Many years ago I wrote a blog on my own site 1ND2OU that charted the highs and lows of my Arsenal supporting life based on the UK Hit Parade. Basically a bit of fun really but fascinating, well for me at least. A couple of things got me thinking about it again this week. My own silly joke suggestion for a new terrace chant for St Totteringham’s Day but more importantly the noble of effort by a collective of Gooners, some of whom are mates and the band Riders of the Night (@TheRiderOTN) to get Arsenal a UK Number 1 for the FA Cup Final. A percentage of the monet will go to Bob and Meg Wilson’s Willow Foundation.
A new version of the 1971 Double Winners FA Cup Final anthem ‘Good Old Arsenal’ has been recorded and was released on Monday the 4th of May. In 1971 Frank, Geordie, Bob, George, Raddy and the boys got to number 16 in the UK Top 40. Here it is and when I was a teenager on the North Bank in the early 80s we still sang this regularly.
The following is an update of my original blog just concentrating on the FA Cup highs and lows – An edited an uodate version of the original.
08/05/1971 – FA Cup Final HIGH
The fabulous Arsenal side of 71 secured the FA Cup and League Double, a feat previously achieved in 61 by our bitter rivals Spurs. The league was secured at the Lane and the Cup in extra time with a Charlie George screamer to beat Liverpool.
The UK No.1 was appropriately Double Barrel Dave and Ansil Collins
06/05/1972 FA Cup Final LOW
Sadly for a broadly similar team a year later Bertie Mee’s Double Winners were unable to secure a successive triumph losing 1-0 to Done Revie’s Leeds United in a dull affair.
The Uk No.1 was Amazing Grace- The Pipes & Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjG7kaNbM0Y
06/05/1978 – FA Cup LOW
Exactly 6 years later Arsenal contrive to lose the FA Cup Final, largely in my view to our star man and my hero, Liam Brady, not being fully fit, to the underdogs Ipswich Town 1-0. We can stay upbeat and boogie as ‘Saturday Night Fever’ by the Bee Gees grips the nation.
The UK No.1 was Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees
12/05/1979 – FA Cup HIGH
The most memorable FA cup Final for years as Alan Sunderland pops up at the far post to turn in Rixy’s cross as we beat Man U 3-2 in the final minute having thrown away a two goal lead. A bright day for Arsenal and ‘Bright Eyes’ by Art Garfunkel, sound track to film Watership Down tops the hit parade.
The UK No.1 was Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel
10/05/1980 – LOW
We somehow manage to lose to a Trevor Brooking header as he stumbled to tie his shoes laces, the Hammers were in the division below. The only consolation was the one of the greatest songs every recorded was topping the 1980 charts.
The UK No.1 Was Geno by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
14/04/91 – BIG FA CUP LOW
Defeat to the old enemy in the FA CUP Semi Final at Wembley courtesy of Gazza, blows Graham’s shot at the double he achieved as a player. ‘The One and Only’ by Chesney Hawkes. How fitting, a one hit wonder for the one title wonders, even if that one title is not in this Gooner’s living memory!
The UK No.1 was The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes
04/04/93 – BIG FA Cup HIGH
A repeat of ’91 FA Cup Semi with the right result. The Donkey won the Derby. A far post header by Adams secured a final place and we were already in League Cup final. An all time classic by the Bluebells re-released from VW TV ad was topping chart.
The UK No.1 was Young at Heart by the Bluebells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6iqzi7N2Ds
20/05/93 – LOW TURNING INTO HIGH
The first FA Cup final was so poor it gets no entry. We were bad, Sheffield Weds AGAIN were worse and both teams cancelled each other out. The replay was not much better and Andy Linighan went from squad player to hero, heading in at the end of extra-time. The two cup double had never been done before and ‘All That She Wants’ by Ace of Bass is our chart topper.
The UK No.1 was All she Wants by Ace of Bass
16/05/98 – FA Cup HIGH
Arsenal secure League and FA Cup double with a Ray Parlour inspired win over Newcastle. Goals came from Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka. Dennis Bergkamp injured and still no return for Wrighty in his record breaking season. Christopher Wreh starts the match and sadly Wenger did not use Ian Wright even when the game was won. Also it was the last commentary of the late great Brian Moore, who had uttered the immortal words ‘It’s up for grabs now’ in ’89. ‘
The UK No.1 was Turn Back Time’ by Aqua
12/05/2001 – SURPRISING FA Cup LOW
Lost the FA Cup final having dominated the whole game, took the lead with Freddie goal, not given a penalty for a blatant Henchoz handball. Eventually we lost to two classic counter attacking Michael Owen goals.
The UK No.1 was Its Raining Men by Geri Halliwell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YbRASlEMqw
04/05/2002 – CLASSIC FA Cup HIGH
Back in Cardiff a year later and this time victorious with a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the ‘It’s only Ray Parlour’ final. Tim Lovejoy of Soccer AM’s famous quote as Razor picked the ball up outside the area only to curl a classic into the top corner.
The UK No.1 was ‘Freak Like Me’ by the Sugarbabes
17/05/2003 – FA Cup HIGH
I enjoyed this one as I stayed overnight in Cardiff after the match. Our third FA Cup Final in three years and a 1-0 win over the Saints thanks for Bobby Pires, Superb for Robert as he had missed the 02 final through injury.
For R.Kelly fans ‘Ignition Remix’ was no.1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6y_4_b6RS8
21/05/2005 – FA Cup HIGH LOW
Our last trophy ahead of a 9 year gap and whilst history will say we won the FA Cup I am almost ashamed of this one. With no ambition we defended for 120 minutes and barely mounted an attack. Not our finest hour, or 2, but it did not seem to matter at the time when our talismanic captain Patrick Vieira stroked home the decisive spot kick with his last kick for the Gunners.
The UK No.1 was ‘Lonely’ by Akon
09/01/2012 – You had to be there.
Thierry Henry on his first appearance in his loan back comes on a scores the winner versus Leeds in FA Cup 3rd round and wait for it – Bruno Mars – “Just The Way You Are (Amazing)” is at No.1, so very fitting.
17/05/2015 FA Cup Final High
After a 9 year wait an emotional roller coaster against Hull sees Aaron Ramsey fire home an extra time winner as the Gunners came back from being 2 Nil down in the first few minutes. Not embarrassed to admit I openly wept.
The UK No.1 was Waves (Robin Schulz Remix) – Mr Probz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MH9qWemtPo
30/05/2015 FA Cup High?
Arsenal return to Wembley to take on Aston Villa attempting to retain the trophy and enter the record books as the team that has won the oldest cup in football the most.
And 44 years after it only made the top 20 ‘Good Old Arsenal’ tops the UK Charts????
At only 79 pence make it so Gunners Click to buy and remember you are also supporting Willow.
The UK No.1 WILL BE – GOOD OLD ARSENAL by Riders on the Storm and pals
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
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