Why are we the gooners?

[ChVint22]

The "HERD" and the "EIE" actually have a forum too that I joined. They talk about the old days alot, but they don't seem to be at it like they use to be. I think alot of them are older now and have grown out of that stage. They got a pretty nice forum over there, not as much discussion as there is here, but they have a lot of good games to waste time at work on.

[Aaron]

Is this why we had an armoury?

Aaron

[SE13]

As in The Club Shop?

Yes, it was named The Armoury as a result of our origins.

The original "Arsenal World Of Sport" at Finsbury Park Tube doesn't quite have the same ring to it!

Prior to that, the official club shop was mostly via telephone, and a little brick cabin at the South End of the East Stand at Highbury.

[REG]

lol i have a programme with a black & white picture of the items being sold
Jack Kelsey us to run & serve in there
sob i hope but dount that ex players will be doing that for retirement now

[Libertine]

If there is to be any discussion about Firms, please don't add names.

Good man.

As for the origin of Gooner....
I've heard two stories that make sense.

1) the yids called us Goons and we adopted it (as they did with yids) as our name.

2) a little firm of ours who used to drink in the Holloway, next to Holloway Rd Tube (called something else now) used to call themselves the Goon Squad after a lyric in a David Bowie record.

Now i know one of the lads from that Holloway firm very well, and he says #2 is gospel.

But equally, i'm good mates with the 'bloke who used to run the coaches' and he got up on stage at a 4b2's gig (John Lydon's brothers band) and said "the yids call us goons, so we'll call ourselves Gooners"

Neither of them would bother telling porkies. so i guess it's a case of take your pick.

[CLS]

If there is to be any discussion about Firms, please don't add names.

Our version is still quite active, and I've "met" a few of them over the years, but their origins are allegedly not from "Gooners". That said, there were three or four active firms in years gone by, and no-one really knows who is active, who isn't, nor what names they still go under aside from the obvious.

was thinking the same ,not a clever idea

[goonerniel]

I recently read an article on how we became known as gooners.
there were 4 possible explanations with the most believable one being that it was derived from the word Goons which Arsenal fans were called in the seventies because of their hooligan status.
Anyone have any knowledge on this as it caught my interest and i think it would be good for us to know where we get our collective name from

[ozgooner]

I can confirm that the cannon comes from the fact that Arsenal (Dial Square, Royal Arsenal and Woolwich Arsenal) were formed by a group of workers at The Woolwich Amourments Factory in South East London.

A store of ammunition is known as an Arsenal.

The Gooners thing has never really had a definitive answer, although it does have something to do with the hooligan element of the seventies. "Ooh to, Ooh to be, Ooh to be a GOONER"

look thru the history of arsenal f.c on here niel and when you have a few minutes/hours read the many excellent articles about our great club

[dialsquare]

The term Gooner is a fan derivation of gunner. I first heard it stood on the old (and best) North Bank although I don't think it was overtly linked to any hooligan element (it wasn't the name of any of our 'firms' as far as I can recall).

One of the most outrageous things I ever heard was that Arsenal were trying to trademark the term, which woudl have destroyed most the fan related sites and fanzines (inc this one) but thankfully that came to nothing.

[mikey_gooner]

SE13 is right and was from the hooligan element that followed The Arsenal back in the 70's.
Story goes that the yids called us the goons and we evolved it into Gooners . David Bowie actually mentions the Goon squad in one of his songs . The Oooh to be a Gooner song was actullay a war cry when the firm was going into battle !!

[dialsquare]

Goon Squad is an old term for a group that is often vigilante in nature and this is the reference in the Bowie song.

I wasn't aware of it as a war cry but was only a nipper in the 70's so no reason why I should!!! Everyday is a school day!

[goonerniel]

Thanks Guys.
As i said i did suspect that the Goon theory was the most realistic one i've heard.
Even though i go back quite often now to watch the odd match it took me 19 years from when i left London before i went back the first time so i did loose track a bit.

[niko197]

Thanks Guys.
As i said i did suspect that the Goon theory was the most realistic one i've heard.
Even though i go back quite often now to watch the odd match it took me 19 years from when i left London before i went back the first time so i did loose track a bit.

when did you left london? why!? i don't belive you! i need some evidence, show me your passeport, ID and marriage certificate!


i'm just playin man!

[gzagee]

Thanks Guys.
As i said i did suspect that the Goon theory was the most realistic one i've heard.
Even though i go back quite often now to watch the odd match it took me 19 years from when i left London before i went back the first time so i did loose track a bit.

when did you left london? why!? i don't belive you! i need some evidence, show me your passeport, ID and marriage certificate!


i'm just playin man!

You're gonna get in troouble, you're gonna get in trooouble

[goonerniel]

Thanks Guys.
As i said i did suspect that the Goon theory was the most realistic one i've heard.
Even though i go back quite often now to watch the odd match it took me 19 years from when i left London before i went back the first time so i did loose track a bit.

when did you left london? why!? i don't belive you! i need some evidence, show me your passeport, ID and marriage certificate!


i'm just playin man!

Nice on Niko