The Untold Banner at the Emirates: an update

A short while back Blacksheep put forward the notion of there being an Untold banner at the Emirates, displayed in the zones between the upper and lower decks.

We’ve liaised with Red Action and Arsenal on how we can go about doing this, and eventually came up with three options from the many on the table, and we have written a little about how we might pay for it.  Everyone was then invited to vote on which banner they wanted.

Since then quite a few things have happened and here’s the update.

First we’ve had well over 1000 votes so far – which is a sensational number.  If you have read Untold for a while you’ll know that our readership numbers are rather large, but readership of a site like ours, which can cover everything from delicate and gentle way in which Liverpool conduct affairs with their players through to the interaction between referees and those who would like to influence games, does not normally translate into big numbers of votes in a poll of the type we have run.

As it happens, the advertising agency I run often organises opinion polls for clients who are keen to know what customers and potential customers feel about certain topics, and I don’t think we’ve ever got near 1000 votes no matter how many people read our blogs, emails and adverts.  So this level of voting is great news.

Second, we’ve had some fun along the way.  For example one of the leaders of the anti-arsenal arsenal conglomeration has given us quite a lot of publicity, and while those who follow that gentleman’s point of view would not vote for any of our banners, we’ve had a lot of extra publicity through his efforts, not all of which has fallen on the ears and eyes of those of an aaa persuasion.  Thanks to everyone who has mentioned us along the way, whether in approval or attempting to laugh at what we do.

As a result of the aaa coverage we also had a few comments from people saying, “Why are all three banners pro-Wenger?” and of course the answer is that this site is very much based on a pro-Wenger vision.   When I started Untold (some 5240 articles ago) it was to put across a point of view that I felt was not expressed in other blogs, and we’ve never tried to hide the fact that Untold has a particular point of view. So that’s why the banners are as they are.  To those who have said, “the banner shouldn’t be about Wenger” our answer is fine, set up your own idea and approach Arsenal.  We don’t have a monopoly.

On the issue of money, we’ve all been overwhelmed by the offers we have had, and there is no doubt at all that we shall be able to pay for the banner.

I think this side of the matter has been the most amazing of all.  I mean, a lot of people do write in and say how much they enjoy and appreciate Untold – and that is quite extraordinary in an era where the norm seems to be the criticise, criticise and criticise.  But to try and force money into my hand – and indeed to go to great lengths to get the money to me, even from overseas, is quite overwhelming.

To everyone who has offered us money, I am incredibly grateful.  If you have actually tried to push it into my hands, I do hope you fully understand why we’ve said “no”.  There is no guarantee that the banner will be accepted by Arsenal, and so no need for any funds at this time and I didn’t want the hassle of trying to hand it all back.

If Arsenal say yes, and we go ahead we will then sort out a way for everyone who wishes to be associated with the idea to pay a small amount each, to help fund the banner.  Also of course we will get photos and keep you in touch with our progress.

So, we are going to close voting on Sunday night, the 24th.  If you want to vote and have not done so just click here, and then vote.

I will ask Blacksheep to announce the result next week, and then immediately get in touch with our contacts at Arsenal to see if we can get their ok to our ideas.  No guarantee of course, but we’ll give it a go.

Again, my sincere thanks to Blacksheep, and of course to everyone who has joined in Blacksheep’s idea.  I think it is fair to say that all of us who do our bit to keep Untold running are knocked out by the support and goodwill we have had during this process.

Many thanks to everyone.

Tony Attwood

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Somehow it feels appropriate to focus today on one particular anniversary and one particular player: Jack Lambert.  Here’s what the anniversary files say

22 May 1902: Jack Lambert born.  He played local football for Greasborough and Methley Perseverance, before being rejected by The Wednesday after a trial, played non-league with Rotherham County, and finally managed to get a run with Rotherham United in the 3rd Division North.  He then became one of our greatest players ever.

If you don’t know Jack’s story, click the link and take a look.

 

 

19 Replies to “The Untold Banner at the Emirates: an update”

  1. They are all…

    This comment is just abuse against the writer, and where possible we try and edit those out, even if it takes a bit of time to get there.

  2. wow… great analysis Luke.

    To give you a clue, this is about appreciating Mr Wengers work.

  3. Hi, I’m a Wengerista, rather than a Gooner-& would also be happy to contribute to the banner.
    As it looks like you could be “over subscribed”, as a suggestion, why not allow people to contribute what they want, with the surplus going to an Arsenal charity

  4. I hope Arsenal accept the idea. It would be great to see an Untold banner at the match.

  5. From ….
    http://www.footballtransferleague.co.uk/football_player.aspx?football_player=Aaron+Ramsey

    Barcelona plan to make a £50m-plus bid for 24-year-old Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey in the summer despite their transfer embargo.

    Somebody please get an old bed sheet or two and make a banner to stop him from leaving . Please !
    Put it high up so that all Arsenal fans the world over see it at the stadium at this weekend’s game. My suggestion of an apt slogan would be ….

    PLEASE DON’T GO , WHATSHISNAME !

  6. I bet “Luke” loves to join in singing the song about fourty nine games unbeaten and playing the “Arsenal Way” (no need to self-immolate before a Special Agent – that’s the Arsenal way, free of peonage).

    Probably gets upset if you comment upon the observation (not an opinion then) seen by all, that not even the Invincibles could win upon a tilted pitch.

    Probably a good thing he didn’t see my proposal:
    A giant banner beneath a giant statue of Tina Turner (she once sang in F.Park), as tall as the Wembley Arch, straddling the new Arsenal Stadium:

    “Welcome to the Wengerdome. Baby”

  7. I appreciate a number of respondents have been having fun at Luke’s expense, but I really didn’t want to leave this one up. Sorry if that now makes some of the comments above harder to understand, but I am sure everyone can imagine what he said.

  8. @ Menace – May 22, 2015 at 10:11 am – Don’t be too harsh on the poor fellow . It must have been a troublesome and confusing childhood ,puberty and adulthood for Lukes everywhere , when , everyone would come up to them and creeply say,”Luke , I ‘m your father !”, in that raspy voice !

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6JnGTXCkHA

    Many of us were quite disturbed when it was first uttered 30 years ago ! Many still remember where they were exactly when they heard it the first time !
    Like most ( dah !), I was in a movie theater . There was pandemonium all right .Some even fainted.There was much rending of clothes , rioting, uprisings and some dictators were even overthrown ! There wasn’t Facebook , blogs and WhatsApp to turn to then , and we all suffered in silence.
    They say many were even scarred for life , and suffer even up to this day .Is there a specific Medical term for this condition , Don ?

  9. Looks like I just managed to squeeze that in !Goodbye , Luke ! It was fun !

    And continuing in the same vein , in an earlier generation , many ladies named Mrs. Robinson were equally traumatised after the movie ,The Graduate came out in 1967 , along with the song by Simon and Garfunkel.

    Initially all the Mrs. Robinsons were happy when friends and strangers would call out to them ,”God bless you please , Mrs Robinson , Heaven holds a place for those who pray ,” thinking that people were just being kind .

    But soon things took a turn for the worse , when people would say things like , ” Coo coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson, Jesus loves you more than you will know wo wo wo ”

    or ” We’d like to help you learn to help yourself ”

    And that irritating , ” Hey hey hey, hey hey hey” .
    The last straw came when everyone would approach them and demand , ‘ Where have you gone, Joe Di Maggio?”, and then before they could answer those creeps , they would again continue , ” What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
    “Joltin Joe has left and gone away” ,Hey hey hey, hey hey hey” .
    Well we all know that the real answer to that was that Joe Di Maggio was striking out both with the New York Yankees, as well as with Marilyn Monroe.

    History lesson over kids .
    Check out the lyrics and the song .

    And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
    Jesus loves you more than you will know wo wo wo
    God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
    Heaven holds a place for those who pray
    Hey hey hey, hey hey hey

    We’d like to know a little bit about you for our files
    We’d like to help you learn to help yourself
    Look around you all you see are sympathetic eyes
    Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home

    And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
    Jesus loves you more than you will know wo wo wo
    God bless you please, Mrs. Robinson
    Heaven holds a place for those who pray
    Hey hey hey, hey hey hey

    Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
    Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
    It’s a little secret just the Robinsons affair
    Most of all, you’ve got to hide it from the kids

    Coo coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
    Jesus loves you more than you will know wo wo wo
    God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
    Heaven holds a place for those who pray
    Hey hey hey, hey hey hey

    Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
    Going to the candidates’ debate
    Laugh about it, shout about it when you’ve got to choose
    Every way you look at it you lose

    Where have you gone, Joe Di Maggio?
    Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you woo woo woo
    What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
    “Joltin Joe has left and gone away”
    Hey hey hey, hey hey hey

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1BCAgu2I8

  10. Only 1,000 votes ? Are you sure ? I was under the impression that there would be more than a million AKBs ! Maybe they still haven’t quite made up their minds yet , and weighing their options till the bewitching hour .
    Come on you 999,000 slackers , your vote counts !

  11. I see on the BBC site, workers have found a 50 kg bomb (WWII era) in the vicinity of Wembley stadium. The FA apparently said that it will not effect the FA Cup final. I didn’t see anything in the article suggesting that the bomb had been planted by aaa types.

  12. Count me in and happy to donate Tony.

    About time Wenger received the appreciation he deserves as opposed to the stream of abuse from the AAA and almost everyone in the media.

    Tip: Put it on twitter and you’re 1 million votes will sky rocket….! Most Gooners are pro-Wenger.

  13. I would like that the second banner, we would surely be able to do that too from the response, concerns our team. Something like:
    “Arsenal, always the Greatest team in the World” to show the players we are also thinking of them. What a boost that could be for next season eh?

  14. How about 2 banners TONY, one for the team, One exclusively for Mr Wenger, if possible a third for the management.

  15. The third one in the fifth row , is quite good too. Wiped that stupid grin right off his face too !

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