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==Traditions==
==Traditions==
===St. Totteringham's day===
Saint Totteringham's day (sometimes also known as Saint Totteridge's day) is a concept created by Arsenal fans, first published in 2002 on arseweb.com, one of the oldest unofficial [[blog]]s dedicated to Arsenal.<ref name="arseweb">{{cite web | url=http://www.arseweb.com/other/totteringham.html | title=Origin of St. Totteringham's day | work=Arseweb.com | accessdate=2010-04-08 }}</ref>

Quite a simple concept, St. Totteringham's day is the day when Arsenal have gathered enough points to be mathematically assured to finish ahead of Tottenham in the [[league table]]. When Arsenal have an advance on their North London rivals large enough that it becomes mathematically impossible for them to be overtaken, that day is declared by Arsenal fans to be St. Totteringham's day.

The idea of St. Totteringham's day didn't catch on immediately with Arsenal fans and had quite a small following for the few first years of its existence. By 2007 however the concept had grown steadily and was first mentioned (as St. Totteridge) in a 2008 Arsenal-[[Aston Villa]] official [[Football programme|match programme]].<ref name="prog1">{{cite web | http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s378/st126484.htm Arsenal Times | title=History of St. Totteringham's day | work=thefootballnetwork.net | accessdate=2010-04-08 }}</ref> Since then, the concept has gained momentum among gunners fans and is frequently mentioned on message boards, blogs and fanzines, as well as several pages on [[Facebook]] which have been dedicated to it.<ref name="fb1">{{cite web | url=http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12493736538 Facebook page 1 | title=St. Totteringham's day Facebook page 1 | work=facebook.com | accessdate=2010-04-08 }}</ref><ref name="fb2">{{cite web | url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Totteringhams-Day/286837588333 Facebook page 2 | title=St. Totteringham's day Facebook page 2 | work=facebook.com | accessdate=2010-04-08 }}</ref> St. Totteringham's day 2010 was the first time the celebration was acknowledged by mainstream media, with mentions from the [[The Sun (newspaper)|Sun]], [[Daily Mirror|Mirror]], [[Daily Mail|Mail]] and the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Will-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-do-a-Gordon-Brown-and-refuse-to-hand-over-the-trophy-Ten-things-we-think-about-Chelsea-Manchester-United-Arsenal-Tottenham-Manchester-City-and-the-last-day-of-the-Premier-League-season-article418505.html | title=Last Day of the Premier League Season | work=Daily Mirror | accessdate=09 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2957254/Blackburn-2-Arsenal-1.html | title=Blackburn 2 Arsenal 1 | work=The Sun | accessdate=09 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1275680/Burnley-4-Tottenham-2-Clarets-bow-remarkable-comeback-Spurs.html?ito=feeds-newsxml | title=Burnley 4 Tottenham 2 | work=Daily Mirror | accessdate=09 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8667734.stm | title=Sunday Football as it happened | work=BBC Sport | accessdate=09 May 2010 }}</ref>

Because the celebration is based on the points difference between the two clubs, the exact date of St. Totteringham's day varies from year to year, depending on the respective forms of both clubs that season. For obvious reasons St. Totteringham's day can only occur the years when Arsenal finish the season ahead of Tottenham in the league table. Since the inception of the [[Premier League]] in 1992, it has happened every year, except for the 1992-93 and 1994-95 seasons when Arsenal last finished behind Tottenham in the league.

A typical Premier League season runs from August to May, with teams playing 38 games each. The earliest occurrence of St. Totteringham's day in a season is 9 March 2008, matchday 29 of the 2007-08 season. The least amount of games needed to reach St' Totteringham's day was 28, on 13 March 2008. The 1995-96, 2005–06 and 2009-10 seasons went to a deciding final day, with both clubs' rankings relative to each other only decided on matchday 38, the very last day of the season.

Looking further back, the 1960s were a terrible time for St. Totteringham's day as Spurs finished ahead of Arsenal 9 seasons out of 10 that decade.

In Premiership history, St. Totteringham's has only once been decided after a direct confrontation between the two clubs. Typically, it is decided after Arsenal win or draw, or Tottenham lose or draw, against a third party. This was in 2006-07, after Arsenal and Tottenham drew 2-2 at [[White Hart Lane]].

The latest St. Totteringham's day was on 9 May 2010, the last day of the 2009-10 season.

==Police and community relations==
==Police and community relations==
Arsenal supporters enjoy good relations with police forces around the country and especially the [[Metropolitan Police]].{{Specify|date=August 2008}} The club and authorities work closely together to police fans, with both using their available powers where necessary.<ref>https://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2008/08/3456.asp</ref> In addition, Arsenal Football Club has the highest percentage of re-imbursing police costs for match days out of all English football clubs, helping maintain relations.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
Arsenal supporters enjoy good relations with police forces around the country and especially the [[Metropolitan Police]].{{Specify|date=August 2008}} The club and authorities work closely together to police fans, with both using their available powers where necessary.<ref>https://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2008/08/3456.asp</ref> In addition, Arsenal Football Club has the highest percentage of re-imbursing police costs for match days out of all English football clubs, helping maintain relations.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

Revision as of 13:04, 6 July 2010

London based Arsenal Football Club have developed a strong following since their founding in 1886. Arsenal's fans are often referred to as "Gooners", the name derived from the team's nickname, "The Gunners".

Many fanzines, blogs, podcasts and fans websites have been dedicated to the club and the fans have long-standing rivalries with several other clubs; the most notable of these is with neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, with whom they regularly contest the North London derby.

The club and the fans have regularly featured in portrayals of football in British culture. Gooners come from far and wide, a 2005 report estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 27 million, the third largest in the world.[1]

Demographics

Arsenal have a large and generally loyal fanbase, with virtually all home matches selling out; in 2007–08 Arsenal had the second-highest average League attendance for an English club (60,070, which was 99.5% of available capacity),[2] and as of 2006, the fourth-highest all-time average attendance. One of the most well known Arsenal fans is the Queen.[3] The club's location, adjoining both wealthy areas such as Canonbury and Barnsbury, mixed areas such as Islington, Holloway and Highbury, and the adjacent London Borough of Camden, and largely working class areas such as Finsbury Park and Stoke Newington has meant that Arsenal's supporters have come from across the usual class divides. In addition, Arsenal have the highest proportion (7.7%) of non-white attending supporters of any club in English football, according to a 2002 report.[4]

In recent times, a supporter's attachment to a football club has become less dependent on geography, and Arsenal now have many fans not just from London but all over England and the world. While there have always been small pockets of supporters abroad, Arsenal's support base has widened considerably with the advent of satellite television, and there are now significant supporters' clubs worldwide. A 2005 report by Granada Ventures, which at the time owned a 9.9% stake in the club, estimated Arsenal's global fanbase at 27 million, the third largest in the world.[1]

Supporters clubs and fanzines

Like all major English football clubs, Arsenal have a number of domestic supporters' clubs, including the Official Arsenal Football Supporters' Club, which is affiliated with the club, and the Arsenal Independent Supporters' Association, which maintains an independent line. There is also the Arsenal Supporters' Trust, which promotes greater participation in ownership of the club by fans. The club's supporters also publish fanzines such as The Gooner, Highbury High, Gunflash and the less cerebral Up The Arse!. There are also many online fanzines and weblogs bar any from the official website, operating outside of the club's actual management.

Songs

In addition to the usual English football chants, Arsenal's supporters sing "One-Nil to the Arsenal" (to the tune of "Go West" - a reference to the 1970s and 1980s when Arsenal were known for their boring defensive tactics and would often win by a single goal) and also regularly sing "Who's that team they call the Arsenal", "Good old Arsenal" (to the tune of "Rule Brittania") and "We're the North Bank/Clock End Highbury" (now a reference to the old ground) and "Boring, Boring Arsenal", - again a reference to the 1970s and 80s and earlier - which used to be a common taunt from opposition fans but is now sung ironically by Arsenal supporters when the team is playing well.[5] Arsenal supporters adapted the "We are by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen" chant that is often sung at Arsenal's official home stadium, Emirates Stadium. Gooners are unique,[citation needed] in that they have their own club band, called the Arsenal Away Boyz, who rewrite already popular songs to the praise of players, the manager or even other fans. In 2007, they released their first album, Redness.

Rivalries

Arsenal's longest-running and deepest rivalry is with their nearest major neighbours, Tottenham Hotspur, with matches between the two being referred to as North London derbies. A rivalry that has taken a new level in recent years with the celebration of St. Totteringham's day.

Matches against other London sides, such as Chelsea and West Ham United are also derbies, but the rivalry is not as intense as that between Arsenal and Tottenham. In addition, Arsenal and Manchester United have had a strong on-pitch rivalry since the late 1980s, which has intensified in recent years when both clubs have been competing for the Premier League title.[6]
In order of the strength of rivalry, Arsenal supporters most dislike Tottenham Hotspur, followed by Manchester United and Chelsea, although both Chelsea and Spurs fans see Arsenal as their main rival.[7]

Traditions

Police and community relations

Arsenal supporters enjoy good relations with police forces around the country and especially the Metropolitan Police.[specify] The club and authorities work closely together to police fans, with both using their available powers where necessary.[8] In addition, Arsenal Football Club has the highest percentage of re-imbursing police costs for match days out of all English football clubs, helping maintain relations.[citation needed]

However, Arsenal fans have had confrontations with the police, the most recent being over homophobic chants and materials directed at ex-Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.[9] Some fans have also been accused of anti-semitism, due to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur fans using the moniker "Yid Army", despite this being used by some Spurs fans themselves.

List of Famous Gooners

Below is a list of people who have identified themselves as Gooners:

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b "Arsenal Fans". My Arsenal Tickets. Retrieved 3 Jun 2010.
  2. ^ Kempster, Tony. "Attendances 2007/08". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  3. ^ "All Time League Attendance Records". Nufc.com. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Unknown parameter |Arsenal's fans are well known for there good support but also bad and aggressive behavior. url= ignored (help) Please note that some pre-war attendance figures used by this source were estimates and may not be entirely accurate.
  4. ^ "Soccer violence declining say fans". BBC News. 2002-02-27. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  5. ^ Noble, Kate (2002-09-22). "Boring, Boring Arsenal". Time. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  6. ^ "The Classic: Arsenal-Manchester Utd". FIFA.com. 2007-01-17.
  7. ^ http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf
  8. ^ https://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2008/08/3456.asp
  9. ^ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-3218.html
  10. ^ a b http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-450089/The-Queen-self-confessed-Arsenal-fan.html
  11. ^ http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1264299/?intcmp=tweets_voiceofthesite
  12. ^ Chalmers, Robert (22 Jul 2007). "Is Steve Earle America's greatest living songwriter?". The Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jay-z-lends-his-support-to-london-soccer-club_1129777
  14. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2797682/Jay-Z-I-want-Cheryl-Cole.html
  15. ^ http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/damon-enrages-arsenal
  16. ^ "Art by celebrities". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  17. ^ Younge, Gary (2003-10-04). "The capped crusader". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  18. ^ http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1517184,00.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ a b All Day and All of The Night, by Doug Hinman. pp. 120-235.
  20. ^ "Arsene Wenger: Success - I make it, I won't buy it". The Independent. London. 2008-08-23. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  21. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010628/ai_n14399455
  22. ^ "8th April 2001". BBC News. 2001-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  23. ^ "Arsenal programme claims top award - again!".
  24. ^ Young, Byron (16/02/2008). "Arsenal fan Lewis Hamilton is backing Gunners all the way". Daily Mirror. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "accessdate 17/2/2010" ignored (help)
  25. ^ "RADIO 2 CONCERT". Petshop Boys unofficial website. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ "Open Range - Kevin Costner Q&A". indielondon.co.uk.
  27. ^ "Facebook Page for It's Up For Grabs Now - The Arsenal Podcast with Alan Davies".
  28. ^ "SING WHEN YOU'RE WINNING: ROGER DALTREY". Chris Hunt Editorials. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Rookwood, Dan (2003-02-07). "Small Talk: Dermot O'Leary". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  30. ^ Fowler, Dave (Jan 2006). "The Player Frankie Dettori". PokerPlayer.co.uk. Retrieved 13 Mar 2010.
  31. ^ "Mark Ramprakash: What I've Learnt This Week". London: The Independent. 2006-05-27. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  32. ^ O Briain, Dara (2009-08-15). "Every week there'll be a new 'Crisis' to mock". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  33. ^ "Arsenal's A to Z... F is for the FA Cup". Arsenal Official Website. Retrieved 18/2/2020. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  34. ^ "V Graham Norton". V Graham Norton. Season 3. Episode 9. 2003-01-22. BBC.
  35. ^ "Peter Cowie Talks to Sir Alan Parker About His Views on Sound for Film". Dolby.com.
  36. ^ "The ZOO Q&A: Reggie Yates". Zootoday.com.
  37. ^ McClure, Geoff. "Cheers to sorry Max". TheAge.com.au.
  38. ^ "Chelsea game dedicated to Charity of Season". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  39. ^ "Dermot Murnaghan". Sky News. Retrieved 29, March, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  40. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxVwFIusi9E
  41. ^ "Train robber Biggs wants to go to Arsenal match". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1, April, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  42. ^ Flash based site with a dedicated Arsenal page
  43. ^ "Henry: I'll always be an Arsenal fan". FIFA. 28 Mar 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  44. ^ "10 things you may not know about me". Official Website of David Miliband. Retrieved 27 May 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  45. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-leaders-brother-plans-fa-cup-banquet-if-chelsea-win-1973946.html

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