Seven Questions – Dave Seager @goonerdave66

Ian Stone (L) with the legendary Liam Brady

Dave Seager (@goonerdave66) is a writer and author of three Arsenal books with a fourth imminent.

He is also the co-owner and writer for gunnerstown.com and a fan columnist for Sun Football. 

When did you start supporting Arsenal and why?

My family moved from the Midlands to south east London when I was five and it was 1971 so it would be easy to suggest it was the League and Cup Double that drew me to the Gunners.

However, in truth, I think it was my sister’s boyfriend, now my brother-in law, in the early 70s, who went to every game and educated me that caused me to choose Arsenal.

Once I was seven or eight and playing at primary school, I persuaded my parents to buy me the iconic home shirt.

What was your first Arsenal match?

I was taken twice by my brother and sister’s boyfriend in 1976/77.

My first match was a dull affair, at home to Man City, that ended nil all and my second a far more satisfying 4-0 thrashing of Birmingham, (my brother’s team.)

I was sat near Gary Sprake and Howard Kendall, both Birmingham players, and I got their autographs on my programme.

Who was your first Arsenal hero and why?

As for most of my age, it was (Liam) Brady, (David) O’Leary, and (Frank) Stapleton, but primarily Liam, who my son was named for.

Still one of the best players ever to wear the shirt and as an teenager who had not yet been allowed to go on his own, I regret no seeing him more live.

Who is your favourite ever Arsenal player and why?

It is an incredibly difficult question to answer and to single out one is impossible really.

If forced I would have to say Tony Adams, simply because no one player has achieved more in the shirt in my lifetime. Simply a colossus of a man and a player.

I have to place my fellow SE Londoner Rocky (David Rocastle) alongside though, just because he was the player, like Brady 12 years earlier, whose charisma and talent pulled the team out of the doldrums.

What’s your biggest Arsenal regret/disappointment?

I think the single worst occasion in a stadium would have to be the final whistle on the 2011 League Cup Final.

Having waited years, enduring (Arsene) Wenger disrespecting the domestic cups to finally get a chance to end the long trophy drought and singularly blow it against an woeful Birmingham team was awful.

The Luton defeat in 1988 was also horrible but we have gloriously won the same trophy overcoming Liverpool only 12 months previously, which eased the disappointment.

What is your favourite Arsenal memory (away from the pitch) and why?

Perhaps the whole experience of writing ‘Geordie Armstrong on the Wing’.

To meet so many heroes in such a short time was entirely surreal and unexpected.

I mean, to meet the likes of Big Frank (McLintock), Gentleman Bob Wilson, Ray Parlour, John Radford, Pat Rice, Eddie Kelly and of course Liam Brady was an honour.

What is your favourite ever Arsenal match?

For those I have been lucky enough to attend there are a few.

The 1987 League Cup win was my first Wembley final, so extra special and I loved the 2017 FA Cup win over Chelsea but let’s go for the first 5-2 NLD win in February 2012.

To come back from 0-2 down and in such swash buckling fashion will live with me for ever. The Emirates was rocking that day.

For an away bonus the 2015 FA Cup win at Old Trafford takes some beating,

With good friends, on a Monday night as 9000 of us sucked Danny Welbeck’s winner into the net and to watch him celebrate was simply unforgettable. To be followed by is all singing “49,49” as the home fans filed out.

* Dave’s new book “Arsenal for Everyone’ is due for release in November, but you can pre-order here.

The book explores the fanatical and inspiring support of Arsenal’s disabled fanbase and ties in with the club’s inclusivity and diversity mantra.

Dave will be donating £1 from each book sold to the Panthlon Challenge charity for which my friend and one of the inspirations for the book, Alex Brooker, is a patron. The charity encourages and organises competitive sporting events and challenges for disabled children all over the UK.

* After losing his son Liam aged 24 in 2019, Dave supports the Future Men charity and you can find out more about them here.