Hi Myles,
I am a moderator for the OnlineGooner Forum.
These three anecdotes about Don Howe were posted by users during the past week.
They have had about 900 views, less than they would get on your site. If you want to post them, please do, they are too good and too fitting a tribute not to be read by a wider audience.
Don Howe to me and others of my age personified The Arsenal.
The “hard but fair” style, and the dignity of the club.
Not all who have played for, managed or been a board member of the club, have lived up to that, but Don did.
Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy 2016.
Quartz
Myles says:
Happy to oblige, as my own tribute is still unfinished.
From user “Herd”
Wonderful man who was at times badly treated by the club he loved but took it all on the chin and never spoke ill of the club.
My endearing memory of him was away at Wolves, must have been late 60’s.
A young man called Charlie George was picked for the travelling 13 but wasn’t named in the final 12, so he joined his mates on the terraces in the infamous South Bank of Wolves !
This was a massive end but wasn’t segregated so there was always trouble and this occasion was no different , some scuffles broke out and Charlie got nicked !
In those days they used to march them round the pitch and as he passed the dugout Don pops up, grabs Charlie off the officer, and throws him into the dugout, before thanking the bemused officer for bringing him back !
I was sitting about 3 rows behind the dugout and could clearly hear Don’s Brummie brogue giving Charlie the bollocking of his life, telling him in no uncertain terms what is required of a player for The Arsenal!
From user “Vini1969”
As people have been writing on here Don was a true gentleman.
I will tell you a story of how he treated me and my younger brother over at London Colney.
As kids we used to go over there regularly during the summer holidays to watch the first team train and collect many, many autographs.
It was magical as a kid, getting this close to the likes of Stapleton, Rix, Oleary, Rice, Jennings, Brady, Sunderland etc etc etc.
One day the first team were practicing shooting and the balls were flying into the corn field behind so me and my brother went and stood in the field and retrieved them as they did so. We were thrilled as we had to throw them back to Pat Jennings and Rhys Wilmot (if my memory serves me right) it really was not a chore.
At the end of the training session Don Howe came over and said, “Thanks lads, come with me. So we followed Don into the changing rooms where the first team were…our faces must have been a picture as we rubbed shoulders with our heroes.
Don went to a cupboard to get us some scarves, badges etc for our efforts. He came back and said “I am really sorry lads, I had hoped to give you some gifts but they have all gone.When are you here next?” We replied, “Next Thursday.” Don replied, “I won’t forget”
So the Thursday came and my old man warned us that Don may forget, as he is a busy man. So it was with trepidation that we walked across the car park. As soon as Don saw us he shouted, “Come on lads.” So off again into the changing room where Don proceeded to hand us a Scarf, Pennant and some badges.
I will never forget that…to remember to do that for 2 kids a week later after all the football stuff he had on his mind really gives you an idea of the man.
Thank you for that, Don, and all you did for The Arsenal.
You will be missed. RIP.
From user “GranadaJoe”
In the early 80s I played for team in Kent whose manager left at the end of the season.
The new manager who arrived the following season was slightly unhinged. After one training session he asked if any of us would like to meet the England team. My hand went up like a shot.
I took the following afternoon off work and went to pick him up from his house. The entire house was filled with plaster ducks in various stages of completion. The finished ones were decked out in club colours with little bobble hats on and the motto ‘I’m quackers about …’ It was like a miniature, really shit Terracotta Army.
It turned out that this was how he made his living and we were off to the England hotel to fulfill previous orders and take new ones from the England players. We left from Chatham in my Simca 1100 and arrived some hours later at the team hotel (I think the Holiday Inn in High Wycombe).
He marched straight up to reception, asked where the team were and, when told they were finishing dinner, marched straight there with me in red-faced, hyper-embarassed pursuit. Half the players, plus Bobby Robson and Don were still there. They politely asked us to let them finish. We went back to reception and accosted every player who passed. I remember Lee Dixon buying one, John Barnes politely refusing and a player who I didn’t recognise, but who turned out to be Graham Roberts with his teeth in, not replying or even breaking stride.
Afterwards we went to the bar where the team had gathered. I remember being shocked at how small they all were.
Only Shilton and Hoddle appeared to need adult-sized clothes.
My manager tried to sell and chat to them while I loitered on the edge of the group.
After an hour or so the players started to drift away so we marched back to reception where the loony asked which room Bobby Robson was in. To my amazement the girl told him and we set off down the corridor. The loony knocked at the door and Don opened it.
The loony stepped in (Booby, Don and another bloke had charts and diagrams spread out all over the bed) and tried to chat and sell. After Bobby explained he was busy, what with a Euro Qualifier the next day, the loony piped up with “I’m a manager as well”. He proceeded to give the England management a run down of our team.
He then asked for some advice about attacking corners, as he felt we were poor in that area.
Don then took some paper and drew and explained a tactic he recommended.
He then explained he had work to do and wished us good night. I couldn’t believe the team were staying in shit rooms in a shit hotel and particularly that Bobby and Don, and most of the players, were so polite. I’m sure you’d get arrested if you tried it now.
Epilogue.
Don’s corner tactic drawing looked like something from Stephen Hawking’s blackboard. We practised it for half of every training session, twice every week, for months and never once scored from it.
I’ve often wondered what happened to the drawings. They would have been an amazing souvenir.