Arseblog turns 23 | Arseblog … an Arsenal weblog

Hey people, simply one other fast publish at present to notice the event of Arseblog’s twenty third birthday.

Today, all these years in the past, I sat in my home in a seaside city not far exterior Barcelona, and uploaded the very first publish to arseblog.com

It’s truthful to say it was an inauspicious begin to life, however right here we’re 23 years later nonetheless doing stuff. Again then, the concept that it might be something apart from only a passion was unthinkable. There was no such factor as a full-time blogger, podcasts hadn’t even been invented but, and there was no social media.

And but, a neighborhood developed, a neighborhood grew, and when all these different facets grew to become a part of the media/Web panorama, additionally they grew to become a part of Arseblog as an entire. Instances change, folks change, web sites change, however what I can say is that from the beginning I’ve had one core precept on the coronary heart of what we do right here, and that was all the time to be sincere about what I considered what was happening at Arsenal on and off the pitch.

Have I received all the things proper? Removed from it. Have I discovered loads alongside the way in which? You wager. And the underside line is that this: I’m only a fan like anybody else. Some Irish bloke who was born in England at a time when the Gunners had a number of Irishmen within the group, who arrange a web site about Arsenal whereas dwelling in Spain, and it has change into greater than I ever thought it may have.

I’m very fortunate to work with nice, gifted individuals who assist preserve all the things going. Tom, who makes certain there’s a web site for folks to go to; Andrew Allen, who brings fashion, impeccable grooming, and his fast wit to Arseblog Information and past; my podcast accomplice James who mentioned okay to a different one in all my off-the-cuff concepts over 11 years in the past, and who has helped the Arsecast Further change into such a preferred present; Tim Stillman whose Arseblog ‘profession’ started as a columnist in 2010, however whose protection of Arsenal Girls is now past evaluate; Jason who works with Tim in producing high quality video content material for Arsenal Girls, and to Jamie and Aidan for reporting and podcasting with him as effectively; Lewis Ambrose and Phil Costa who’ve change into an integral a part of what we do, particularly on Patreon; Hatta, Jon, Billy; the numerous and assorted Arsecast visitors; and there have been so many others alongside the way in which – too many to say, however honest apologies if I’ve forgotten anybody (the outdated reminiscence just isn’t what it was)!

Arseblog has been a blessing, and given me unimaginable alternatives over time. Whether or not that’s interviewing Arsenal legends, assembly fellow Arsenal followers from all around the world, whether or not at video games in London or overseas on our travels, and even simply sitting down day-after-day to jot down about soccer, it has been an immense privilege to do that. And it’s not one we take evenly.

I can truthfully say that I’ve accomplished worse jobs in my time (cleansing out the marshmallow machines in Jacob’s biscuit manufacturing unit for one; DJing weddings – oh God, so many horrible weddings), however whereas it’s not like that sort of grind, it’s nonetheless work. Seven days per week, weekends, evenings, so whereas I really feel very lucky that that is my job, it’s a job.

Over time we’ve tried to present Arseblog readers and listeners the absolute best expertise they’ll probably have. We not carry any promoting on the positioning, and once we did we by no means did the pop-ups or auto-playing movies. The web sites are clear, the brand new apps (coming quickly, I promise!!), will take away the final vestiges of promoting from our written content material, however all people nonetheless has to receives a commission.

That’s the reason Patreon has been such welcome boost. Arseblog is nearly solely member-funded, it goes to pay all our writers/podcasters, helps us broaden our protection of the membership in each facet, and means we’re not beholden to any exterior editorial affect or any sort of click-bait/rage-bait content material. So, if you happen to’re not already a member, please take into account supporting what we do at patreon.com/arseblog. It’s simply $6 per thirty days (+ VAT the place relevant), and to search out out what you get and what your assist means, you’ll be able to see our membership page here.

I strongly consider that when you’ve got a platform like this one, and if you find yourself ready to present one thing again, it’s incumbent on you to take action. Since 2022, Arseblog has donated greater than €150,000 to good causes, and we’ll proceed to do going ahead. I’d urge anybody else – whether or not it’s on a private degree or by your individual enterprise – to do the identical if you happen to can. Billionaires received’t save us, so it’s up the remainder of us to a minimum of attempt to make an influence. To assist these much less lucky, and who actually need no matter it’s we can provide.

Lastly, I ran a bit of competitors on final week’s Arsecast, asking folks to let me know the place on this planet they arrive from as they attempt to win a voucher for the Arsenal on-line retailer. The responses have come from each nook of the globe. There are Arsenal followers in each nation, of all races and religions and backgrounds and cultures, and they’re a part of what makes this membership nice.

In a world which is more and more polarised and pushed by offended rhetoric by those that would willingly do hurt to folks they don’t know and don’t care about, my pledge is that Arseblog will all the time be a welcoming, inclusive house for Arsenal followers and past. It’s not all the time simple to keep up these requirements within the on-line world, however we’ll do all the things we are able to in that regard. Soccer would possibly frustrate us, drive us mad, break our hearts, however we’re all right here for the love of the sport and the love of this membership.

A bit extra love will go a good distance, on and off the pitch.

Thanks for being right here.

Andrew : 27.02.2025 ❤️