hitting his
head on the front room light, and banging on
the wall of our semi-detached house, which
happened to be adjoined to our Tottenhamsupporting neighbours. Our relationship with
them was never the same again.
Earlier in the season he had scored a number of outstanding goals, including a free-kick against Everton and a great team goal in the 6-2 victory
over Blackburn.
9
Thank You
THE AISA Gala Dinner Organising committee:
Geoff Bedingfield, Tony Bernhard-Grout, Pat
Croci, Ben Dimech, Steve Goodwin, Christine
Langton, Lois Langton, Peter Levinger, Paul
Matz, Jane Pearce, Tony Ward, Tony Winyard.
This event is very kindly sponsored by Finers
Stephens Innocent www.filaw.com and Parador
Travel Management Ltd www.paradortravel.com
Our thanks to everyone who contributed
auction and raffle prizes, to this programme,
and to the organisation and success of the
event, including:
* Tony Adams
* Almeida Restaurant Bar
* Tony Bernhard-Grout
* Allison Bourdice
* Liam Brady
* Mark Briere-Edney
* Pat Croci
* Roger Daltrey
* DRTM Ltd
* Colin Firth
* Mike Francis
* Benita Gibbons
* The Gooner fanzine
* Perry Groves
* Karyn Haddon
* Ainsley Harriott
* Highbury High fanzine
* JVC
* Amy Lawrence
* Anders Limpar
* Paul Matz
* Andrew Miller
* Cliff Moulder
* M Press (Sales) Ltd
* Tamzin Outhwaite
* Chris Parry
* Redcurrant events
* TC Advertising
* Tracey Thompson
* Wagamama
* Tony Ward
* Warner Vue
* Bob Wilson
Also of course to many people from Arsenal
Football Club, including Keith Edelman, Shelley
Alger, Richard Clarke, Sue Campbell, Amanda
Docherty and Mary Taylor.
Finally to all the staff and volunteers from The
Willow Foundation including Avril Bank, Caz
Eagles, Keith Evans, ??? Evans, Laura Hadwin,
Roger Strike.
Menu
Roast Butternut with Gentle Thai Spice
Baby Vegetables a la Grecque, Balsamic & Mint Dressing
Truffled Breast of Corn Fed Chicken, Sage Potatoes, Fine Beans & a Port Wine Sauce
Feuillete of Leeks and Morels, Tarragon Sauce
Panattone and Baileys Bread & Butter Pudding
Raspberry Creme Brulee, Butter Shortbread
Coffee/Tea & Chocolate
In an injury-riven season there were just glimpses of
Thierry at his best. Arsenal’s best European performance
of the season against Porto included a rare headed goal.
10
A fantastic free-kick against Newcastle rescued a point,
and a magnificent away goal at Blackburn reminded us of
what we missed for most of the season.
Jay Simpson scored the first hat-trick at
the Emirates Stadium, against Cardiff in
the FA Youth Cup.
Parador Travel Management
are proud to sponsor the
Arsenal Supporters Gala Dinner
>O`OR]`]TTS`OQ][^ZSbS`O\US]TPcaW\Saab`OdSZO\R
`SZObSRaS`dWQSaBVSaSW\QZcRS "V]c`OW`ZW\SbWQYSb
P]]YW\UabV`]cUV]c`SQ][[S`QSaWbSPcaW\SaabWQYSb
Q][OaeSZZOa0`WbWaV@OWZO\R3c`]abO`bWQYSba
U`]c^W\QS\bWdSb`OdSZV]bSZaQO`VW`SO\ROZZbVS
]bVS`W\U`SRWS\ba]TOacQQSaaTcZPcaW\Saab`W^
Parador Travel Management Limited
201-203 City Road, London, EC1V 1JN T: 020 7417 0777
9 The Old Wool Warehouse, St Andrews Street South, Bury St Edmunds,
Suffolk, IP33 3PH T: 01284 750025
www.paradortravel.com
Proud to be Arsenal’s
Charity of the Season
The Willow Foundation is a national charity that provides
quality of life and quality of time for seriously ill young adults
(aged 16-40) through the provision of special days.
Every special day is individual and entirely of the applicant’s choosing. For some a
special day is their last chance to fulfil a dream, for others it is the opportunity to return
some normality back into their lives. But for all, a special day creates precious memories
for the future.
Founded by former Arsenal & Scotland goalkeeper and TV presenter Bob Wilson, and his wife Megs,
the Willow Foundation is a memorial to their daughter Anna, who died of cancer aged 31.
If you would like to help, make a donation or to find out more, please contact:
01707 259777
www.willowfoundation.org.uk
Willow Foundation Willow House 18 Salisbury Square Hatfield Hertfordshire AL9 5BE
Registered Charity No. 1106746