I scored the winning goal when Arsenal last lost a league game at home to Southampton, now I’m a tiler at 65
SOUTHAMPTON have failed to win in their last 28 league games at Arsenal – stretching back 37 years.
Former Saints midfielder Glenn Cockerill reflects on that last win in North London and his next visit to Highbury the following year with Saints, when he suffered a broken jaw in a 2-2 draw.
The former midfielder works as a tiler and, at 65, says he hopes to retire next year.
He is still involved in football with Saints and his tireless charity work — including a legends match which takes place next weekend. His son Brody is part of the Bromley academy.
WITH just over 10 minutes left, Colin Clarke nodded on a long free-kick into the Arsenal area and lightning-quick Danny Wallace prodded the ball home.
If you would have told me then, as we walked off the pitch at Highbury, that a Saints side would not have won at Arsenal in the league before I was 65, I’d have thought you were having a laugh.
I actually thought my old team were going to win at the Emirates in 2023 when they were 2-0 up and then 3-1 ahead with two minutes remaining, but the Gunners pegged them back to 3-3.
It’s hard to comprehend that it was 37 years ago when we last won there — and even more crazy that there is a whole new generation that don’t even remember Arsenal’s old Highbury ground.
It was one of the grandest stadiums to play in, with a huge marble entrance. As a player it was always one of those away games I really looked forward to.
But you knew as an opponent going to Highbury (or the Emirates as it is now) that it was always one of the most difficult places to get anything from the game.
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At the time of this match, George Graham’s side were top of the table but, under manager Chris Nicholl, we were a very underrated side.
During my eight wonderful years as a Southampton player, six of them were spent playing alongside Jimmy Case in midfield.
We formed a great understanding on the pitch and a lifelong friendship off it. I never stopped learning from him and we’d always cover for each other during games.
But what a player he was! It angers and frustrates me when I see so many players with half his talent playing for England when I look and see he never won a Three Lions cap.
Here was a guy who won the European Cup three times with Liverpool.
Jimmy had one of the hardest shots in the game, could unlock defences with sublime passes with either foot and could play all over the pitch. And he was as hard as nails as an opponent.
We should have won in our next game at Highbury the following season when we were leading 2-0 before my jaw was broken. The game ended up 2-2.
Even 36 years on, I have no wish to comment on what Paul Davis has had to say about the incident (which led to a nine-game ban and a £3,000 fine).
Unforgettable injury
From my own perspective, one moment I was playing and the next I was knocked out cold. When I came round all I can recall is our physio, Dennis Rofe, asking if I was OK and whether I knew what the score was.
The crazy part is that I played on for the rest of the match not having a clue that I had a badly broken jaw.
It seems almost Stone Age compared with today where players are treated in cotton wool where anything medical is involved, and rightly so. I never thought for a moment about coming off!
We always had fish and chips on the way home from a London away game. It wasn’t until I tried to eat the fish I realised my whole jaw and mouth wouldn’t work.
I made my way to the front of the bus, told the manager and the medical staff. I was taken straight to hospital and within a couple of hours was in surgery having an operation.
All I wanted to do was get back playing again as soon as possible. The irony was I returned with Davis’ ban still running.
Next generation
As far as this season is concerned, I reckon Russell Martin and Southampton are going to need around eight wins and a smattering of draws if they are to stay in the Premier League.
Arsenal is one of the toughest games they’ll face this season but we saw last week another newly-promoted club, Leicester, run them very close.
I am very proud that my son Brody is one of the apprentices and part of the academy at new League Two side Bromley.
At 16, he’s got so much more natural talent than I ever had.
But he’s also a very grounded lad and has so much dedication.
He’s got a long way to go but he’s on the right path with an ambitious club and learning every day.
I am hoping we get a huge turnout on Sunday week (October 13) when a Saints’ Legends side play against a Russell Martin XI at St Mary’s — with everything to fund chosen charities in the Southampton area.