On July 18th, Craig Pollard and Tina Harrison made a painstaking trip up to the Emirates Stadium for the 2006 Home Shirt Launch. It gave us both the chance to walk round the stadium up close and personal, as well as going inside the brand new Arsenal Shop “The Armoury”, which opened that morning. (Click Here to see pictures)

Aswell as gazing around the 10,500 sq ft store (around 8,500 sq ft retail space) we both got the chance to meet Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb, who both made an appearance to do a shirt signing session, and a keen eyed spot by myself, resulted in a photo opportunity with the Arsenal Vice-Chairman, David Dein. (Click here to see pictures)

On a rather amusing note, a great purchase was made when upon noticing a new framed picture honouring Arsenal’s final year at Highbury, a limited edition piece none-the-less, bearing the number 2/750 on it behind the till, i thought i would whip out the credit card and buy it. Realising i would have to get it back on the underground, i asked if it could be bubble-wrapped for protection, the man went out back to see, and came back holding an already packaged one! (one being the key word) It was number 1/750!!!!!! (I had just been told by someone else it had been sold already!) I immediately bought it! (Arsenal cock-up or not, they aint having it back!) It summed up a really great day, despite ridiculous heat, endless rail faults, 117 degrees F heat on the underground and having to watch poor Tina carry 8 arsenal carrier bags!

Myself and Arsenal Hampshire would like to thank Tina Harrison whole-heartedly for her continuous commitment to this project.

Plus a special thank you to Sara Ryan from the Armoury Store for all her help on the day.

Return Trainfare…..£17.90

Copy of The Sun…..£0.35

Burger King…..£5.94

Framed Arsenal Photoset…..£100

The fact that i own number 1 of 750……PRICELESS!!!!!