Lucky Arsenal
The nick-name "Lucky" Arsenal appeared in the 1930s as a wry comment on the assistance Arsenal received from match officials - assistance that was in no way related to the lavish hospitality showered on referees at Arsenal. Indeed it is believed in some quarters that the man who did most to secure the double for Arsenal in 1971 was the man who left the bottles of scotch in the referees' room at Highbury before each match. Not true - after all it was a referee in a Leeds match that secured the title for them that year, and a referee in a semi-final at Hillsborough that got them to the cup final.
Here's an example from the following year:
"ohn Radford breaks clear of the Stoke defence despite appearing miles offside and slots past Banks to settle the tie. The linesman later admitted confusing a programme/ice cream seller for a Stoke defender!"
Obviously nothing like that could happen now.
Posted By: Bernard Shakey on February 12th 2007 at 09:58:04
Message Thread
- Lucky Arsenal (Other Football) - Bernard Shakey, Feb 12, 09:58:04
- That referee really annoys me (Other Football) - Jim, Feb 12, 10:14:34
- good post, also proven by the fact watford got their FIRST penalty of the season yesterday (n/m) (Other Football) - Tony Martin, Feb 12, 10:16:28
- But teams at the bottom rarely get penalties... (Other Football) - Declan, Feb 12, 10:18:55
- Palace got 14 pens and still went down... (n/m) (Other Football) - Brandonio, Feb 12, 10:20:33
- Palace had a player 'skillful' enough to win them penalties... (Other Football) - Declan, Feb 12, 10:22:33
- mmm. Wonder why. (n/m) (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Feb 12, 10:21:38
- Palace got 14 pens and still went down... (n/m) (Other Football) - Brandonio, Feb 12, 10:20:33
- (saturday obviously) (n/m) (Other Football) - Tony Martin, Feb 12, 10:17:27
- But teams at the bottom rarely get penalties... (Other Football) - Declan, Feb 12, 10:18:55
- good post, also proven by the fact watford got their FIRST penalty of the season yesterday (n/m) (Other Football) - Tony Martin, Feb 12, 10:16:28
- It wasn't lucky, as so much the referee was just adament to allow them to get away with it (Other Football) - pants, Feb 12, 10:06:09
- Didnt think arsenal were particularly lucky at all (Other Football) - earlydoors, Feb 12, 10:35:13
- I agree, didn't really think it was a pen and I hate arsenal...thought Wigan deserved (Other Football) - Brandonio, Feb 12, 11:19:45
- Agree with all of that. (n/m) (Other Football) - Dog, Feb 12, 10:37:35
- Deffo, agree with all of that (n/m) (Other Football) - Brom, Feb 12, 10:37:22
- Paul Jewell is a right prick though. (Other Football) - Arizona Bay, Feb 12, 10:11:22
- If the ref had booked Kirkland... (Other Football) - Dr Baker, Feb 12, 10:09:50
- Yeah, big difference between time wasting when the ball is in play and when it isn't. (Other Football) - Arizona Bay, Feb 12, 10:12:56
- spot on (n/m) (Other Football) - Tony Martin, Feb 12, 10:14:46
- ha ha. Indeed (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Feb 12, 10:14:02
- Yeah, big difference between time wasting when the ball is in play and when it isn't. (Other Football) - Arizona Bay, Feb 12, 10:12:56
- Didnt think arsenal were particularly lucky at all (Other Football) - earlydoors, Feb 12, 10:35:13
- That referee really annoys me (Other Football) - Jim, Feb 12, 10:14:34
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