From about the age of 14 onwards I became a regular to Highbury, most seasons missing only a few games a season. I was never really an away fan but I was regular at home. All the way up to the last season at Highbury. In that time I was lucky enough to experience everything (apart from relegation thankfully). I brought all the kits, I brought all the end of season videos, a programme at every game. I was the perfect fan. Loyal, passionate, I knew all the history, in my time I have been a Junior Gunner, a member of the Cannon Club and then a full on member (right up until present day). I’ve never been a season ticket holder – I’ve never been able to afford it or needed to be. Membership and then the evolved Silver membership was always enough to get me tickets.

My first cup final was in 1988 against Luton Town where myself and my brother stood on an empty terrace at the end of the game experiencing our first heartbreak until our Dad had come all the way round from the Luton end (the only ticket he could get for himself after getting us two in the Arsenal end) to drag us back home. Thankfully 12 months later we were dancing in his lounge when Michael Thomas scored the winner at Anfield.

The “I was there” list is long, very long and I have been lucky. I have seen us win it all (bar the big European one). I have seen some truly world class players that back in the 80′s no one would have ever imagined they would have seen in an Arsenal shirt.

I have also sat through some seriously bad games, watched some truly bad players and prayed for a top 5 finish just to grab some European action. I remember cutting out the league table back in 1985 after 5 games after beating Liverpool. It was the first time we had been 1st since I had supported them. It only lasted a week and sure enough a few days before Christmas I was stood on a freezing cold North bank watch a really dull 1-1 with Watford.

But I loved it.

And now Arsenal want £45 out of me to renew a membership that does nothing more than allow me the privilege of buying a ticket.

Betrayed – No, that is a strong word.

Let down and now priced out – Yes.

I’ve renewed of course, we all have. And I would imagine I am now one of the fans Arsenal are trying to get rid of, those who renew year after year but don’t go to many games. In truth since our move the The Emirates I have been twice. I am no longer the type of fan the club wants hanging around. I don’t spend the type of money the club wants me to and I now go to the odd game.

Basically I have been priced out. I’m not even old school, I’m still in my 30′s, I’m not some old guy who remembers “how good it used to be when football was played by working class men who stood for the club”. But I am all but priced out.

Sure life has changed and I now have a family and kids. That isn’t cheap and your priorities change. I have moved further away from London so train fairs cost more to get into the city. It isn’t just Arsenal who’s prices have gone up but I do now join the club of what I would class as “real fans” that can no longer afford to go and watch football at the club they have given so much to. And this £45 renewal fee simply to gain the privilege of buying a ticket really feels like a kick in the balls.

I’m not naive. I know football is now about business and it has always been my choice to support Arsenal. At no point did they make me come to any games, buy the kits, videos, books, scarfs, hats, clothing or DVD’s but I do believe that modern football in the top flight no longer cares about the fans that backed them during the less desirable years.

Being asked to cough up £45 before I have even picked up the phone to try and buy a ticket is just taking the piss.

Sure you get the brouchure telling you how great you are and how great it is to be a fan and look you even get the chance to watch the team train pre season. But come on £45.

It’s just all too costly. A round trip to watch a game now costs around £100. If I want to take one of the kids…

It’s a rich mans sport these days. Going to a game has become a treat, not the weekly routine it once was.

Even the “fans” that now go have changed. The atmosphere has become hostile with suits that demand success having never known what it was like to stand on the North Bank with a crowd of only 18,000 on a damp November against Wolves.

I cringe when I hear the criticism hollered out in sheer rage and hate when a pass goes astray from those who never had to sit through Gus Ceaser slip over in the penalty box for the 5th time in the game.

Those who have screamed at Walcott all season have no idea who Glen Helder or Jimmy Carter are and never had to sit through some truly bad wing play that makes Walcott look like Pele.

It’s a different club now, the move away from Highbury changed everything.

I understand the need for the move, nothing stays still. It’s impressive, the best club stadium certainly in Europe. Had the club not moved they would have been left behind.

It’s just a shame it came to this.

I’ll never stop supporting, I’ll go when I can but the modern game has finally priced me out.

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Tom Howlett – The Next Chapter

So it appears that the real Tom Howlett has been found.

With no one officially challenging the claim by a mad old man (who came forward a couple of weeks ago) it looks like the case can now be closed.

So with the biggest mystery now cleared up, what is next for Tom Howlett?

The media have been falling over themselves to be the first to get the story in full but as well as the press agents have also been sniffing around for a piece of the action.

None more so than agent of the stars: Troy Jones.

“Coming back was the best thing Tom ever did. I have it all set out; a book deal, rumours of a film, photo shoots and there is a new Asda in Stockport that needs opening”.

Still No Word From Tom Howlett Himself

Tom himself has continued to keep quiet, mainly on the advice of his new agent.
“Tom isn’t the greatest at public speaking, it’s largely nonsense and I don’t think anyone is really interested”.

When asked who might star as Tom in any up and coming films about his disappearance Troy had a few names already lined up.
“Nick Nolte is the big name but in order for him to get the role we need him back on the booze and drugs, sure he is a great method actor but to truly live the part he needs to be as high as a kite and back in the gutter”.

Nolte gave no comment.

Asda however are very excited about the possibility of Tom opening their new Stockport store.
“You always hope for a big name but you never imagine someone as big as Tom. This will be a great start to the Stockport store”.

It became clear later that there had been a big mistake and it was Tom Howley (the bespoke kitchen giant) that they really wanted opening their store.

The so called real Tom Howlett remains tight lipped.

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For this new comedy they have revisited the “Mocumentry” scenario but this time it is based around Warwick Davis, a dwarf who has fallen on hard time.

As with all Gervais/Merchant comedy so many people have totally missed the joke and because the star is a dwarf it has picked up bad reviews and complaints.

Personally, I am loving it. It’s the first comedy in years to make me cry with laughter. And there have been no better moments than when stars have popped up out of the blue sending themselves up.

The Liam Neeson sketch in Episode One could possibly be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Neeson is awesome and the script is sheer genius. Neeson wants to start doing comedy and comes to Gervais and Merchant for help. Neeson pushes some improv comedy on them which has to be one of the funniest moments ever.

Enjoy.

“Triiing”
“We’re Closed”

GENIUS

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Well lets face it there is no point posting bland boring music that doesn’t make me react in some way. This one is another one to make you feel good.

Lyrically is obviously as minimal as it gets but then it is a dance track. But it’s the smile that is smothered all over this track that I just love. It’s summer, it’s care free and if you are like me you will enjoy letting this track take you away somewhere happy.

Listening to the track takes you in one direction, listening to it while watching the video takes you somewhere else.

#musicmonday 2: The Avalanches — Since I Left You.

If you have never seen this video before then I guarantee that once you watch it all the way through for the first time you will watch it again straight away just so you can enjoy it again through different eyes.

Watch, Smile Then Watch Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpqm-05R2Jk

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I have been out of the game for a little bit. Becoming a Dad has taken up all spare time and more. Having two within a year of each other has been insane, testing and a real journey full of smiles and stress.

The aim is to get back into the swing of things in the new year, however it could be said that the material I was using isn’t really, well, best suited anymore.

So here I am, back at the start.
A blank screen.

But what to hell am I going to write about?

Well, as I have been told loads of times I must have collected loads of material over the last couple of years. Surly two years on from becoming a Dad has handed me some comedy gold. Well it has to be said I have gone through some very surreal moments and been placed in some situations I had never imagined I would be in. All however comes under a subject that so many comedians have discussed and analysed to death once they have become a parent.

So it’s no good going over material that has been done again and again. One thing I have found is potential comedy gold that has happened to me over the last couple of years appears to be the norm for most parents. Which is great but once you start making mental notes you end up seeing variations in what feels like every stand up routine.

And so begins the long slog of trying to put a Ginge twist on anything that does come to light.
The part all writers/comics dread. The endless hours of writers block trying to find those killer lines. Praying that your writing partner doesn’t return the fateful line “I heard so and so do a joke similar to that”.

I’ve been beaten, bitten, punched, headbutted, kicked, scratched and been left bleeding more times than my rather disastrous and short kickboxing career. Surly there is something in there?

It just needs to be different, right?

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So, when I can I’ll add my Music Monday offerings on here.

Music you may not have heard before, music that I love and music that quite frankly everyone should own.

#musicmonday 1: Four Tet – Smile Around The Face.

I love this track and I love the video that goes with it.

It has such a feel good factor about it which always makes me smile. Even the video which on the surface may look like its not the most uplifing subject leaves you smiling. Having Mark Heap (who is one of the best british comedy actors around) in it also helps.

Four Tet isn’t the most well known act but if this track grabs your attention then you have to listen to more.

Enjoy, Play It Loud and Smile

I also found this second video for the track which has been made by a student at La Guardia High School of the Visual & Performing Arts. It’s also a good watch if you enjoy that type of “people coming together, having fun, taking part” video.

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Great South Run 2011

After the hell of the Basingstoke Half Marathon 3 weeks ago it was down to a more sensible run on Sunday.

There was no unexpected heatwave, there were no insane hills just a flat course in perfect running weather. Cloudy and warm enough not to get too hot and only the threat of rain.

But nothing can ever be perfect and of course an unwanted injury had to pop up the Tuesday before.

On a gentle training run my Achilles decided to pull leaving it sore.

But it was the last race of the year and I had been training towards putting in a good run so I chose to ignore the injury and face a week of hobbling instead.

In the end my time was 1hour 25minutes.

A good time complete with sprint finish no less but I was a bit gutted as the run had felt a bit quicker. But the infamous last mile and a half which is all along the coast line and against strong winds always slows you down and never helps.

With my place for 2012 already booked I’ll just have to get faster next year :0)

PS: I’m hobbling.

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Its been decided at Koozai that we will be taking part in Movember this year. This means I have to grow a ginger moustache.

No one in their right mind grows a ginger tash, many have tried and many have been called a dick head.

So only charity could actually make me do this (as well as the fact that I didn’t want to be the only person in the office not taking part).

If you want to help keep the razor from my top lip as well as donate to a great cause you can sponsor me here: http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1342276/

But what should I grow? Well I’ve had a look for some ginger ideas:

The Ian Beale:

CHRIST NO

The Keith Lemon

SHA TING

The Daniel Craig

The Executive

As you can see I am going to suffer big time during November.

So please sponsor me and make it worthwhile: http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1342276/

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Those who have never been here before… welcome.

We are going for more of a blog site so that I can update more easily.

It also means that you will get more Ginger rants. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?

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