Win With Arsenal Scotland

Always good to be at the last match of the season which has an atmosphere which is very special. And that’s especially good when your team knocks 5 goals past the opposition. It’s doubly so when you know you’ve won your match tickets in a good cause lottery run by your supporters club!

A win for the two of us!

This second trip to watch The Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for myself (Olivia) was made memorable by the beautiful weather, magnificent play and (might I add) a great vegan burger 😉

[Dad and I were also amused to be obliged to step up to become acting stewards and assist the confused to their seats; sad to report, the (supposedly real) steward was gazing nonchalantly into space, looking less than thrilled to be there.]

A win for The Arsenal!

With a comfortable 5-1 win in the bag, it was great to see the players and their family doing a walk of the pitch, obviously fulsome in thanking the fans.

Sometimes it is easy to forget that our players are not alone but have the valuable support of their families and friends. Just like us really, but they also play for the best club in the world!

And a win for Lukas!

We want to say the biggest thanks to Jamie Lynch for organising the fundraising for Lukas Thomson  – and, of course, to “Jurgen” for pulling out Dad’s winning ticket!

So glad that all the the donations from that raffle helped enable Lukas’ trip to Napa for 3 weeks of treatment.  He has looked so extra happy in the pictures that are posted on the Arsenal Scotland Facebook page!

And, so far almost 80% of the total needed has been raised – for more, see justgiving.

The amazing things that Arsenal Scotland does, like this initiative, just show you how great it is to be part of such an amazing supporters club!

COYG!

Olivia & Ian George

Kim Little’s football career

… as seen by her father, Calvin Little

Sport was a significant aspect of the Little family life in Aberdeen.  Football in the back garden or at the local playing field with Kim and her brother Euan, was the most popular.

How her career started

I recall one evening, playing with Kim, then about 9 years old, and Euan at the local park.  Mintlaw Boys Club happened to be training at the same time. Kim was so intent on watching the boys training that I eventually approached the coach and asked if she and Euan could join in and that was the start of her football career.

She played regularly for the Boys Club and started to get notice, then a local mum started a girls team called Mintlaw Miracles. They played in the local gala tournaments, often winning them. From there she went onto play for an under 17’s girls team based at Cruden Bay, later to become Buchan Girls/Women. At the same time, Mintlaw Academy started girls football. The Academy team won the North of Scotland and the Scottish Cups a number of times.

Choose Football (rather than cross country racing)

Prior to Kim starting to play organised football she used to take part in Primary School cross country racing, which she was good at. This was always on a Saturday morning and when the opportunity to play team football arose it was also on a Saturday morning, I was keen that she kept the cross country going. However, Kim had other ideas and that was an end to her cross country running.

Aged 15, Kim left Buchan Girls/Women to join Hibs Girls, in Edinburgh. A year later she played for Hibs Women who were based in Dalkeith. Twice a week, we commuted that long journey from Aberdeen so that Kim could train and play games.

Arsenal Beckons

After a successful season with Hibs Women Kim and I were invited by Vic Ackers, the then Arsenal Ladies manager, to visit London Colney and see the Arsenal set up. We were shown round the training ground and then to a game at the Emirate’s Stadium watching the game from the dug out with the other players. I came home with a Van Persie signed Arsenal top.

Shortly after Kim started with Arsenal Ladies Academy (now Arsenal Women), aged 16. Later combining her University study with football, Kim completed a Sports Science Degree at Hertfordshire University. Last year, the University awarded her a Honorary Doctorate Degree in recognition of her footballing achievements.

[Kim made 108 appearances, scoring 89 goals]

America Beckons

I think it was after four or five years playing with Arsenal Women that Laura Harvey, who had been her coach at Arsenal Ladies, persuaded her to join her at Seattle Reign on the North West Coast of the USA. Kim had three successful years with Seattle Reign, winning back-to-back Championships.

Advance Australia Fair

Jess Fishlock, a team mate at the Reign, then persuaded Kim to join Melbourne City in Australia where she had a successful season. If I recall, Kim was the top scorer in the league. The team was coached by Joe Montemurro who was later to join Arsenal Women as coach.

Arsenal Once More

After 3 seasons with the Reign, Kim returned to the UK to re-join Arsenal Women as the Team Captain. By this time media interest and TV coverage of the Women’s game had increased.  Other teams such as Chelsea and Man City had invested more in the women’s game making the women’s league much more competitive.

Wearing Her County’s Shirt

I’ve not said much about her involvement in the Scottish National Team.

Kim started playing for Scotlandfrom the age of 16, ending with her retirement last year, aged 31 [having played in 140 games] . It’s fair to say that her involvement with the National Team has had it’s ups and downs.

 Reflections

Never in her early days did she or I think that playing football would become a career. It was just something you did for fun, to meet with other people and make friends. Nor did we think it would take us all over the world visiting places we would have otherwise never have seen. Most of our holidays revolved around where Kim was playing football.

What next for Kim I don’t know. I imagine more football with Arsenal for another year or two. She is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Business Management which I think helps give a good balance between football, which can be a bit of a bubble, and wider life experience.

Calvin Little

.. as told  to Caz Moir

Grampian Regional Rep, Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club

=> more about Kim

Morning Gooners!

• • Everyone who requested a ticket will have one and that includes all guests requests through members.

• • Everyone who wants seats on the coach from Aberdeen Beach Ballroom via Stonehaven, Stracathro, Dundee Tesco Kingsway, Dunfermline Halbeath P&R and Edinburgh Hermiston P&R will have them.

• • Everyone who wants seats on the coach from Glasgow Buchanan St, Strathclyde Park, Abington, and Lockerbie will have them.

Final invoices go out this weekend

Bus times will be confirmed next weekend

There are still some tickets and  coach seats available

16 days to go

Newcastle v Arsenal

Reminder & for benefit of new members & guests

Coaches

Coach Times

Match Tickets

Notice of election process for Club Chair and other Executive posts.

All Club Members should now have received details.

Please check this out, searching in your spam and junk folders if necessary.

Dave Harrold is stepping down as Club Chair and nominations to fill that vacancy closed on 31 March.

Our present Constitution also provides for annual election for all Executive posts. Martin O’Donnell and Alan Speed have indicated their willingness to continue for another year in their respective capacity of Club Secretary and Club Treasurer. Any other member wishing to stand for election to those posts has until midday on April 28th to say so, replying directly to the Club Secretary, supplying the name of a proposer (allowing self-nomination) and a seconder plus a short supporting statement.

Four candidates, all current and paid-up members, are standing for election as the next Club Chair of Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club. In alphabetical order of surname, they are:

Chris Alexander, Linda Collie, Alan Reid & Connor Shepherd.

I’m sure we would all agree that it is a credit to our Club that we have four willing to undertake this role.

On May 1st (or thereabouts) each member of the Club will be sent an email with the means of voting and will also be re-sent the supporting statements for each of the candidates.

Finally, the Report of the Ballot will appear as an item on the AGM agenda and our present Chair, Dave Harrold, will call for proposer and seconder for formal acceptance

– and Bingo we will have a new, incoming Chair for Arsenal Scotland 😉

COYG!

Peter Burnhill

Acting Returning Officer for Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club
17 April 2022

Date for the Diary

Calling All The Lads & Lasses Away To The Toon!

The final Away game of the Season, just after the North London Derby & before the Home match against Everton, Monday, May 16th is a Red Letter Day for members of Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club!

The nearest we get to a local fixture, Away against the Barcodes of Newcastle United at St James’

 Something to look forward to after setbacks and resolve that

On the plus side, fewer Gooners from ‘Down Souf’ might want to face a long trip to Newcastle and back on a Monday night 

Tickets are dribbling in and availability looking better for ASSC members.

1. 1. from Aberdeen through Dundee, Perth, Dunfermline and Edinburgh.
   2. from Glasgow Queen Street, by Strathclyde Park, Abington, Lockerbie and Gretna then along to Newcastle.

Make your plans now

Get your time off work and send your name & squad number with your request by text to Chris Alexander.

If nothing else, be Ramsdale.

Everyone at Arsenal stands in solidarity with the people affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

Today (March 11) Arsenal Football Club announced donation to Save the Children’s DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, an emergency fund which aims to reach millions of vulnerable families and children.

You can donate to Save the Children’s Ukraine appeal here.

Arsenal is launching a first ever Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club and is encouraging fans across the world to join up in solidarity, and to donate what they can o Save the Children when doing so.

You can sign up to Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club here.

Arsenal Scotland supports the following statement made by Arsenal Football Club

We believe that in times of immense difficulty, there is strength in unity. That’s why, after a suggestion from fans, we’re launching the Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club and encouraging our fans from around the world to join in solidarity.

We’ve also been in discussions with our global charity partner, Save the Children, to better understand the heartbreaking situation and where support is most needed. We’ve all learnt that the conflict in Ukraine is forcing children and families into basements and bomb shelters to escape explosions. Many families are being forced to flee their homes and cross into nearby countries with minimal possessions. They need help with shelter, food, and the most basic human necessities.

As a club, we have donated to Save the Children’s , and we’re asking our supporters around the world to donate what they can when they join our newly formed Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club.

You can sign up to Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club here.

You can donate to Save the Children’s Ukraine appeal here.

As the conflict in Ukraine unfolds, Save the Children’s emergency response aims to reach 3.5 million vulnerable children and their families. They’re already supporting families arriving at the borders of Poland, Lithuania and Romania by:

•    Providing urgent, life-saving aid including cash, food and water
•    Setting up safe spaces where refugee children can play, learn and cope with grief and loss
•    Supporting refugees at five reception centres in Romania

Funds raised will help their teams to keep supporting families by:

•    Distributing essential supplies and winter kits of clothing and blankets as temperatures plunge below freezing
•    Providing cash and vouchers assistance to families to meet basic needs like food, rent and medicines
•    Offering vital mental health and psychological support to children and their families
•    Providing access to safe, inclusive, quality education

The creation of Arsenal Ukraine Supporters’ Club and our collective donations to Save the Children follows the support we have already shown including Ukrainian flag armbands worn by our men’s and women’s captains during fixtures, lighting up Emirates Stadium blue and yellow, and a ‘moment of solidarity’ which was delivered during the men’s match v Watford and women’s match against Reading last week.

At our men’s home fixture against Leicester City on Sunday – our first men’s home game since the conflict in Ukraine began – we will also conduct a ‘moment of solidarity’ ahead of kick off.

So we ask our supporters around the world to unite with us in showing solidarity with people in Ukraine. Please make any donation you can to support the urgent needs of children and families there.

Thank you for your generosity.

Vinai Venkatesham
CEO, Arsenal Football Club

A friendly reminder about social media conduct and responsibility.

We remind everyone that the various Arsenal Scotland social media platforms are solely for discussions about The Arsenal Football club and The Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club – nothing else.

In the distant past we had trouble with posts outside these parameters and we established these rules to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflict.

Please stick to them, thanks COYG!

Club Secretary