I hid from Ray Parlour in the Emirates toilets

On Sunday I was invited to an event at the Emirates hosted by Europcar Sport along with the rest of the Goonersphere Podcast cadre. Whilst the Swansea result put a dampener on proceedings during the tail-end of the day – I can state categorically that the organisers pulled out all the stops to make sure the conversation flowed freely and the ambience was just as it always is at our home – vibrant.

The event was enjoyed by all – but the headline act was of course Ray Parlour. A genuine Invincible. Whilst Daniel, James and I conversed and liaised with the finest of conversers, Ray walked in and immediately took his pew. Everyone’s eyes followed his path. Within minutes he was taking part in a small Q&A session. His manner was affable, his talk was engaging. Amidst his anecdotes regarding Tony Adams – his roommate for many years – ordering 9 trolley loads of assorted sandwiches whilst under the influence and discussing the training methods brought in and used by Arsène Wenger I took in my surroundings. The bar – one of many set within the Emirates confines – was plush and comfortable. I was with a fantastic, like-minded group who were all similarly entranced by a man who we could all call an icon of the club we adore. I really am a lucky man to have experienced it. It was to get better.

James and Daniel of Goonersphere fame were to interview Ray. I watched as they grilled him for juicy stories and insider news.  My palms were now beginning to show the first signs of nerves. By this time the day was in full swing and we had absorbed two other people within our group. Jules (@TheRealGunner) and Christian (@Christian1607). They noticed my hesitancy as I glanced over at Ray and the boys (at this moment @BigTedOfficial and @ArsenalTed had showed up). I came over starstruck and for reasons I can't explain my nervousness manifested as a desire to hide from Ray in the toilet. Under threat from Jules who explained she would drag out of the toilet herself if she had to I steeled myself and exited the facilities. Jules geed me up and reaffirmed what I already knew. This is a brilliant opportunity to interview a hero and the regret would forever be etched within my memory if I bottled it. Daniel and James by this time had finished and it was my slot with Mr Parlour. The Romford Pele.

The finest morsels of the interview can be found on a separate blog as I didn’t want to underplay just what a momentous occasion it was. Needless to say my journalistic integrity is still intact as I never had any to start.

I left Ray with my jersey and other items signed, a photo that I will treasure safely housed within my phone and a head firmly in the clouds. Some say that your idols are meant to remain on a pedestal so that the image you have of that person can never be diminished by reality. Not with Ray Parlour. He put me at ease immediately as he could sense I was more flustered than Brendan Rodgers at a Southampton January Sale.  He endured my rookie-style questioning and with every answer he offered, did so with the same gusto, guile and energy that he answers queries in front of the camera.

The rest of the evening we enjoyed the veritable feast that was supplied by Arsenal’s newest sponsors, talked endlessly and laughter peals were echoing around the fine architecture. It may sound like I have donned spectacles of the rose-tinted variety but aside from the result of the match we watched with Ray on a plethora of TV screens, the whole day was superbly planned and the company was grand.

When I eventually got home, my wife asked why I was beaming from ear to ear. She knew of the Europcar Sport event but couldn’t grasp why meeting Ray Parlour and interviewing him could change this normally dour Scot into a rainbow of positivity. You see, my wife is to football what otters are to quantum mechanics. I attempted to explain but proceeded to go into a long speech about the man himself.

My many thanks to Europcar Sport for staging such a fantastic event at The Emirates. It not only enabled me to meet a man I’ve revered for many years, but I also met up with some like-minded Gooners and also it allowed the Goonersphere axis to get together – which is a rare occasion indeed.

This article was brought to you by Europcar, the official car and van rental partner of Arsenal Football Club.

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