London Calling

Great.  I’m writing a diary to try and give you an idea about what it’s like for me supporting Arsenal, and virtually as soon as I start there’s an international break!  So what am I going to talk about – the Euro draw a week and a half ago (that was good)?  Signing an experienced keeper as cover (that was good).

There.  That’s all for this week.

Ahem.

Still there?

Blimey, what shall I write now?

Ahhh, I know – books.  Probably a bit easier for me to pop into WH Smith and buy Arsenal books, so here’s a quick review of a few that came out this summer.  The prices are obviously UK cover price, but if you’re interested I’m sure the net will help.

Firstly, a book I have a bit of a personal ‘stake’ in.  A few years ago a Gooner and his brother (after ‘Prettiest wife’) were chatting about the great stuff Arsene says.  One brother (David Manson) took the idea further and after some research had enough for a small book.  He had the pages printed, bound it himself, and sold 120 copies around Highbury.  I bought one and chatting to the guy we decided a web review would help with his ultimate aim of getting it published.  To be honest it was one of those blindingly obvious ideas you only realise is so obvious when someone else actually does it!  Eventually, with my review and the follow up playing a small part (ok – extremely small!) a much expanded version was published by Virgin.  How can you not enjoy a book filled with quotes from a guy, when asked whether Paddy was victimised, gave the answer ‘You can be caught driving at 80mph on the motorway but it’s not fair if everyday it’s you’.  And the truth is I just opened up at a random page and that’s the first one.  I like this!

“Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger.  Manager, Arsenal Football Club.”  Virgin Books.  £5.99.

Second is a book that might be slightly premature if Wembley doesn’t get sorted in time (which I’ve never thought it would to be honest).  The Kings Of Cardiff is another that does what it says on the tin.  Out of the Five FA Cup Finals (scheduled to be) played in Cardiff, we’ve three wins and a defeat so I suppose a cash in was a good idea.  But what does it consist of?  Well you’ve got all the matches from the five seasons FA Cup runs featured.  Obviously with more pages on the winning runs than the losing ones… But it’s basically a picture book.  All the basic stats are there but the actual story is told in captions to the photos.  There are some great pictures in there and it is a good flick through, but unfortunately it’s a flick through picture book with pictures you’ve probably seen before. 

“The Kings of Cardiff”  Hamlyn.  £9.99.

Next is an autobiography.  Now normally football autobiographies are dire affairs, but you kind of know that Charlie George isn’t going to be like that!  I guess his reputation could be summed up in the phrase ‘lovable rogue’ but you can add honest to that.  He’s honest about his mistakes, himself, and his career.  And refreshingly there doesn’t appear to be any bitterness at all.  He expresses opinions and isn’t afraid to back them up, but to be honest after reading the book I love him more than ever.  I guess one of the biggest things we think of as Gooners is his relationship with Bertie Mee.  Whilst Charlie doesn’t pull any punches as to what he thought about Mee and their relationship, there’s no petty sniping, just honest opinions.  The last book may be for the pre-teen market but this one certainly isn’t!

“Charlie George – My Story”.  Century.  £16.99.

There’s another book that I shouldn’t really give an opinion on because I’ve only just started it.  But it’s my column so I’m going to!  A couple of years ago David Tossell wrote the rather excellent “Seventy-One Guns” about our first double season (I love saying that!).  Well he’s followed that up with a biography of Bertie Mee.  With access to players and family this is the definitive biography of a very interesting life.  To be honest he’s the sort of man who’s biography I’d read even without the Arsenal connection, and from what I’ve read so far I’m hooked.  It’s not your normal football biography by any means; his life just wasn’t like that.  

“Bertie Mee – Arsenal’s Officer and Gentleman” by David Tossell.  Mainstream.  £16.99.

Well that’s it for this week.  It’s not that far to ‘Boro this weekend, but it’s never a trip I look forward.  Hate the place, it really is scumsville.  Two stories on the local news that both happened there in the last week or so.  A 10 month old baby was randomly attacked.  Stranger walked up and punched a baby in its pram.  And the other was about a handicapped teenager who was watching tv and saw three kids break into his parents’ porch and steal his walking frame. 

Jonathan Woodgate is considered quite bright there…