Mark My Words

I was pretty chuffed to discover the Bay Area Gooners were amongst the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s Best Of The Bay 2010 Editor’s Picks.

The English Premier League 2010/2011 season is almost upon us and the San Francisco Branch of Arsenal America AKA the Bay Area Gooners is gearing up for another round of match viewings at Maggie McGarry’s Irish Pub in North Beach.

If you’re an Arsenal supporter of drinking age (sorry kids!) living in the Bay Area, you owe it to yourself to come watch a match.  Gooners from as far away as Mountain View and Placerville, gather in the wee hours of the weekend mornings (typically matches start around 7AM) to root on the Gunners.

A typical crowd for the Arsenal matches at Maggie's

In addition to our regular group of locals, Maggie’s has become the destination for out-of-town Arsenal supporters.  Last season, we played host to not only numerous season-ticket holders from England, but Gooners from Jamaica to Germany.

And then there’s Patrick, the Gooner bartender. Born and raised in London, Patrick is the Bay Area Gooners’ talisman.  If things get a little too quiet during the match, Patrick is there to ensure they don’t stay that way, with his frequent bellows of GOONERS!, IT’S TOO QUIET IN THERE!, or some such.

There are also occasionally activities outside the pub, such as last season’s charity football match against SF Spurs, a Tottenham suppporters club, where the Bay Area Gooners emerged triumphant and helped raise over $2,500 for Haitian earthquake relief.  In fact, one of the regular Gooners at Maggie’s, Matt AKA Grimbo is organizing a weekend league team from our ranks.

Our new stone in Armoury Square outside Arsenal Football Club's stadium

Sure, you could watch the matches at home, on the couch, in your pajamas, but celebrating a goal with your housepet cannot possibly compare with the atmosphere at Maggie’s.  I’ve been told on more than one occasion, by visitors from London, that it was the next best thing to being at the match in person.

Hope to see you at the pub!  C’mon you Gunners!

Very excited about this news. Alan Black, author of the hilarious, “Kick the Balls” will be the special guest referee for the San Francisco North London Derby between the Bay Area Gooners and San Francisco Spurs on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 3PM.

When asked to be the referee, Alan said, I am unfamiliar with the rule book, blind at the wrong moment and insulted by verbal abuse, therefore I have no option but to say yes. Unfortunately, I will be unable to go to the after party for more argument about my decisions as I have to be at another, less interesting event. I will bring my yellow and red cards.

An earlier post about Alan.

Far be it for me to ever credit a Spuds supporter with anything, but Steve Pritchard, bartender extraordinaire at Danny Coyle’s, and unfortunate Secretary of  SF Spurs, a Tottenham Hotspurs FC supporters group, came up with the admirable idea of a charity footie match & raffle between San Francisco Spurs and the Bay Area Gooners to raise money for Haiti relief. Thus we have the first (annual?) San Francisco North London Derby!

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Pre-Match Raffle & Party, 9PM
Danny Coyle’s
668 Haight Street
Raffle, DJ, Dancing
Enter the raffle for a chance to win Arsenal and Spurs merchandise and other great prizes.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010
Match: SF Spurs v Bay Area Gooners, 3PM
Keg & tailgating along sideline

LOCATION: CROCKER AMAZON PLAYGROUND


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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010
Post-Match Party, Immediately following match!
Maggie McGarry’s Irish Pub
1353 Grant Street

Hope you can make it to each of these events.  All proceeds from the raffle along with donations collected will benefit Save The Children’s Emergency Response in Haiti

To donate an auction item, contact Steve.
To donate online and enter the raffle.
To play in the match:
Spurs supporters, contact Steffan
Arsenal supporters, contact Mark