Simon Collings (@sr_collings) is a sports reporter for the Evening Standard, predominately covering football and rugby. He started his career with a spell at Hayters News Agency and now reports on the highs and lows of Arsenal.
When did you start supporting Arsenal and why?
I have been supporting Arsenal all my life and, to be honest, I didn’t have a choice in the matter!
My family has always supported Arsenal and I can remember my grandad telling me that would be the case for me too. He was actually born in Canning Town, but during the Second World War he moved to north London and started supporting the Gunners. The rest, as they say, is history.
I remember when Manchester United won the Champions League in 1999 in dramatic fashion I was seven and I asked my dad: “Can we support them instead?” I was swiftly told no!
What was your first Arsenal match?
My first game was actually a really special one as I went to Arsenal v Everton, the final game of the 1998 season. It was the day Arsenal lifted the Premier League and the game was wrapped with up Tony Adams scoring *that* goal.
We went for my grandad’s birthday and I’ll never forget the excitement of the whole day. The only frustration was I didn’t actually see a single goal. I was six, so when people stood up because Arsenal attacked, I couldn’t see a thing.
Who was your first Arsenal hero and why?
I was, like many kids of my generation, a huge Thierry Henry fan. I can remember watching him and just being blown away by what he did. There weren’t really any other footballers like him and I can vividly remember idolising him.
Attempts to replicate his feats in the back garden did not go too well, as I didn’t quite have his blistering pace.
Who was your favourite ever Arsenal player and why?
This has to be Henry again, even if he did leave. As I have grown older I have grown an appreciation for Dennis Bergkamp, but as a child it was all about Henry. It was probably part of his attitude and swagger that lured me, any many others, in.
What’s your biggest Arsenal regret/disappointment?
There has been plenty to choose from over the past 15 years or so! I can remember when Arsenal were flying high and going seasons unbeaten, I thought this was fantastic.
My dad did warn me this won’t last - and he was right! The Champions League final defeat in 2006 sticks in the mind, as I can remember us all being sat at home crowded round the tele watching, while blowing the Premier League in 2008 was painful too.
The biggest regret, however, has to be the 2011 League Cup final defeat to Birmingham. I was at university in Birmingham and watched it in a bar there, surrounded by Blues fans. I’ll say no more.
What is your favourite ever Arsenal memory (away from the pitch) and why?
I have been lucky enough to become a sports journalist, now working for the Evening Standard and before that Hayters press agency.
The job has allowed me to cover Arsenal and I’ll never forget first reporting on the club. Being able to report on Arsene Wenger’s matches and press conferences for his final years was an amazing experience. His teams brought me such joy as a child so to report on him was brilliant. I’ll never forget that time.
What is your favourite ever Arsenal match?
This may sound odd, but I think it was my first one - the 1998 Everton game. I know I couldn’t see a single goal, but it wasn’t really about that.
My whole family went and just the entire day was an amazing experience. I can remember being a child and being blown away by everything around the match.
Walking to Highbury for the first time was so special and something I’ll never forget for as long as I live.