Voice of Arsenal

WELCOME TO HIGHBURY
A very special welcome to Highbury today to Mrs Nora Mercer, wife of the late, great Arsenal captain of the late 1940s and early 1950s - Joe Mercer OBE. Mrs Mercer is at the stadium with her grandchildren David and Susan. We hope you enjoy your day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LES
Many happy returns to former Arsenal coach Les Shannon, who celebrated his 80th Birthday on March 12. Les was a coach at Highbury when Billy Wright was manager, and also played for Burnley.

HERBERT CHAPMAN BOOK COMPETITION WINNERS
In the Real Madrid programme we ran a competition to win copies of 'Football Emperor', a book about the effect legendary Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman had on worldwide football. We asked you to tell us how many years Herbert Chapman was manager of Arsenal for. He was actually in charge for eight and a half years, so we drew the winners from all those who said eight or nine years. Our winners were: James Carney of Stanley in West Yorkshire, Nicholas Rawlinson of South Harrow in Middlesex and Sheridan Ideins of Rochdale. We have had plenty of enquiries about how to buy the book, so here is all the info you need. It is published by Souvenir Press Ltd, price £8.99 and the title is Herbert Chapman: Football Emperor.

POSSIBLE FIXTURE CHANGE
Arsenal are due to play Manchester City away in the Premier League, on Monday, April 17, 2006. However, should Arsenal beat Juventus and progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, the fixture at the City of Manchester Stadium is likely to be re-arranged.

REAL MADRID PROGRAMMES ON SALE
Following a re-print, we now have more copies of the Real Madrid programme, from March 8, available from club outlets and from Arsenal Home Shopping on 020 8342 5858.

WELCOME BACK TO HIGHBURY
Welcome back to Highbury today John Woodward, who played for Arsenal in the late 1960s. Enjoy the game, John.

HELPING YOUR CHILD WITH HOLIDAY HOMEWORK
Arsenal in the Community are seeking parents, carers or grandparents who have a child currently in Year 5 who would benefit from some extra numeracy and literacy work during the long summer holidays. These parents would use Arsenal Double Club resources in a one-on-one, home-schooling teaching situation with their child over the summer. For more details, turn to page 30 of today's matchday programme. You can also contact Arsenal Double Club Assistant Paul Thompson on 020 7704 4152 or e-mail: pthompson@arsenal.co.uk.

CHEER ON THE GIRLS TOMORROW
Arsenal Ladies take on Charlton Athletic at Bishop's Stortford FC in the semi-final of the FA Women's Cup tomorrow. The match kicks off at 3pm and the girls would love to see as many Gooners there as possible.

ARSENAL v CHARLTON ATHLETIC
FA WOMEN'S CUP SEMI-FINAL
BISHOP'S STORTFORD FC
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2006
KICK-OFF: 3PM

CONGESTION AT FINSBURY PARK STATION
Arsenal Football Club has been informed by Transport for London that pedestrian congestion caused by the Finsbury Park Station improvement works will continue for the remainder of the season. These works will result in a much improved pedestrian environment for next season with a new interchange gallery providing a larger covered ticket hall and new ticketing facilities, better access to buses, improved personal security with better lighting and CCTV, a new taxi rank, a passenger drop-off point and new bus set-down bays. In addition to the Station Place works, construction is almost complete on a state-of-the-art cycle park, providing secure parking for 125 bicycles - due for completion in spring 2006.

To minimise any inconvenience resulting from these works the Club advises spectators travelling via Kings Cross to central London that delays may be avoided by walking to Highbury & Islington station and catching the Victoria Line underground. Alternatively, there are numerous high frequency buses travelling directly to much of north and central London within a few minutes walk of the ground. More detailed information is available from www.arsenal.com/tickets or www.tfl.gov.uk.

SOUPER SATURDAY!
The catering outlets around the stadium are launching a new product today. From this afternoon you can buy a large cup of thick vegetable soup, priced at £1.80.

HALF-TIME PRESENTATION
Before the game today, pupils from Pooles Park, Rotherfield, St. Andrews and Copenhagen primary schools took part in a penalty shoot out in the O2 Sports Centre. The eight winners will be presented with their certificates next to the pitch during the half-time interval.

TOP THREE THIERRY
Following his brace against Liverpool last weekend, Thierry Henry is now third in the all-time Premiership goalscoring charts - with 156 goals. He also holds the record for most Premiership goals for any one club. Alan Shearer leads the way on 256, Andy Cole is second with 185, while Robbie Fowler is one behind Thierry on 155. Les Ferdinand (149) completes the top five.

1971 'DOUBLE' WINNERS - 35TH ANNIVERSARY EVENING
This is YOUR chance to attend the reunion of one of Arsenal's truly great teams - the 1971 League and FA Cup 'double' winning side. The event details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2006
Time: 7pm for 7.45pm
Venue: The Mezzanine Suite,
South Stand, Arsenal Stadium
Dress: Lounge Suits
Includes: Four Course Dinner (with wine), special guests and entertainment
Price: £100 per person. Tables of ten are available for £1,000.

To book your seats please call 01273 558174 or fax to 01273 549 03

Many members of the 1971 squad will be in attendance as well as other Arsenal legends from other eras. The event is being hosted by S&C Associates who also organised a hugely successful, sell-out evening in the Mezzanine Suite at Highbury last October as a 'Tribute to Don Howe' when, as you can see from the picture, there was a superb turn-out of 'double' legends. Book early to avoid disappointment.

FINAL MATCH CONFIRMED
The kick-off time for the final match at Highbury, against Wigan on Sunday May 7, has been confirmed as 3pm. Ticket details for the fixture appear on page 12.
The details of the fixture are:

ARSENAL v WIGAN ATHLETIC
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2006
KICK-OFF: 3PM
AT: HIGHBURY

More details of the events planned to mark the closing of the stadium will be available in the near future.

RESERVE FIXTURE RE-ARRANGEMENT
Due to first team commitments, our FAPL Reserve League South game away to Southampton (originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2006) has been put back by 24 hours. The rearranged fixture will now take place as under:
 
SOUTHAMPTON v ARSENAL
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 29, 2006
KICK-OFF: 7PM
AT: ST MARY'S STADIUM

ROCASTLE TRUST TOURNAMENT
The Club is delighted to announce that Arsenal's home game against Aston Villa on April 1 will be dedicated to its Charity of the Season, the David Rocastle Trust. The charity, founded in memory of 'Rocky', will benefit from awareness raising and charitable giving on the day. We're appealing for volunteers to help with fundraising at the matchday. If you can offer your time before kick-off on Saturday, April 1, please contact Shadia Hameed on: shameed@arsenal.co.uk or call 020 7704 4154 for further information.

TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND
We are asking all football supporters to pay tribute to 'Rocky' as we remember him on April 1. E-mail or write in to the Club with a short message, memory or tribute to 'Rocky' which will be included in a book which will be presented to his family before kick-off on 'David Rocastle Day.' Please include your full name, age and where you come from. This is your chance to honour a true Arsenal legend. Please submit your memories to: rocky@davidrocastletrust.org, the closing date is Monday, March 27, 2006. If you miss this unique opportunity, the Trust will also be selling helium-filled balloons outside the ground and you can attach a personal message before letting it fly. Various fundraising events will take place on the day and further information will be included on Arsenal.com and in the
Juventus programme.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Martin Downes is supporting The David Rocastle Trust by taking part in the Nationwide Bath Half Marathon 2006. He has written a training blog, which according to Martin is as short as his training to date! The David Rocastle Trust wishes David a successful run on Sunday, March 19. If you would like to get involved and show your support for The David Rocastle Trust, telephone Shadia on 020 7704 4154 or email shameed@arsenal.co.uk.

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