by Andy Kelly
Last Friday I was one of three people (Tony Attwood and Mark Andrews being the other two) that received an e-mail from Paul Matz of AISA asking if one of us would like to attend the unveiling of the three legends’ statues on 9 December. The club had invited 100 special guests to the ceremony. Tony and Mark graciously stepped aside and allowed me to represent the AISA Arsenal Historical Society at the event.
Then, at the start of this week I received a text from a good friend of mine saying “guess where I’m working this week?” along with a photo of the Emirates. He knows that I am a big Arsenal. I know that he works for a company that specialises in the transportation works of art, including sculptures. I asked him if he was delivering three statues and he said he might be.
The next three days were agony as he said he was sworn to secrecy as to the identity of the statues. He sent photos of two of the statues but they were covered in tarpaulins.
Friday came. The invitation stated that we should arrive at the Dial Square suite at 2.15pm for a reception. By the time I got there at 2.00pm there was already a sizeable crowd of guests waiting in anticipation. The doors opened at 2.15 and we were invited up into the function room. On the way were presented with a security badge and complimentary CXXV scarf.
Rather than stand around like a lemon I made small talk with a few of the other invitees. These included David O’Leary (he is on one of the banners of fans, etc hanging from the lights outside the ground) and Goonerholic.
As expected at these events, Bob Wilson was there in support. I took the opportunity to have a photo taken with him.
We were then led out of the Dial Square suite via the fire exit and down to ground floor. We made our way to one of the exits where the first unveiling was to take place. While we were waiting, along came Peter Hill-Wood and Ken Friar in golf buggies! Then Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry walked past us causing a stir amongst our small crowd.
We walked out to a special section barriered off from the crowd of those not quite so privileged. Peter Hill-Wood started the ceremony of the first statue to be unveiled. Herbert Chapman was revealed to a round of applause. Arsene Wenger then said some words in his typical humble manner, proclaiming Herbert as the best manager Arsenal has ever had.
We were then ushered back into the stadium and off to North end of stadium where we watched Tony Adams’ statue being unveiled. Again, Peter Hill-Wood spoke with Arsene Wenger also adding his bit. I wasn’t quite ready and missed about 20 seconds of the start of Hill-Wood’s speech.
I took the opportunity to say hello to Ryan Rocastle (son of David), tell him how much I admired his dad and wished him good luck for the future.
Again, it was back into the stadium this time for the long walk down to the Clock End.
Once again, Peter Hill-Wood spoke, followed by Arsene Wenger. Then Thierry also spoke. At one point he stopped speaking in mid-sentence. We thought he had finished and started to clap but then realised he was having an emotional moment.
After the ceremony, Thierry signed everything that was put under his nose and I managed to shake his hand. Well chuffed.
I took some photos of the Thierry Henry statue but we weren’t allowed to get too close as the rigging and lights hadn’t been taken away (health & safety, blah, blah, blah).
As the VIPs disappeared, Ivan Gazidis hung around and was interviewed by Mark Bright. When he finished I took the opportunity to ask him a question, much to the annoyance of the security guard in close attendance.
AK: “Mr Gazidis, can I ask one quick question. Are the statues anything to do with your meeting with Tony Attwood last year?”
IG: “Yes.” and smile on his face.
AK: “Thank you.”
I texted Tony Attwood straight away knowing that he would be chuffed.
His reply: My life is complete.
Mark Andrews then arrived and we spent some time taking photos of Herbert Chapman and Tony Adams.
We then had a quick meeting with Iain Cook, the museum curator and one of life’s nice guys, about the club’s history and agreed to meet in the new year with a view to updating it.
A truly memorable day.
What with Tony Adams absence at the ceremony?
Does anyone think it can be that he could come
or just did want to come. He appear to be in some
conflict with Wenger’s presence as manager. He is
keen to remind people that some scotsman was better.
Andy,
After a heavy day reading all the Woolwich Gazettes published in 1893 at Colindale, this was a great way to spend the rest of the afternoon. Impressed by the sheer size of the statues and the workmanship that went into making them. Also it was good of Iain to discuss historical matters for so long.
superb idea!….henry adams and chapman were the arsenal icons.
Shame tony wasnt there.
And yes some scotsman was better if you compare what they started with and built and what trophies/year they won