From Jim Johnson
Hi Myles,
Can’t let the Xmas melee allow the passing of this Arsenal great to go unnoticed.
I’m sure with your global reach and some of your younger readers might not fully appreciate the legacy that Don Howe brought to the Arsenal family and how much he loved the club that he served in four separate spells as player, Double winning coach, coach and manager and finally as youth team coach under AW and Liam Brady.
For those who don’t know, can I draw their attention to the BBC obituary which focusses primarily on his time as England coach under three managers and during both of their most successful post Sir Alf campaigns.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35171937
His enthusiasm for the Arsenal never waned, despite being shafted by two generations of Hill-Woods, firstly after Dennis not acknowledging the vital input to the 70-71 double campaign and then secondly when Peter and David Dein went behind his back to approach Terry Venables in 1986.
Lest we forget that El Tel turned us down and second choice George Graham inherited a fully blooded Tony Adams, Niall Quinn, David Rocastle with Merse and Mickey waiting in the wings and the rest was history.
I was privileged enough to meet him on the first occasion I ever went to Highbury.
My brother, a season ticket holder during his degree at Goldsmiths invited the 13 year old me down from the Wirral to watch a pretty moribund end of season encounter against Southampton. Big bro had received a hand signed reply from Ken Friar inviting us to collect autographs in the marble halls before kick off and I was able to meet and get signatures from Charlie, Kenny, Rixy, Woody, Spider et al.
When Don walked through, in full track suit with DH on the shoulder, he came over, shook me warmly by the hand and in his full black country brogue said “Where you from chick?” “Neston on the Wirral,” said I. “Neston? That’s near Ellesmere Port isn’t it? Joe Mercer country. Well he was good enough for the Arsenal and so are you. Enjoy the game.” And off he went.
An hour before kick off!
I’ll always remember Don being interviewed on the BBC just before Christmas (by David Icke no less) to talk about the upcoming Arsenal centenary, which just so happened to coincide with the emergence of George’s first season when he was doing extremely well with a squad of what was essentially Don’s players.
After speculating about the possibility of Arsenal being serious title contenders, a modest Don said he thought this season might come a bit early for some of the younger players but that he just felt that as we were entering the end of the decade it might be a good time as Arsenal had a history of doing quite well towards “the end of the decade.”
After this Icke broached the awkward subject of how he’d been since leaving Arsenal some six months ago.
“I’ve got red and white in my veins,” said Don.
And that’s how I will remember him. Don Howe – Red and White in his veins.
Myles says:
Venables always wanted to manage Arsenal, not Spurs.
He was at Barcelona then and I was told Tel said, “I couldn’t do that do to Don.”
Not sure I believe that though.