We’re having a preseason happy hour from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
A chance to meet and mingle with your fellow Gooners outside of the early mornings. We’ll show a replay of the preseason friendly against Sp*rs, from earlier in the day. There will be food and a discount on Estrella pints for anyone wearing anything Arsenal.
Hope to see you there!
Maggie’s is 21+, even in the parklet. Dogs in parklet only, please. Outside food is OK. Outside drinks are NOT.
For the first time since 2018, we’re offering Bay Area Gooners hoodies!
Designed by our own, Holly Hickman, they feature our BAG logo on the front, with Coit Tower and “North Beach Forever” on the sleeve, and of course, the late, legendary Gooner bartender, Patrick Dunphy on the back
Hoodies can be picked up at Maggie McGarry’s during weekend and some weekday matches, though delivery within the U.S. may also be arranged. We expect hoodies will be ready for pick up, beginning with the Liverpool match on August 30th.
The latest in a series of posts profiling members of our Bay Area Gooners family.
If you’ve attended Arsenal matches at Maggie McGarry’s over the past decade, you may have noticed the urbane Stevens Williams amongst the Gooners. He explains, it’s not a typo or a law firm, but a family name.
Originally from Vermont, Stevens has lived in San Francisco since the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 (for which he accepts no responsibility). He loved cannons as a little boy, but says, if anyone is to blame for his support of Arsenal, it would be Nick Hornby.
His formative Bay Area Gooner years were spent at the bar, listening to Patrick (the late, legendary Gooner bartender) hold forth on various topics, with football usually foremost.
His preference to sit at the bar continued up until the 2017 FA Cup Final, but eventually Stevens ventured into the big room filled with red and white kits and that’s where you’ll find him on match days.
He enjoys the tribal aspects of the group, from the shared anxiety to the celebratory moments. All while reducing his family’s exposure to tedious, ill-informed dissertations on football. He counts Saka as his favorite current player with Aaron Ramsey as an all-time favorite, based in part on family heritage. He stands firmly pro-Arteta but cautions he was pro-Wenger to the very end, and it would be reasonable to question his judgement in these matters.
Stevens (middle)
Most of the matches he attended last season were frustrating results. He missed the win over Manchester City and Arsenal’s demolition of Real Madrid. The (brief) return of Jesus, with his hat trick resulting in a big win over Crystal Palace, might be his favorite moment of the season.
Of watching the matches at Maggie’s, Stevens says, I grew up in a distinctly non-athletic family and in a relatively media-free era. I watched grainy black and white images on “Star Soccer” and “Soccer Made in Germany”and followed results on the back pages of the NY Times sports section. Even though I can now use a phone to watch sweat forming on a penalty taker’s temple, it can’t compete with the BAG experience.
If you see Stevens at the pub, introduce yourself. In addition to chatting about Arsenal, rumor has it, he can also pontificate on Notre Dame football.
We’ll continue to share stories of our Gooner family. If you’re a regular at Maggie’s and , want to be featured, talk to me at the pub.
The one constant for these and all matches this season, is we will gather at Maggie McGarry’s for every single one, regardless of kickoff time.
Graphic courtesy of AFC Newsroom
To stay up to date on all our match-viewings and other doings, you can sign up for our email list via this website, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Thinking about going to see Arsenal in person, and hoping to get tickets through Arsenal America’s ticket lottery? The 2025/2026 season opener vs. Leeds United on Saturday, August 23rd is officially open and closes at 11:59PM EST on June 23, 2025.
The Leeds lottery closes at 11:59PM EST on June 23, 2025. You must have an active Arsenal America membership for each ticket requested to be able to enter.
If you are entering for multiple tickets, you’ll need to provide the names and corresponding emails of each AA member requesting a ticket.
If selected, ticket prices, dates, and times are subject to change, but AA will keep you updated with any changes as soon as we receive information from the Club.
Other home match requests will be open before too long. It’s a far from perfect system, but the global demand for tickets and the parameters set for supporters groups by the club have led us here. Best of luck to anyone hoping for tickets.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at Maggie’s in the new season!
Since 2006 the Bay Area Gooners have been the official San Francisco Branch of Arsenal America. Arsenal America is the official United States supporters club of Arsenal Football Club with 85 branches across the country.
Joining Arsenal America, gets you a member pack containing uniquely designed Arsenal-themed items. Membership affords you benefits like unique discounts on Arsenal and soccer specific wares from partners across the U.S. You’ll be notified about an ever-increasing number of local, regional, and international events.and will have access to request home match tickets via their ticketing lottery system.
I founded the Bay Area Gooners in 2006 and have been the “Branch Manager” since day one. If you’ve been to the pub, you know I act as greeter, photographer, merch seller, donut provider, and general ringmaster.
I also run the BAG website and all social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc.), and while time consuming, it’s a labor of love. Sometimes when I can’t get to the pub, I’ve enlisted some of you to hang the banner or take photos, which has been great.
Arsenal America prefers official branches have more than one active representative, so I’m throwing it out to the Goonerverse: if you attend matches at Maggie’s on a consistent basis and would like to be more involved, drop me an email. There might be some pints in it for you.
The end of the Premier League season is here. Liverpool won the title weeks ago, so it’s all a bit anticlimactic and hard not to think about what might have been. Arsenal secured second last Sunday against Newcastle, on the strength of a Declan Rice screamer. Plenty of clubs would like to be in our position as the Gunners finished ahead of City and Chelsea, while United and Spurs languish in the bottom half of the table.
Arsenal are assured of Champions League football next season and with a few additions to the squad, should contend for the league again. All that remains now is Southampton away Sunday. Despite anything to play for, we all want them to finish the season with a win.
We’ll be at Maggie’s twice this weekend.The day before the lads play, there’s a far more significant match. The Arsenal Women face Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League Final Saturday. If the run-in for this tournament is any indication, this should be an exciting match.
We’ve had another great season watching Arsenal at the pub. Sure, you could be watching at home, lounging on your couch. But I’m grateful enough people prefer watching with other Gooners. Somehow victories are sweeter and disappointments more palatable.
Watching Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid at Maggie’s was an incredible experience and probably the highlight of our season. Short of being an actual match, the atmosphere was unparalleled.
The support I received during my absence was also very much appreciated. Thank you to Gooners who hung the banner, took photos, and sent me the lovely get well card. I’m grateful for this community.
There may be some off season gatherings, but it won’t be long before we start this all over again for the 2025/2026 season.
Hope to see everyone at the pub (twice) this weekend!
COYG!
Best, Mark
FOR SALE
I recently bought new Arsenal gear, only to determine it’s not a great fit. Trying to recoup my costs, but return shipping to the UK is cost prohibitive, so I might be able to adjust prices.
A tale of two halves Sunday at Liverpool, with Arsenal making a robust finish after a lackadaisical start. But the eventual draw raised more questions about the Gunners’ ability to secure second place.
Newcastle visits the Emirates Sunday, hoping to leapfrog Arsenal in the table. The formidable Magpies have beaten Arsenal in the teams’ last three meetings in all competitions. Manchester City are just behind them, nipping at both clubs’ heels.
I’ve made peace with another trophy-less season because we’re headed in the right direction. But we must have maximum effort for the last two matches to bolster our off season hopes.
Maggie’s is 21+, even in the parklet.
Bay Area Gooners 