Search the Community

The start of London Calling After a hugely entertaining 5 years at the helm of London Calling, I have decided to take a break. 5 years ago Georgi Stoyanov, our long-time chairman, suggested a column in English with the title “London Calling” a homage to one of the songs played regularly at the Emirates and also a huge hit for the Clash, who had a certain Irish presence. I never told Georgi at the time but a good friend of mine played sax for the Clash, John Earle RIP, so I also felt that connection. The title was not my idea but I was so happy with the perfect choice that it made. The Legendary John Earle played for many bands including the Clash I didn’t know what to expect but the general agreement was that the topical stuff, news, forums, anything that was about what was immediately happening was to be kept in Bulgarian and I would attempt to write stuff that could be read at any time, historical stuff, my memories, comparisons. I also had great help from many senior AUBG guys of which Dani Georgiev, Zdavko Talvi and Plamen Tomov put in great shifts for me as I tackled the website and learned how to work with it. Everyone helped, though, with comments, arguments, any mistakes I made, and I was made feel very welcome. AUBG is the greatest Early on we expanded into our great friends in the Arsenal Thessaloniki fan club and I have been there a few times at their own personal clubhouse. They always treated me fabulous, even allowing the old man to sit in the front seat and I have always welcomed their support, comments and help. Long may they prosper. A bunch of AUBGer's having fun AUBG, is, in my opinion the best fan club out there. I have looked at many fan clubs sites and in the quality of what we offer, the very regular updates, and the sheer interest that people show always amazes me. I probably am the longest serving Arsenal fan in the group as, under communism, I am not sure how many fans there were. But in knowledge, appreciation, and general love of the Arsenal, the Bulgarians astound me. And paying a month's salary to go to an away European match in the middle of nowhere is a dedication beyond me. But some of the AUBGer’s do it. Nobody would be interested I was sceptical, at the start, that enough people would be interested in reading historical stuff based on my memories growing up but I was wrong. Considering that quite a few AUBGer’s have limited English the numbers I have got is surprising. Yes, google translate play a part but I suspect at least a hundred out of paid members which, I think, are around 500, have read every article I have written. I do know some of them and for those, if you have looked forward every week to my latest piece, I am sorry that it will end but I will explain in the next paragraph. My most read blog is the one on Louis Dunford's classic Each blog takes me a lot of time and I have rarely missed a week despite hospitalisations, holidays and work commitments, The minimum amount of time per week is around four hours and the average around 6. Book reviews take a lot longer and I have done many. I have to admit, sports books are not my favourite and unless bought for me as present, I don’t have many. But that changed when I started the blog as I felt I should give guidance to Arsenal fans as to what they could expect if they splash out on a book. So I have bought quite a few since then and Georgi Stoyanov also donated a few which I reviewed. They are still not really my favourite, though! I hope I have helped, though. A unique flavour I have always tried to have a distinct flavour to my writing and I have worked blogs around William Shakespeare, George Orwell, the Beatles, Oscar Wilde and ABBA, to name a few. They all worked well and have well over a 1000 views. No other sportswriter, to my knowledge, has done this. I tried never to forget to have some humour I have also written on aspects of football which I feel strongly about, hooliganism, racism, injuries, corruption, drugs, VAR, the rules, owners, UEFA, FIFA, sports bodies, you name it, I probably have a column about it. I doubt if anyone in power cares about my views but at least they are out there and the written word doesn’t fly away. I always did my research for every piece and tried to find angles that nobody else was writing about. In that I feel I succeeded as I have rarely seen anyone tackle some of the issues I address, or they were confined to academic studies which I brought to ordinary fans attention. There are a lot of studies out there which are surprising. Lots of old hits I also tried to bring a light-hearted approach to some columns with funny quotes made by people connected with sport. I loved Ruben Amorim’s recent one “We showed we can beat Arsenal”. You sure did, Ruben! One thing that has surprised me is that maybe 6 months ago or more, my back catalogue started picking up regular views. Around 500 views was my maximum which considering the membership is quite high but now there are well over 40 with more than a 1000 and some with more than 2000. Lots are due to hit over a 1000 soon if that pattern keeps going. I don’t know who they are but I presume they are not members but people who have stumbled upon the blog and are maybe sharing it. My blog on North London Forever is the highest and next is Arsene Wenger: Invincible and neither got good numbers when first published. They grew, though. Possibly my personal favourite was my obituary of Pele which is closing in on a 1000. That did get good numbers at the start which surprised me as he was before most AUBGer’s time. Getting Alan Smith to come was a great coup for the AUBG team Also the pieces about Alan Smith got immediate good numbers,. That was a great coup for the team to make that happen, to have a major Arsenal and football figure come here and give us all a great time. Did I say that AUBG is the best Arsenal fan club? Please someone take up the baton My plan now is to write an occasional blog when I get an idea so London Calling won’t die but there will be far less. Of course, if someone else fancies a go I would be very happy. The only criteria is to write in English and for it to be capable to be read at any time. I would be there to help, edit, suggest, and give support if anyone wishes to take up the baton. Or if more than one wants to have a go, so much the better. Eberechi Eze is the latest to hear London Calling So thanks for all the support, the well wishes, and if anyone has ideas for blogs, please let me know. After 5 years I have started to run out of them. There have been 245 blogs so far and 245 ideas put into words. Let’s make some more.