Arsenal News » The ArsenalStar, The Brookes Clan, Hot Chocolate, the Auld Triangle. It’s another home game.
Walter Broeckx comments on Antwerp to the Emirates – and back – in one day
Another day at the Emirates for me and some of my family.
I must say that I really don’t know how to start this time. It was a day of great emotions once again. We left Brussels right on time with the Arsenalstar train, also known as the Eurostar.
When we left Brussels we had to pass a place called Buizingen and this will not ring any bell by most of you but it is the place where some 14 days ago some 20 people got killed in a terrible train crash. As the Eurostar, and the other trains, have to go past this place at low speed we could see how the remainders of the trains stood there. I must say if you look at the twisted trains it must have been a immense collision. Not a very nice sight.
But after that the Arsenalstar train went off as a rocket to the Rocket for some of us. The bar was the place to be for a lot of our Gooners but my older legs and my back prevent me from staying up to long so we took it rather comfortable in the seats. But when we went up to the bar for a short visit with the rest we passed the first class and there was an older Gooner sitting in first class but he was sleeping. But one could say he really was a first class Gooner.
Once in London straight to the Emirates and to see it in the bright sunshine is always a special feeling. Every time it feels like coming home. So we went to the Auld Triangle (does he pay you for all this free publicity Tony ?), and it maybe strange but it was the first time that I went in to a pub. I even went in it alone as I had to go to the toilet and Tony was not yet there….. and I survived and got out alive. (I hope you remembered the have the blood tests once you got back like I told you Walter – Tony)
When Tony arrived the usual drinks had to be purchased and I took the honour of escorting Tony inside the pub. Like Tony said we had to get through an immense crowd to get to the bar but they made way for us. I think Tony said something like: “I’m getting some drinks for people who know people who have met the parents of Vermaelen” and it seemed to work.
We got outside once again and then it was time to meet Ian (who is the son of the man to whom Tony dedicated “Making the Arsenal”) and Ian’s son Oliver.
And here I have to explain something to you. My surname is Broeckx, but is pronounced Brookes. Ian’s surname is Brookes (as you will know from “Making the Arsenal”), and at last Tony was able to do his long rehearsed routine, “Ian Brookes this is Walter Broeckx, Walter Broeckx this is Ian Brookes”. Well, it amused Tony, and lots of photos were taken.
And then I realised once again that it seems to me that all Gooners just are nice people. All of them are friendly… I think that only nice people can become Arsenal fans. The others just go support the Tiny Totts, or Chelsea or so… It just seems that Arsenal fans have some kind of class around them, a bit like our manager, our players and our board. So maybe it is no co-incidence that I only meat nice Gooners ? Do you have to pass an exam to become a Gooner over there ?
About my feelings once in the Emirates and up on the game and the ref I will leave this for another article, if Tony lets me have this.
After the game I met Tony again and now I must issue a serious warning for all of you who ever go to the Emirates. As it was a very cold day in London yesterday we stayed there and had a warm drink in the Emirates. I took a hot chocolate and must say it wasn’t a bad one. BUT please do take care when you say “hot” and they give you a “hot” chocolate it really is actually not hot, no it is very, very, very hot. I still have difficulties in using my tongue without it being painful.
But we were all very happy with the game and the 3 points. I still have a very strong feeling that this could be our season and so I really made some plans to come over to the last game of the season against Fulham. Now wouldn’t that be a great day to celebrate the title ? And even if not, I just want to be there to show my support to the players who have done a great job so far. They gave us great football once again, showed character by coming back whenever they seemed in a lost position. They have had an injury list all season that not many other clubs can show and still we are where we are from the moment.
We are the third dog ready to snatch the title away from our two main rival dogs that are fighting for the title.
A big thanks for all people who made it another great day: from the inventor of the tunnel, the inventor of high speed trains, to all those Gooners who sat around me in the stadium and shared the emotions. Thanks for my friends of the Arsenal Benelux to making it possible to travel along with them. Thanks to Tony for making this site which gives me the freedom to express my emotions and thoughts on The Arsenal. Thanks also to Jane, to Ian and his son for their nice company and nice and friendly words. Even thanks for the people who sell the Gooner magazine and are shouting all day long: “Get your Gooner”.
If there is a God out there somewhere I would like to thank him for making me an Arsenal fan.
IT’S GREAT TO BE A GOONER!!
———-
Extra news
Guided tours around the Auld Triangle led by Billy the Dog McGraw can be booked for 23 shillings and sixpence a go at Getyergooner Enterprises Ltd, Finsbury Park.
And true but almost unbelievable: The most expensive shares ever left to Oxfam was a holding of shares in the original Woolwich Arsenal Football Club. The shares had been overlooked in 1920 and were traced through 4 subsequent estates. Each share was worth £6,965 when finally sold in 2009.
“Making the Arsenal” – dedicated to Roger Brookes, but written for every Arsenal fan who wants a) a laugh and b) to know something about our heritage.
Picklive – The new online football game you play whilst watching live televised football matches as previously mentioned here relaunches as Picklive on Monday. The first match they are covering as Picklive will be Arsenal’s Champions League game against FC Porto on Tuesday night (live on Sky Sports 2). £100 will be up for grabs and it’s free
to play. Check it out here: http://football3s.com and the new site
The sound of all of us chatting and laughing outside the Auld Triangle prior to the Burnley game will be released on an Untold Arsenal CD in two weeks time, priced two pints and a packet of crisps.
(c) Untold Arsenal 2010