It would be inadvisable to visit London and not travel to one of its twelve league football clubs. It would be normal to visit one of the big four clubs in London. It would be extraordinary to receive a talk from a distinguished writer as well as historian on football, eat traditional food in an even more traditional working class cafe, and visit Arsenal’s historic Highbury Stadium and tour their current home the Emirates all in the course of a day. And yet, on Monday all twenty-two of our group found ourselves doing just that.
We began with an engaging lecture on the history of professional football in London from Simon Inglis, a distinguished writer in that particular field. Simon’s insights, however, come from a variety of jobs and hobbies relating to football, from photography to being interviewed, from lecturing to researching. In his talk, Simon sought not just to give us background on the football tradition in London, but also to provide us with a high level perspective on what heritage means for football in London. Because we were visiting Arsenal later that day, we looked at English football’s legacy through the lens of Arsenal’s distinguished, decorated, and unique place in the city’s professional footballing history.
Next, we set off for Highbury Stadium, and traveled by Tube a few miles North. Along the way we got a glimpse at Simon’s remarkable bank of knowledge and insight. We discussed such topics as Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League win, the reason for the every rising cost of football players, and more. When we arrived at Highbury Stadium, Simon regaled us with the essential facts and his personal memories of Highbury. Highbury, Arsenal’s old stadium from 1913 to 2006, was one of the finest stadiums in England. Therefore, it was a shock when Arsenal decided to move from Highbury about a mile to Emirates Stadium. Highbury, instead of being torn down completely, was to be transformed into an apartment complex, with the pitch turned into a lovely garden, and the stands remodeled into apartments.
We then walked a short distance to a little British cafe that featured classics such as fish, chips, and peas, bacon, beans, bubble and squeak, and more. Simon was kind enough to take our orders while a ketchup bottle exploded everywhere. The wall, posters, and three of our compatriots were doused in ketchup, much to the amusement of all the rest of us. After the owner assured us we were ok, and we enjoyed our meal, we then left for Emirates Stadium.
As we arrived at Emirates, we witnessed many of the notable Arsenal players over the years, such as Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. Next, we saw a remarkable visual of all Arsenal players who played at Highbury. Finally, we went inside and got our audio devices for guiding us around and providing context to what we’d be seeing.
First, we went through the initial halls of the stadium, where there were the women’s team’s trophies, as well as busts of their most famous managers, from Herbert Chapman to Arsene Wenger. Next, we took a look at the pitch from the upper balcony, and explored the Diamond Club, where the most distinguished and famous guests could view games. After that, we finally got to go down to the pitch and walk through the tunnel to look at it from a mere ten feet away.
We then went into the visiting and home locker rooms, which were both kitted out with hot baths, cold baths, showers, and a posh dressing room.
Lastly, we went through both the small interview rooms and the larger press conference room. It was a great day and we were so lucky to have Simon along on this adventure with us. What a great way to start off our journey in London!
