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p23
Our man in the North Bank remembers the stadium past and looks
forward to the planned 60,000 seat development on a new site which Arsenal hope will be
open in 2003.
• I can remember when the North Bank didn't exist. In the early 1960s, the
North Bank was simply called 'The Laundry End.' That had been its nickname ever since
Highbury was built, testament to the steam laundry behind the ground in Gillespie Road.
• The 1960s were days of change. Liverpool, because of the Beatles, had become
the cultural centre of the universe. Liverpool, under Bill Shankly, were England's rising
team and the Anfield Kop had become fashionable. Young fans around the country copied the
trend. Thus was Arsenal's 'North Bank' born. Sometime, I'm not quite sure when, in about
1963/4, we bade farewell to the Laundry End and hello to the North Bank. At least the
Clock End has remained the Clock End despite the appearance of alternatives like the South
Bank, or even (yuk!) the south stand complex.
• So what will the next generation call the ends if Arsenal move to the planned
new stadium in Ashburton Grove, Drayton Park? What will the ground be called? What will
happen to Highbury's famous east stand, already a listed building?
• After years of talk about enlarging Highbury or locating other sites, moving
to Ashburton Grove seems the ideal solution. Ironically, after spending around £30
million on developing Highbury in the 1990s, Arsenal have become victims of their own
success. The club has built a magnificent stadium which is too small for its needs. This
way, Arsenal can stay close to their roots since 1913, in a stadium whose capacity will
enable the Gunners to compete financially with Manchester United.
• What happens now? Managing director Ken Friar said: 'The club intends to
submit a planning application, together with an environmental statement in October 2000,
to be followed by an extensive period of public consultation. If planning consent is
granted, it is anticipated that a new stadium could possibly be open by 2003.'
• What is to become of Stephen Hughes? Before the game against Middlesbrough
(three days after England's Wembley disaster against Scotland, when Kevin Keegan again
bemoaned the lack of quality left-footed English players), Arsene Wenger suggested Hughes
was good enough to fill a left-sided role for his country. But how can Hughesy ever be
ready for England when he hardly ever plays for Arsenal?
• Don Howe's recent musings whether certain home-grown stars of George Graham's
championship teams would have got a chance under present circumstances were certainly
thought-provoking.
• And what will be the long term effect on local kids if home-grown players
aren't making it at Highbury any more? Is it any coincidence that Wimbledon have set up
their own north London academy four miles from Highbury, with the hope of picking up
youngsters who would once automatically have looked to Arsenal?
N16 crossword Noël by Gap
The eight solutions on the perimeter require seasonal treatment before
entry. The heading may assist.
ACROSS
1 Dressed claws seen by one watching poor man (9)
5 Beginner dances crazily around burners (7)
10 Dark area on surface is not puss issuing (7)
11 Levelling off at the end of the day (7)
12 In Paris, Pete ordered a starter (9)
13 Bulb for back counter (5)
14 11, without 5, arranged a driver (6)
15 Talk with French water and wine producer (7)
18 I initially made iron stamp (7)
21 Immobilises car with many lights (6)
24 Fruit returned one month to state (5)
26 Setter producing puzzle for monkey (9)
27 Sticky substance will move faster when returned in colour (3-4)
28 Indian manager - admiral maybe (7)
29 Cocktail which is often thrown on ice? (8)
30 Some title is allocated to a branch where meetings take place (9)
Winner of Crossword No.3:
Gavin John Hodgson, Gibson Gardens N16
DOWN
1 Fool will cry about festive occasion (7)
2 In inn, when drunk, take up exercise with skittle (7)
3 I seem somehow to accept a way to warm to someone (9)
4 Tastier production for perfomer (7)
6 Get Old and New Testament for representative (5)
7 Control the ball and release slowly (7)
8 Dessert contains sweetener - lump that is crushed (9)
9 Scale for measuring some tricksters use (6)
16 I leave a Christian organisation to become a revolutionary (9)
17 Ringers that continue until the end? (6,5)
19 Inadequate cure for location with unpleasant smell (7)
20 Ask her to rattle the dice-cup (6)
21 Indian bread and tea I knock back (7)
22 Leader with terrible content when brought up is a gem (7)
23 Lie and brag awfully? No, an angel (7)
25 Partly read library book without preparation (2,3)
There will be a prize of a meal for two up to the value of £30 at Barracuda on Church
Street. Entries must be received by 31st December 1999. Send entries to PO Box 21149, N16
6WU.
January 2000, Issue 4. N16 is published by n16 publishing ltd, PO Box 44624,
London N16 5WN. phone/fax 020 7502 2532 info@n16mag.com
. Printed by Spiderweb Ltd. Designed by Audiografix. No part of this publication may be
reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.
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