WHAT CUSTOMERS WHO BOUGHT HIGHBURY MEMORIES ARE SAYING . . .

John Ley: Arsenal is in my blood, so Tony McDonald’s wonderfully kaleidoscopic Highbury Memories evokes so much from my past, and my dad’s history. My dad, Charlie, was born in Holloway in 1925 and when he was five-years-old, in 1930, his older brothers took him to Highbury. One sat him on his shoulders in the North Bank (long before it had a roof) and he saw Arsenal lose 1-0 to Sunderland with the likes of Cliff Bastin, Eddie Hapgood and David Jack on show.

I was born a mile up the road from Highbury, in the City of London Maternity Hospital, just off the Stroud Green Road and a corner kick from my first home, in Albert Road. When I was still in nappies dad, a photographer on the Daily Mirror, brought George Eastham to our house and somewhere there is a picture of me sitting the lap of Arsenal’s new signing.
When I was just six I got my first taste of Highbury. Dad managed to get me into the press box to see Arsenal against West Brom, in the October of that year. I sat with the late, great Ken Montgomery, dad’s colleague and a neighbour. Arsenal, with Frank McLintock, John Radford, Ian Ure and George Armstrong in the side, lost 3-2. I can remember the heavy rain and a pic dad took of Albion 'keeper John Osbourne’s legs, ankle deep in the Highbury mud!
When Arsenal said their goodbyes to Highbury 40 years later I covered the game – by then I was a football reporter on the Daily Telegraph – and I sat in the same seat, in the front row of the press box.

Thumbing through the pages of Highbury Memories brought the hairs on the back of my neck to attention, reliving and provoking so many reminiscences, from watching the police band march in front of the North Bank at half-time and the fans urging the mace-bearer to drop his ‘armoury’, and the wonderful tones of the singing policeman, Alex Morgan, to seeing Tony Adams score the goal against Everton that clinched the title, and so many happy memories in between.

John Powell: Highbury Memories provides a wonderfully poignant and nostalgic backdrop to enjoy the memories of many happy and wondrous times at Highbury. Contributed to by the fans themselves, it becomes a personal and heartfelt tribute to the magical stadium and the warmth of being with family and friends.

George Lampshire: Read the book after the kids had hidden it from me until Father's Day. Great read to see so many Gooners have the same memories as I have. Great to see the pic of me as a baby and my dad pre-71 cup final. Being part of the contribution to the book has given me a sense of being part of Arsenal Football Club again. Since the move to The Emirates I've felt more and more distanced from the club itself. Still love the team, obviously, but the club has changed so much. The book gave me back that sense of belonging again. Well done, mate.

Dave Randall: My friend Ricky received his book this morning and he is absolutely delighted with it. He admitted to me that he was getting a little emotional and, believe me, this is not normal behaviour from him! I ABSOLUTELY love it. So many memories and anecdotes.

Joe O’Connor: Having forgotten I sent in my contribution to the book about the night of the 1970 Fairs Cup Final, and subsequently obtaining my own copy of the book, it’s been brilliant to read the various stories of other Arsenal supporters. It reaffirmed to me why I love the club and what it means to other Gooners. Brilliant read.

Bernard Kiernan: The book is wonderful, beautifully produced and structured. Can’t put it down. Some great writing by lots of other contributors far better than my own.

Neil Payne: Well recommended to all old school Gooners. Notably, those who have fond memories of the real home of our great club.

Stuart Pierce: I got the Highbury Memories book for my birthday and am honoured to be in it. It’s so well put together and reeks of the old ground’s history with all the beautiful photos and recollections. Brilliant job, I love it.

Pat Rainsford: Mum is so proud to be included in your great book. It’s a terrific read and brings back so many lovely memories and photos that we all share of Highbury that, thankfully, are now preserved for everyone to read and admire. Great work.

Marvin Berglas: Great to be featured in this great new book. Highly recommended.

Tom Badger: Thanks to Bill Badger for the best ever Father's Day present & thanks to
@arsenalmemory for compiling this great book and for giving me the opportunity to include the story of my Dad and Grandad. True Gunners fans to the end.

Emilio Zorlakki: A Wonderful Father's Day gift! So many fans' stories to enjoy. My pleasure to contribute. Thank you for this terrific publication. Highly recommended to all Arsenal supporters.

Stephen Carey: Totally honoured that you used my photo on the front cover. Brilliant, thank you.

Michael Babbage: Such a good book.

Mike: I can’t put it down, it’s so well put together and the pictures and content is brilliant. Well done.

Dave: It’s an awesome book. You won’t be disappointed.

Gary Jones: Postie delivered this fine tome and what a book it is. I supplied some of the memorabilia that has been used and even my dad Ray gets a mention in it .Some fantastic memories of a very special place.

Highbury Librarian: A superb new addition to my Arsenal collection.

Paul Delaney: Excellent book. Can't put it down.

Tony Fisher: Really well produced and will be a great read. Well done.

Neil Davies: Just had a skim through and it is great. Fascinating to read recollections of other Gooners and how they differ/match mine. Brilliant. The images are top class too. Lovely to see Dad and Grandad’s name in it. Glad my memory including @KC120 made the cut!

Alex Morrow: Top work by all involved (especially me!).

Dave Ashby: Beautifully put together. Great read for any Arsenal fan, young or old.

Peter Lewis: Received this fantastic book in the post today. Such brilliant memories. Just flicking through, I can see what a great job you've done collecting our stories, photos, etc. Also reminding me how connected I felt back then. Lots of my contributions in there, especially my mum's now famous scarf from 50 years ago and how I taught my daughter an important lesson in becoming a Gooner!

Dave Nathan: What a brilliant book. Thanks to all who contributed (and thanks for the bit on pages 5- 6). Fantastic read.

NW10 Gooner: Loving my copy of Highbury Memories. So much nostalgia, so many bittersweet memories. Thanks for pulling it all together – you've done a tremendous job.

Eileen: From a quick scan, it's a lovely set of memories of Highbury, a place that means so much to most of us Gooners. I wish you every success with it and hope it does really well for you. And thank you for letting me remember my late husband Steve in print – not that he's ever forgotten.

Alan Thompsett: Absolutely brilliant book, great job. Very highly recommended.

AFCGadge1971: Fantastic book and thank you for using my input. Honoured.

Goonergee79: Read most of it last night. What fantastic memories. Wicked book!
The Buckby Gooner: Just dropped through the letterbox. Looking forward to sitting in the sun and reading this. Looks a great book.

Gary: I had that bag on the front. That book is gonna be full of wonderful memories.

#M: Looking forward to reading. First impression looks good.