{"id":4715,"date":"2022-02-04T18:01:17","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T18:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=4715"},"modified":"2022-02-09T10:37:09","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T10:37:09","slug":"an-interview-with-goonerholic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goonerholicsforever.com\/?p=4715","title":{"rendered":"An Interview with Goonerholic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just a couple of weeks ago, on 11th<\/sup> January David Faber, aka the Goonerholic, would have been 65, had he not been taken, before his time, on Christmas Day 2019. A few of us toasted his memory in the Drinks on that date but serendipity has provided us with an opportunity to mark it more formally, albeit a couple of weeks late, with a special blog during this Interlull, a term, now forever in the Lexicon, first coined by Dave\u2019s good friend Arseblog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave was a very special guy and a cherished companion to many Arsenal fans, for some in person pre- or post-match for others through his \u2018Goonerholic\u2019<\/em> blog or his frequent appearances on the \u2018Arsecast\u2019<\/em> or the \u2018Bergkamp Wonderland Podcast\u2019<\/em>. His wit and wisdom were expressed through sparkling prose on his blog or in dulcet tones (with more than a hint of his Islington origins) in a podcast or over a pint of the black stuff and were beloved by many. Furthermore, a nicer man you will never meet. As headlined on his blog Dave ate, slept, breathed and drank Arsenal. His knowledge of the history of the club and his commitment to following the Arsenal were second to none. A visit to his blog \u2013 still accessible online thanks to the good auspices of Invinciblog and linked in the right margin – and a perusal of the posts on the history of the Arsenal will provide younger Gooners with a glimpse of the traditions of the club. It wasn\u2019t just the marble halls that distinguished the Arsenal from other clubs. As a man, Dave seemed to epitomize those old Arsenal values. Dave\u2019s writing drew followers from all over the world and when he passed, those of us who knew him through the Arsenal discovered that there was also a large community of music aficionado acolytes with whom he engaged late into the night on Twitter who were as bereft as we were. As regular visitors to Goonerholics Forever<\/em> will know, this blog was set up by some of Dave\u2019s friends to preserve the community and traditions he established and we are delighted to have an opportunity to mark what would have been his 65th<\/sup> birthday with a blast from the past that is quintessentially Goonerholic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A pre-prandial aperitif in Pinner before the 2014 FA Cup Final. 
With a seat in \u2018Club Wembley\u2019 where no club gear was permitted, Dave ingenuously adopted the attire that originally inspired Herbert Chapman to introduce Arsenal\u2019s white sleeves<\/em>.
Photograph by BtM. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Last week, out of the blue, Block 5 Gooner offered us the transcript of an interview he had done with Dave in December 2016 as part of a series he was producing with notable Arsenal accounts off Twitter. We are delighted to publish it as a late tribute to Dave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Block 5 Gooner Interview<\/strong> today I speak to the legendary Blogger – Goonerholic!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goonerholic, or David to you and I, as well as being a regular guest on the Bergkamp Wonderland podcast<\/a>, is one of those Arsenal supporters that has simply seen it all. If you were to look up the word ‘gentlemen’ in a dictionary you’d be sure to find a description that aptly portrays this fine fellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David, thank you for taking time to chat with me. So, to start with roughly long have you supported the Arsenal?<\/strong>
The short answer is all of my life. Mum made \u2018the infant me\u2019 Dad\u2019s responsibility on Saturdays. He went to the Arsenal and so did I. Although he didn\u2019t remember my first Arsenal match he did take me to my first England match against Russia at Wembley in October 1958. I was 18 months old, so I expect 1958\/9 was my debut season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you remember watching your first Arsenal match?<\/strong>
Sadly no, I was far too young. My first memory of watching the Arsenal is an Inter Cities Fairs Cup match against Royal Liege in 1963. It was Bob Wilson\u2019s fifth game for the club. We drew 1-1 with a second-half goal from Terry Anderson.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From ebay.co.uk<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When you started to attend regularly which end did you stand at Highbury?<\/strong>
Clockend or East Stand as a child. Dad stood with some of his old friends in the same spot to the left of the clock most games and I had a stool on the big step at the back. Once old enough I alternated between the North Bank and Clock End.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who currently is your favourite player at the Arsenal?<\/strong>
I\u2019m not sure I have a single favourite. At a push I would plump for Laurent Koscielny who has improved so much in his time at the club.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m loving both our central defenders, both Rocks.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who would you say is your favourite all-time Arsenal player?<\/strong>
There are so many contenders but in the end it has to be Dennis Bergkamp, or God as most would acknowledge him today. We were so lucky to enjoy him in his prime years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Dave, do you have a most memorable Arsenal match?<\/strong>
I could not separate three. The night I watched us win a trophy for the first time against Anderlecht in the Fairs Cup Final in 1970, winning the league at White Hart Lane a year later, or beating a very strong Parma side in the Cup Winners Cup Final of 1994. All joyously celebrated among like-minded souls.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our defence in the Cup Winners Cup final was immense! Shutting out a brilliant Parma team. <\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have a most memorable Arsenal goal?<\/strong>
No brainer for me. Liam Brady at the Lane, Christmas 1978. His celebration in front of the Shelf just added to the brilliance of the strike, so that just pip\u2019s Thierry\u2019s remarkable solo effort and subsequent celebration against the same opponents at Highbury.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image from Arsenal.com. Check out that shot<\/a>! (or view here<\/a> if you have an Arsenal.com membership) <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What about a favourite Arsenal chant of yours?<\/strong>
We are the Arsenal and we are the best\u2026 It is sung too seldom these days, but it is as true today as ever it was.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us David, do you have any pre-match superstitions?<\/strong>
Not these days. I used to consider my original 1970s Umbro home shirt lucky, and wore it in Copenhagen against Parma. I still have it, but it seems to have shrunk!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your favourite away ground that you\u2019ve been to?<\/strong>
Craven Cottage for me. Good pubs and that walk alongside the river through the park, then into a proper old football stadium. I loved going there all my life and I hope they get back to the Premier League one day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another one of Archibald Leitch’s Stadiums.<\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which fixture or teams do you fear and or hate playing the most?<\/strong>
Tottenham away these days. Before all-ticket matches came in we would take thousands to the Lane. They weren\u2019t as disagreeable when the numbers were even. Nowadays, they terrorise soft targets there. Cowards, all.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any teams you have a soft spot for?<\/strong>
Stirling Albion. My Mum was from there and when the Supporters Trust took the club over I bought in. When Rangers were relegated to the fourth tier of Scottish football I bet against them in all four league encounters. Thankfully the Binos won one and drew two so I made a small fortune. \u201cCan we play you every week?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Binos’ club crest. Image from BBC News. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Perhaps there’s another reason for that affiliation? Image from The Scotsman.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Have you got an Arsenal humorous moment?<\/strong>
Finding the team hotel in Leipzig when it was still in East Germany. Terry Neill invited us to join the post-match craic. We had to sing for our supper. I did \u2018maybe it\u2019s because I\u2019m a Londoner\u2019 which resulted in Liam Brady and Sammy Nelson ripping the piss out of me, bless \u2018em.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ha-ha! I’d have loved to have seen that!
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your expectation for Arsenal this year (2015-16)?<\/strong>
Premier and Champions League! Ok, maybe just one, possibly the former. We have improved the last couple of seasons and the squad is getting close to where we need to be, and we have some attacking options rather than just burning Giroud out every season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do seem to be improving each year. <\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s your favourite Podcast?<\/strong>
A Bergkamp Wonderland<\/em><\/a> and the Arsecast<\/a> for obvious reasons. I wish the Tuesday Club would get it back together.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And your favourite Blog?<\/strong>
Another no brainer. Arseblog<\/a>. A great friend and good counsel when I don\u2019t know what on earth I\u2019m doing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who’s your must have Twitter follow?<\/strong>
@WestStandTone<\/a> especially at North London derby time. He\u2019s a top man.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you recommend another Twitter user who you would be interested in hearing interviewed?<\/strong>
I hope <\/em>@RajPatel<\/em><\/a> (but I haven\u2019t asked him!)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time for some quick fire questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n