A very personal odyssey, by Tony Attwood
It started with three of us from AISA having a meeting at the Emirates with the club’s chief exec discussing how the area around the stadium could be made more Arsenal-like. Never having been a retiring sort of fellow I immediately pitched in telling Mr Gazidis in no uncertain terms that he needed to put up statues, starting with one of Herbert Chapman facing the new stadium, looking at the result of the journey he started.
A more detailed report was requested, which I duly completed, and lo and behold, we got statues.
I must admit I thought that this was a one off, but then I got the chance to work with Andy Kelly and Mark Andrews to re-write the club’s entire early history with the book “Woolwich Arsenal, the club that changed history.” This time Arsenal’s local MP, Jeremy Corbyn, invited us to hold the launch of the book inside the House of Commons.
(That’s the leader of the Labour Party on the left. I’m grinning like a stupid Cheshire cat next to him. Next to me is the great granddaughter of Jack Humble, one of Arsenal’s founders).
After that I really thought I’d done my bit, and it couldn’t get any better, until in July 2014 Puma came out with their video celebrating their kit and they included in it a long held shot of the front cover of my Arsenal novel, “Making the Arsenal”.
That I thought really had to be it. Time to come down off the ceiling.
Then, along came Blacksheep – my pal with whom I go to the games – and he suggested that we might put up an Untold banner in the stadium. This time I had to be persuaded – I really didn’t think the club would go for it. But through his tenacity the project came off, and the slogan that has been on the Untold site almost from the start – that Wenger quote about football being an art – has been on display at the clock end of the stadium for over a year.
At this point, I really thought it must be all over, but no, for now it seems that TV companies have finally realised that the banner is up there, for they are starting to show it.
Obviously I don’t see it because I’m lucky enough to have a season ticket, and I go to almost every home game, but Usama, who does so much with the referee analyses team, working for Untold with Walter and Andrew has been pointing some of them out to me.
This one came from Beinsports and was shown at half time on their Arabic coverage of the game.
The Untold Banner was erected at the Emirates Stadium after Blacksheep took the idea forwards, liaised with the club and with RedAction, found a designer in Jennie Bradley, plus a manufacturer, and with the help of Mark Brindell at Arsenal made it all happen.
The actual slogan was one of three that was put to Untold readers and we then had a vote.
In fact we knew that one of the slogans (Welcome to Stadium Wenger) would be unlikely to be welcomed by the club, what with the Emirates Airline paying a fortune to name the stadium after them, and so it turned out. But our second choice was accepted, and so the banner was made.
During the course of our voting and discussions on Untold, Blacksheep and I found to our surprise and amazement that a number of readers and commentators on Untold were anxious to make a financial contribution to the banner – and in fact we had to start telling readers not to give us money. My fear was that since book keeping was never my strong point, I would lose track and never be able to thank everyone.
So we agreed on a process, and later, once the project had Arsenal’s approval, over a period of a couple of weeks we collected donations via PayPal and bank transfers.
That is my little odyssey with Arsenal (if I can have a little odyssey, which actually now I come to think of it, I can’t.) It just shows what can be done if you feel it is worthwhile – and you never know, something else might pop up.
The banner is celebrated permanently on this site via its own page, listing the names of those who so kindly contributed.
Meanwhile in relation to the book, if you would like a copy of either book I have a few copies left or you can buy them on Amazon. Making the Arsenal is £12.99 and “Woolwich Arsenal: the club that changed football” is £14.95. If you want them direct with no delivery charge, just make a Paypal payment to TonyAttwoodofLondon@gmail.com and email Tony@schools.co.uk to tell me you’ve done so, and give me your delivery address and I’ll send the book/s out. I’ll sign them too if you want. Or not if you don’t.
This is all far, far, more than I could ever imagine might happen when we started out. So maybe there is more to come. If so, I’ll let you know.
Thanks for the mention Tony.
I am thinking of buying some Arsenal books (6 to 8) including your publishings as well, along with some other stuff together midway next year. So when I have planned well before any purchase I will make sure to contact you. 🙂
P.S Thanks to Florian for mentioning the NBC Wenger interview in the comments somewhere yesterday.
At last, Tony, you update Arsene’s alleged saying that “football should be an art” rather than the silly “anything…. should be an art”.
Now how about altering your site banner? 😉
Nicky, alleged saying?
Incidentally, the Untold banner is the only banner with a portrait of Wenger. None of the others have honoured Wenger.
On a related note, Swansea’s hiring of American Bob Bradley is being met with a lot of critical comments. I have always rated him as a manager and have admired what he has been able to accomplish with limited resources. I don’t think he merits the Ameriphobic comments. He, as with all managers, will succeed or not. He should be judged after a reasonable period time…let’s say 20 or 30 matches or a season. He is going to go through what Wenger did.
Best banner in the stadium, makes the others look downright miserable. 🙂
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If Arsenal was a sentient being, it would probably be thinking:
“I wonder why they(media) are being so nice to me now? My grand mama used to say, beware of flattering tongues, so i will not let it distract me.”
You’re welcome. I’ll keep my eyes open for further banner showings:)
But really, it was such a perfectly placed moment in the context of the Wenger anniversary, that it was impossible to not notice it. All the more as it expresses his philosophy so well.
@Nonny,
Because I just can’t imagine Arsene making such a ridiculous remark.
“To do ANYTHING so well that it becomes an art”…..crazy. 😉
Thanks! Proud to be a part of it!
Tony and guys , thank you for this article and that awesome clip and all the contributions and undivided support over the last eight years or so that most of us AKBs came here to find solace and a shared dream.
Untold Arsenal is the only site ( other than Arsenal.com .)that I read and the only place that I contribute and/or post comments . I think than most site would have banned me for my comments and jokes !
And a very happy 20th anniversary to AW , thanks for the many great moments that you have given us . And the inspiration that be has bestowed upon us by the rectitude of his actions.
And may God bless with a long and healthy life , that he continue for another 20 years! Many are seemingly just starting to warming up to him !
@ Tony, any chance your books can be sold through Apple iTunes Store? I prefer to read via my iphone or iPad, more convenient.
Polo
My Mom has written a book, and I am to be the publisher. So I have been looking into some publishing issues (since I know a lot about typesetting already). I doubt Tony wrote his books in TeX, but there do exist sets of programs which can produce PDF (to turn into hardcopy) and ebooks from the same source. In Open Source. So, I suspect similar tools exist in Windows/M$-Office, only they may not be free.
The trouble with open trumpets is they are more apt to distort. That Kevin Whitcher plays a nice muted style which is far more appropiate. Less is always more and there is plenty of evidence for that.
@ Gord, thank you for the advice, I think you misunderstand my comment above, I would like to purchase Tony’s books in iTune Store not re-publish his books (it’s a good idea though, if the copyright can be bought, and re-publish as an ebook). I have basic understanding of computers so I wouldn’t have a clue on conversions. I just want to pay, download, and read the books.
Well done Tony.
Happy 20th Mr Wenger.