Arsenal: The Agony & The Ecstasy

by Ian Castle

Early in 1966, as an eight-year-old schoolboy, Ian Castle found Arsenal Football Club – but almost didn’t. Knowing nothing about football at the time he decided one afternoon that he’d be a West Ham fan. A few hours later his father pointed out the error of his ways and informed him in a very matter-of-fact manner that Arsenal was the best team.

Unquestioningly, he accepted that advice and instantly switched his allegiance. It was a narrow escape. Forty-six years later he is still an Arsenal fan, a season ticket holder for 43 of those years and in that time the naïve schoolboy has matured into rather more cynical middle age.

The book is a nostalgic journey, seen through the eyes of a fan, following Arsenal from its days as a run-of-the-mill, underachieving football team in the 1960s to today, when it occupies a place at the top table of the world’s wealthiest football clubs. It is a journey punctuated with incredible highs and desperate lows and is one that has given him a real sense of belonging, of being a part of something very special.

Arsenal: The Agony & The Ecstasy is that story.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Ian Castle began writing military history some thirty years ago but for the last ten years has focused on Germany’s First World War air raids against Britain. Initially exploring the London raids, his later research extended to include attacks across the whole country. In addition to writing books, Ian regularly contributes articles to magazines and journals and has been involved in a number of television documentaries detailing this early air campaign. Besides giving regular talks on the subject, Ian is also building an extensive website highlighting these early air raids.

Reviews

[Mahlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his book, Arsenal: The Agony & The Ecstasy Ian Castle takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride that has become all too familiar to long-time fans of the club. As a 43 year season ticket holder, Castle offers a unique perspective seen in few other footy books, as he ably chronicles triumph and tragedy from his seat at Highbury and Emirates. He humorously relates his surprisingly unglamorous trips to Europe to support the club in various Champions league campaigns. Seasoned readers of this genre might ask why they need another Arsenal book after the fantastic success of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch I would argue that the reason is because it's now been quite some time since the publication of Hornby's wonderful narrative. Mr. Castle's account is current through the 2012 season, making it the perfect volume to fill in the gaps for newer fans like myself who've only recently discovered the joy of supporting the Arsenal. If you're an Arsenal fan this is an essential book to own. If you're not an Arsenal fan, you will be by the time you finish this book!

[John Dodds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Ian Castle's book "Arsenal: The Agony & The Ecstasy". Castle takes the reader on a 43 year journey as he relives his experiences as a life-long Arsenal season ticket holder. It's an uneven ride: parts are gripping, others are not much more than a litany of brief match reports but there's much here that the football fan will empathise with and, for Arsenal fans in particular, this is an enthralling history of the club from the late 1960s to the present.

[Shannon McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my favorite pastimes is shitting on men for liking sports too much so this might seem like a wild card of a book for me to pick up. snagged this when i was in london before getting the opportunity to go to emirates. i think there’s at least one additional star added just because i got to see the current stadium tbh (literally jaw dropping)

it’s a pretty decent book but some of it does get a little boring. castle does a lot of stat listing which while interesting does get repetitive. the overall vibe of the book is what really does it for me. the passion of the devoted fan through the wins and losses, growing up with a team from primary school through later adulthood, seeing how the game has evolved over time, etc.

[Oliver Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book.GO GUNNERS!!!