{"id":2046,"date":"2020-12-25T09:27:10","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T09:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=2046"},"modified":"2020-12-27T07:45:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T07:45:50","slug":"goonerholic-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=2046","title":{"rendered":"Goonerholic Remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On Christmas Day 2019 we received the dreaded but sadly not unexpected news that Dave Faber, aka \u2018The Goonerholic\u2019, had been taken from us. I use those words advisedly because his passing seemed like a very personal loss to so many people. Many of those people had never met him but felt as if he were a very special friend. Not just a bloke they had met online but someone who was truly interested in their lives and someone whose opinions on Arsenal, on music, on cricket and on life they were fascinated to read and debate with him. His delightful nature shone through his writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year has passed since Dave\u2019s death and the blog that we created in his memory and which attempts to preserve the traditions that meant so much to us all, has been functioning for nine months. Ironically, it came to life just as lockdown began with a report by Bathgooner on the West Ham game in March, then football ceased for several tedious months. But the blog continued and on the anniversary of his death I asked a few of his closest friends on the blog – Btm, Bathgooner, Steve T and Gunnersaurus Stunt Double – about their memories of Dave and what he meant to them. These are their recollections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How and when did you meet Dave?  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Btm: <\/strong>I had been contributing to the Goonerholic drinks for more than a year as \u2018Bergkamp\u2019s The Man\u2019 and had several \u2018to and fro\u2019s\u2019 with Dave over that period in the bar. Goonerholic was a pastime and I devoted a goodly proportion of my Arsenal time to contributing to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was living in the USA at the time and only an occasional visitor to London. When the time came to fly in for a game, Dave and I agreed to meet \u2018under the umbrellas\u2019 at the Tollington. While I was looking forward to this, a part of me was concerned that Dave might turn out to be a total plonker (my enthusiasm for Goonerholic would have plummeted). I needn\u2019t have worried. In the local parlance, it was immediately apparent that he was a \u2018bang up bloke\u2019 and \u2018a diamond geezer\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bathgooner<\/strong>: I first met Dave in person in the Tollington on a cold, dark evening in December 2011 at the launch of Andrew Mangan\u2019s book \u2018So Paddy Got Up\u2019 in which he had written a chapter. I treasure my copy of this excellent book signed by both Andrew and Dave. I was bowled over by the warmth of Dave\u2019s welcome for someone who was merely an occasional visitor to the \u2018Drinks\u2019. Over the next several years we met up regularly on the terrace at the Tollington either pre- or post-match. It was always a delight to anticipate or review the match or simply to shoot the breeze with Dave and that became as essential a component of my match day experience as a fine pre- or post-match meal. I have extremely pleasant memories of several occasions when we combined both elements and over the years I came to know him not only as an expert in all things Arsenal and a good opinion therein, but also as a constant friend, a great raconteur, a gourmet, a true gentleman and an aficionado of fine whiskies.  Through Dave I met a wider circle of match-going \u2018Holics, several of whom have become good friends. The Tollie is a fine pub but on match days it can be unpleasantly rammed and were it not for the opportunity to meet up with Dave, I would have been a much less frequent patron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve T: <\/strong>I\u2019m not sure how I discovered the blog. I am not a fan of social media, or the very numerous trolls that it attracts. I can only guess that I discovered the blog purely by accident. That must have been a good 10 years ago now. Apart from commenting in the bar, there must have been some private interaction. My seat is in block 4 and I knew that Dave was only a stone\u2019s throw away. As a result, at one home match, I have no idea which one, we arranged to meet up at half time for a quick drink. That we did and the rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GSD: <\/strong>I met Dave a few years ago in the beer garden of The Tolly before a match (I have no recollection who we were playing!). I was not living in London at the time and could rarely get to games. I was going by myself, so I finally decided to take the leap from online relationships to meeting in person and used Dave\u2019s blog to find out which regulars were going. And where they would be meeting for a pre-match pint. I was thrilled when Dave himself replied that he would be at the game. He was Arsenal royalty, I had been reading his blog and posting in the \u2018Drinks\u2019 for years, so the prospect of meeting him was exciting indeed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I had chosen \u2018Gunnersaurus Stunt Double\u2019 as my daft moniker for his blog I decided for the first time, in honour of Dave (and because life is too short not to do damn silly things for the fun of it) that I had better live up to it. So, I purchased a dinosaur onesie and got myself kitted out as our famous mascot. That got me some funny looks on the tube I can assure you. But I could not shake Goonerholic\u2019s hand and introduce myself by the handle I used on his site without earning it, now could I? Weirdly, I felt I owed it to Dave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arriving in the pub beer garden I did the only thing I could think to do when meeting someone whom I had never seen before – I yelled, \u201cGoonerholic!\u201d loudly and looked for responses. A couple of amused Gooners took a step to the side, pointing at a distinguished looking gent with a smile and a pint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I am\u2026,\u2019 I started to say \u2018Gunnersaurus Stunt Double \u2018, he replied with a huge smile. And that was how we met!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What were your impressions of him?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Btm: <\/strong>A very genuine, thoughtful, warm gentleman with a deep knowledge of, pretty much everything sporty, and a point of view on everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bathgooner: <\/strong>My first impressions were that he was a genuinely loveable man. Warm and considerate, and with a huge passion for the club. It was also abundantly clear that he had a massive in-depth knowledge of the club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GSD: <\/strong>As for my impressions of him. Well, I was thirty years his junior, which I suppose meant I saw him a little differently to regulars who, like Dave, were attending Highbury before I was born. Before meeting him, I had always respected his measured views on Arsenal. He was like an Elder of my tribe, whose wisdom and standing in the tribe were beyond reproach. When I met him, I was pleased to find that everything that came through online was true, but also just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve T: <\/strong>To me, he had a calm authority. He was funny and full of life. When he asked questions, he actually listened to the answers. There is not too much of that flying about three beers in and an hour before kickoff on a Saturday afternoon. He was generous in all ways, with his time, his care, the way he shared about the club and himself. I have rarely enjoyed spending time with anyone as much as I did with Dave. He just had something special about him that resonated with me and put me at my ease. I dunno what more I can say really. He was just a special bloke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do you have any memories or anecdotes which particularly sum him up?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Btm: <\/strong>Dave\u2019s mum was from Stirling and he cherished his Scots heritage. That included a willingness to suffer all of the slings and arrows of being a Stirling Albion fan (as well as a long suffering Gooner). He claimed to have watched \u2018The Binos\u2019 get beaten often (they rarely ever won) at Forthbank Stadium (cap. 3,806) and said that their\u2019s was the second result he looked for on a Saturday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bathgooner: <\/strong>I have seen many acts of generosity by Dave from getting Cup Final tickets for people, insisting on picking up the tab for people he had invited to lunch, to that moment he left the 2014 cup final just after half time to help a friend who had phoned to say he was in trouble. Dave was the warmest, most generous man I have ever met<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve T: <\/strong>My favourite memory of Dave was on 30th October 2012. I had been in the west country to visit my sick step-father. The plan was to head back home on that day and to take in the Reading game with my 12-year old daughter and 8-year old son. Arrangements were made with Dave, and with the assistance of ATG, to park up and to meet in a hotel for a pre-match bite to eat. Traffic from Bristol meant that we did not get there early and would probably be too late to eat. We went in and met up with Dave. Both of my two knew about Goonerholic, but had no real idea what it was all about. Dave was eating but as ever, was more than generous with his time. He was happy to let my two help themselves to the platter that was spread before him. After about 10 minutes, we departed. Our food would have to be whatever Reading had on offer. I will always remember how Dave was on that day. Again, warm and engaging with my two who both loved the attention. As we walked to the ground Ben, my 8-year old struck up a conversation. \u201cDad, is that Goonerholic?\u201d \u201cYes son, it is.\u201d  \u201cWow,\u201d he said before we carried on. A few seconds later there was another tug at my coat. \u201cDad, what\u2019s a Goonerholic?\u201d I just laughed and explained the best way I could. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can remember Dave mentioning both of my two in his subsequent match report. I think I recounted the story in the drinks and I can remember Dave coming back and laughing. It was often the subject of conversation. What was more important was that at almost every meet up after that, he would always ask about my two. How are they getting on and just general chit-chat. That meeting, and all of the subsequent ones for me, sum him up perfectly. Always a mad passionate Gooner, but someone who more than knew the importance of family<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GSD: <\/strong>One thing that I remember so clearly was his support when I was fundraising. I contacted him to let him know I was skydiving (dressed as Gunnersaurus Stunt Double, of course) to raise money for CHAOS, a local East London children\u2019s charity that takes kids on camping holidays and that I have volunteered with for years. It is a cause close to my heart and I wanted to share it with the \u2018Holics, but I wanted to check with Dave if I could use the \u2018Drinks\u2019 to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, he did it for me! On his next blog he signed off with a piece at the end about what I was doing, who it was in aid of, and how people could sponsor me if they so wished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the next days and weeks, I was blown away to start receiving sponsorship from \u2018Holics across the globe. Many people who had never met me, without any particular affiliation to CHAOS were giving up their hard-earned and also offering their encouragement and support. That meant so much and the money raised was well spent on a wonderful holiday for kids who otherwise would not have had one. That was a time when the blog went way beyond football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am still touched by this and full of gratitude. It really sums up what an incredible community Dave created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What made Goonerholic such a special blog from your perspective?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Btm: <\/strong>Goonerholic was always a \u2018glass half full\u2019 site. Dave would often offer constructive criticism of many aspects of The Arsenal but never sunk to the depths of irreverent, indecent, unbalanced bile served up in other digital media venues. Accordingly, contributors\u2019 \u2018voices\u2019 expressed, for the most part, a similar generally positive, often amusing, realistic perspective.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bathgooner: <\/strong>Dave\u2019s blog always stood out as an oasis of calm and commonsense in the somewhat hysterical world of Arsenal blogs, particularly during Arsene Wenger\u2019s latter years when vitriol and bile were widespread. Dave\u2019s match reviews were measured and succinct and he dispensed praise with typical generosity and criticism without rancour. He often combined both with dry humour. He could express his passions wisely without losing his self-control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The blog was enhanced by the \u2018Drinks\u2019 which under Dave\u2019s stewardship was a haven for intelligent discussion and reasoned, respectful debate about all things Arsenal. At its peak the Goonerholic blog drew a worldwide community of \u2018Holics whose views and opinions were always worth listening to. It was one of only two or three blogs that I thought it worth reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Steve T: <\/strong>Goonerholic was special because it was the one place you could go and debate all things Arsenal. The good, and the very much not so good. Sometimes things would get heated, but the attraction for me was that it was okay to have a different view to someone else. That I rapidly discovered was not the same on many other blogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GSD: <\/strong>The qualities of the blog were, for me, the level of debate and discussion, coupled with the respectful yet passionate way those views were expressed. There was a huge amount of humour and ‘Drinkers’ informed by a wealth of experience watching the Arsenal which gave them perspective that I loved. And there was Dave. A steady hand on the tiller. A writer of rare pith and turn of phrase, so adept at judging the emotional tone of his readers and adding joy on the good days whilst soothing the disappointment of the bad ones. The rules in his bar were so clear. And as long as people stuck to them, they were welcome. And no-one was ever unsure on what was acceptable because he made sure everyone followed the rules. An iron fist in a velvet glove, had Dave. His quiet, impeccable leadership was of a kind not many are gifted with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I think the simplicity of setting a simple, yet inviolable, honour code that ‘Drinkers’ had to adhere to was the basis for all of the incredibly good stuff that filled the \u2018Drinks\u2019 in his blog. There was no other place like it. The best bar in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What do you think Dave would have made of developments in the last year at Arsenal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Btm: <\/strong>Like most of us, he was aware that Arsene should have left after the 2017 FA Cup triumph. He would have been dismayed by the year of Emery (and the politics behind Unai\u2019s appointment). However, he would have been greatly encouraged by the appointment of Mikel Arteta. Right now, he would be urging patience and continued support for a new project at a nascent stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bathgooner<\/strong>: I think Dave would have been deeply saddened by the dysfunctional behavior of those in control of the club he loved so dearly. Generous and forgiving though he was, he had a low tolerance for incompetence and dishonesty. He would certainly have called out the executives for the multiple mistakes they have made off the pitch that more than match the worst mistakes some players have made on the pitch. He would have seen those executives as being far more responsible for the huge challenges Mikel Arteta now faces than are the players. I think he would have praised the courage that was displayed in finally appointing Arteta and he would have supported giving him all the time that will be required to rebuild the Arsenal as a top competitor.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Steve T: <\/strong>Dave would be horrified at the current state of things. However, I think he would be more pointing the finger at Stanley and the Sceptics rather than at Arteta. He might not feel that Arteta is blameless by any stretch of the imagination but he would adopt the approach of all for one and guns pointing outwards. I am also certain he would have had more than a word of two for the \u2018Wenger out brigade\u2019 that started to infest the club. The majority of whom think that football was only invented with the advent of Sky. With a sly grin it would be, \u201cbe careful what you wish for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GSD: <\/strong>It is hard to know what Dave would have thought but my impressions are that he would have been thrilled with Arteta\u2019s appointment and the FA Cup success, although I think he would have been concerned with our shenanigans at boardroom level. He would doubtless have given us all many posts that made the Covid-19 world seem a better, more hopeful and joyous place. Yet, in our current slump I am sure we would all be relishing his ability to look at our problems head on whilst maintaining perspective. Dave absolutely loved Arsenal, so whatever he would have thought about where we are right now, he would have reminded us all, with his simple, unassuming example, that our relationship with our club is special and something always to be cherished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    We are trying to carry on the tradition that he laid down in his blog. What are the key things we must do to respect his legacy?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Btm: <\/strong>\u2022 High quality penmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 A positive perspective on The Arsenal (but never non-critical when criticism is appropriate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 A well-stewarded \u2018Drinks\u2019 section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Varied, thoughtful, interesting pre-match and \u2018interlull\u2019 postings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2022 Rapid match reports (no one is interested after 36 hours \u2013 target 2 hours).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bathgooner<\/strong>: Dave set a standard of tolerance for dissenting views but demanded respect for all and rigorously policed the \u2018Drinks\u2019 to ensure there was no personal abuse or antisocial views. We must maintain those standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Steve T: <\/strong>To carry on, I think we need to find a way of getting greater publicity for the blog. Goonerholic always appeared on the News Now platform. I have no idea how that happened but I think that could well have a good effect on getting new people to the blog. I think that people may well turn away at some stage if it\u2019s just the same old names again and again, with no new views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GSD: <\/strong>To respect Dave\u2019s legacy, I think there are a few simple ideas and not much more. It says a lot about Dave that his ideas on how he wanted his blog to run were clear and simple. That is why they were so effective. The way we treat each other with respect and also those associated with the club with respect is key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Welcoming anybody at all who wants to come and talk about Arsenal on the blog is also vital. Dave even had Spuds fans who would turn up to engage in well-mannered banter and to join in the fun. As Dave himself said \u201cfootball is the most important of the unimportant things\u201d. He would never let club allegiance get in the way of treating others with decency, or refuse to serve them a virtual pint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tolerance is another key point. Over the years he had a huge variety of posters and posts. As long as people followed the rules they were welcome. The bar can never become a place where one set of views are held up as better than any others, or where people cannot express exactly what they think and feel about the club. The flipside of that was no tolerance for discrimination. Some things are not welcome and they never will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also, puns. There must, intermittently, be long strings of puns, or generally themed gags, in which much of the bar chips in and everyone goes a bit daft. And team goals carefully constructed as we approach a ton in the drinks, followed by goal celebrations and congratulations all round. Dave was always very amused by those things and they grew from what he set up. Not all legacy is serious. Dave was so full of humour and that must also be something we remember!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    If you had the chance to send him a farewell message what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Btm: <\/strong>\u2018Wonderful friendship and a bunch of great memories, Dave\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bathgooner: <\/strong>Thank you for your friendship. It was a huge privilege to get to know you and I miss your warmth, wisdom and wit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Steve T<\/strong>: A farewell message? Wow. I\u2019m not totally sure. It would be something like, God bless big man. Thank you for everything that you have created. I have no idea if you actually realise what you have managed to create but it is something very special. I have real and virtual friends for life thanks to Dave, and I will always be grateful. I hope he is up there with \u2018Holic dad and the pair of them are moaning like no tomorrow about what is unfolding in front of them. I would finish by just saying thank you. As I said, I am not sure you actually realise what you are responsible for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GSD: <\/strong>If I could send Dave a farewell message it would probably be pretty emotional. He meant so much to me. If I had one more chance I would tell him how much I loved him and how much I looked up to him. I would thank him for being one of the best men I ever met. And I would promise him that I will continue to honour him by embodying the lessons he taught me and the qualities that he possessed in such abundance, and by trying to share them with others as generously as he shared them with me. I\u2019d also ask him to have a word with the Big Ref in the sky to see about us getting our hands on a league title again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TTG: <\/strong>I am one of those unfortunate posters who scarcely met Dave. That was very much my loss and a huge regret. I was first introduced to him at the Grove at a function for supporters in the close season. But online he became a very close and treasured friend. One evening he heard that my grandson Harry (aged 9) was playing against an Arsenal development squad in Tunbridge Wells and he asked me to write a blog report on the game. It worked out rather surprisingly as his team beat some decidedly unimpressive Arsenal boys 7-0 and Harry got a hat-trick (I blamed Xhaka who continually left him unmarked!). I wasn\u2019t sure if Dave was serious about carrying such a personal experience on the blog but a few minutes after I had sent him the piece and a picture, it was up on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The following night he contacted me and his delight in the story and the experience could not have been greater if it had been his own flesh and blood taking part. \u201cWhat a beautiful boy,\u201d he said, \u201cI hope he enjoyed being on Goonerholic\u201d. I\u2019ve told Harry subsequently, that to be part of a blog created by Dave Faber is one of the biggest honours you can ever have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rest in Peace, Dave and thank you again for all that you meant to so many people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    On Christmas Day 2019 we received the dreaded but sadly not unexpected news that Dave Faber, aka \u2018The Goonerholic\u2019, had been taken from us. I use those words advisedly because his passing seemed like a very personal loss to so many people. Many of those people had never met him but felt as if he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2046"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2068,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046\/revisions\/2068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}