For April 12th I'm going back 39 years to 1982 and another North London Derby.
This was my first ever visit to the Arsenal Stadium, to give it's correct title, Arsenal FC's 1930's art deco stadium which ceased to be their home in 2006 when the club moved to Ashburton Grove to what now seems to be known as "the Emirates". I recall straining for a sight of the old stadium on every train journey as we flashed past it through Finsbury Park station on the East Coast Mainline. Popularly known as Highbury, Arsenal's stadium was situated in the North London district of that name.
I managed to visit the old stadium 19 times in total. I think that when there's a keen sense of rivalry between your own team and "the other lot", it ensures that you avoid missing such keenly anticipated matches and, before you know it, you've watched a team that you don't even like an awful lot of times. As much as I dislike Arsenal, I have always liked to visit their stately home. The main stand was situated on the Avenall Road side of the ground and was imaginatively named "The East Stand". It was known for it's Marble Halls (apparently this is actually terrazzo and not marble at all!) containing a bust of famous old manager Herbert Chapman via an entrance that was carefully guarded by a uniformed commissionaire. Both the East and West stands were classed as Grade II listed buildings and have been carefully conserved as part of the development of a new residential area known as Highbury Square. The former pitch area is now a communal garden used by the residents. I thoroughly approve.
This game left me with many happy memories as Arsenal lost 1-3 to Spurs in front of 48,897 spectators (I was never part of a larger attendance there). Tottenham's goals were scored by Micky Hazard and Garth Crooks (2) with Arsenal's mere consolation coming from former Leeds United player John Hawley. Hawley was subsequently deemed a hero when he was credited with saving the life of a spectator during Bradford City's Valley Parade fire disaster in May 1985.
CRB Match No. 169
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