Never Mind the Gunners E-Book

Graham Lister

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

If you're the sort of fan who knows how many times Arsenal have moved grounds throughout their history, or how many hat-tricks the great Thierry Henry scored during his time at the club without even thinking, then this is the ideal book for you. Can you name the star who appeared in The Bill or the player with the middle name Primrose? Go on, show off how much you really know! This is the definitive quiz book on the Arsenal Football Club, meticulously researched to provide fans of the Gunners of all ages with an informative, entertaining, challenging and enjoyable test of their knowledge of this great club. Populated by the many characters, heroes and occasional villains who have helped create a rich footballing legacy during 126 years of history and full of themed questions on all aspects of the club, this is the ideal companion on those long trips to away games, for settling arguments and for finding out just how much you and your Arsenal-supporting friends really know about the legendary Gunners.

Leseprobe

This book is dedicated to the late Mick Lister, who listened on a scratchy radio as Arsenal won the 1930 FA Cup final, became hooked on the Gunners and passed that particular gene on to my brother Dave and me. Thanks, Dad.

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

How this Book Works

Round 1 2012/13 Season

Round 2 Making History – Formation & Fledgling Years

Round 3 Home Comforts

Round 4 Just About Managing

Round 5 Making More History – Chapman & the Fabulous 1930s

Round 6 In Arsène We Trust

Round 7 The Numbers Game

Round 8 Legends #1 – Heroes of the 1930s

Round 9 Goalscorers

Round 10 You’ve got to be Crazy …

Round 11 Four Four Two

Round 12 Legends #2 – From Whittaker’s Winners to 1960s Stars

Round 13 Spot the Connection #1

Round 14 Arsenal at the Double

Round 15 Legends −3 – Mee’s Marvels

Round 16 Over Land and Sea – and Europe!

Round 17 FA Cup Finals

Round 18 Planet Football

Round 19 Legends #4 – Terry Neill’s Cup Crusaders

Round 20 Up for the League Cup

Round 21 On the Move

Round 22 Spot the Connection #2

Round 23 Legends #5 – George Graham’s Champs & Cup Kings

Round 24 Noisy Neighbours

Round 25 Four Three Three

Round 26 ‘We Are the Champions’ – Arsenal’s League Titles

Round 27 Legends #6 – the Wenger Boys

Round 28 For the Record

Round 29 Pot Luck

Round 30 And Finally …

Answers

Bibliography

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Yvonne Lister, Alex Lister, David Lister, Yvette Hanson, David Powter, John Robinson, Jim Olford, Steve Fisher, Stewart Coggin, Emir Avigdor, Declan Flynn, Fran Cantillion, David Lyen, Chris Ogle, and Hilda Stringer and family.

Introduction

When football fans gather together, it’s just a case of getting the ‘how are you’ preliminaries out of the way before the conversation turns to the beautiful game and, for Gooners, their beautiful club. Nor is it ever very long before someone asks, ‘Do you remember when …?’ or ‘When was it that …?’ or ‘Who scored that goal …?’

Yes, quizzing each other about Arsenal, testing their knowledge and winning arguments about their team are all part of the special culture of supporting the club. Whether in the pub or at school, in a car or train to an away game, queuing for a pre-match pie or flicking through the programme in the stands waiting for kick-off, questions are sure to be posed and answers will be forthcoming.

Recognising this condition, and helping it along with a bit of structure, variety and authority, is this book for Arsenal fans everywhere. So if you relish every opportunity to show just how much you know about the Gunners, or enjoy finding out things about the club you weren’t previously aware of, or just like to compete with your mates to see who knows more – this book is for you.

There are questions for everyone – some are straightforward, some a bit more obscure, and others will really test your grasp of Arsenal history.

They are set in groups of eleven to mirror the number of players in the team, and arranged in specific themes comprising thirty separate rounds.

Given Arsenal’s lengthy and illustrious heritage there are inevitably some events and players that have had to be omitted. Apologies for that. Hopefully, though, there is enough within these pages to keep you interested and amused and to reinforce your enthusiasm for all things Arsenal.

Enjoy the book.

How This Book Works

This is a quiz book. I have provided the questions and it is your task to find the answers. Never Mind the Gunners is as up-to-date as any quiz book can ever be, but the cut-off date was 1 August 2013, and things move quickly in football. Inevitably, some facts will change over time. Apologies if any questions or answers have already been overtaken by events by the time you read this.

I have constructed every set of questions and answers myself and as far as I know every answer is correct. I have checked the information against several other reliable sources; but the answers are mine and if any are wrong, then the mistake is mine and I will hold my hands up and admit the error.

2012/13 Season

Welcome to this ultimate Arsenal quiz book, designed to test your knowledge of the history of one of the world’s great football clubs. Among its pages you’ll find teasing questions that will hark back to the distant (but certainly not dim!) past as we trawl through nearly 127 years of compelling characters, remarkable records, priceless players and fabulous facts. To ease you into the swing of things, we’re going to start with a round exclusively about recent happenings concerning the Gunners, so you won’t have to tax your memory too much initially as you warm to the task. Be warned, though – like trying to claim that elusive next trophy, things become tougher as you carry on …

1 How many goals did Arsenal score against Reading in total during the 2012/13 season?

2 On 19 December 2012, which five young Gunners all signed new long-term contracts with Arsenal?

3 Against whom did Santi Cazorla score his first goal for Arsenal?

4 How many hat-tricks did Theo Walcott score for Arsenal during 2012/13?

5 Lukasz Podolski opened the Gunners’ goalscoring account in their 2012/13 Champions League campaign, but who were the opponents?

6 Who had the poor taste to inflict upon Arsenal their first defeat of the 2012/13 season?

7 Whose first 2 goals for the Gunners were both scored against dear friends Tottenham?

8 This midfielder notched the 20th goal of his Arsenal career in a Champions League group game in 2012. Who is he?

9 Who scored the late goal for Arsenal that forced their Capital One Cup tie against Bradford City into extra-time and eventually – fatefully – penalties?

10 The anniversary of which Arsenal star’s death was commemorated during the home match against Reading?

11 From which club did Arsène Wenger sign Nacho Monreal for Arsenal during the January transfer window?

Making History – Formation & Fledgling Years

This is a round all about the formation and fledgling years of the club we know and love as the Arsenal. Well, it’s a round that covers the Victorian/Edwardian period from 1886 until the suspension of League football in 1915, following the outbreak of the First World War. It will test how well you’ve studied your ancient history of the Gunners, as almost certainly none of us were around at the time to have witnessed it.

And as we go delving into the past, like all good rounds, this one starts in the pub …

1 In what Plumstead public house was the decision taken by munitions workers at Woolwich Arsenal’s Dial Square workshop to form a football club?

2 What significant decision was taken at another meeting, held at the Royal Oak pub in Woolwich on Christmas Day 1886?

3 When Arsenal participated in the FA Cup for the first time in 1889/90, who were their first opponents – and for a bonus point, what was the fairly emphatic outcome?

4 Which co-founder of Dial Square, Royal Arsenal committee member and occasional goalkeeper successfully proposed the revolutionary step of embracing professionalism at the club’s AGM in 1891?

5 When Woolwich Arsenal were promoted to the First Division in 1903/04, who went up with them as Second Division Champions?

6 From which club that he had previously played for did Royal Arsenal’s first goalkeeper Fred Beardsley request help with kit?

7 Of the other four clubs who were elected to the Football League in 1893 along with Woolwich Arsenal, two have gone on to win 22 top-flight titles between them. Can you name them?

8 At what venue did Woolwich Arsenal make their debut as a Football League club?

9 What unusual event is credited with rescuing Woolwich Arsenal from financial oblivion in 1902 by raising £1,200, which was used to buy new players including Tommy Shanks, Tommy Briercliffe and Jimmy Bellamy?

10 Fact or Fiction: When Woolwich Arsenal joined the Football League in 1893, having changed their name that year when becoming a limited liability company (though the Football League continued to call them Royal Arsenal until 1896), they were not just the only League club south of Birmingham, but also London’s only professional club.

11 Because Arsenal were compelled to fulfil a League fixture away to Loughborough Town on 12 December 1896, they fielded a reserve side in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup at home to Leyton which had to be played on the same day. They suffered a club record 8–0 defeat at Loughborough, but what was the score in the FA Cup tie?

Home Comforts

Despite having occupied Highbury – aka ‘The Home of Football’ – for 93 years, Arsenal can be said to have had a somewhat nomadic history since their formation in 1886. So this round is all about the various grounds they’ve called home, ranging from fields to fortresses to their current ultra-modern stadium. ‘You’re supposed to be at home’ is a familiar chant, but how at home are you answering questions about those venues to which the Gunners have welcomed visiting teams over the years?

1 Starting with a basic but somewhat tricky one, how many home grounds do you think Arsenal have had throughout their history?