talkSPORT’s Laura Woods on being David Seaman in disguise, Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’, Thierry Henry and why a trip to The Den is magic
In a new series on marvelbet369.com, the Sports Breakfast co-host and Arsenal fan took a trip down memory lane
Every fan has a favourite football kit, just like they have a player they consider to be the greatest.
And so marvelbet369.com decided to ask its finest minds about theirs as part of a new series, beginning with Sports Breakfast co-host Laura Woods.
My Greatest: Kit - Arsenal 1996 goalkeeper jersey
The one that comes to mind is David Seaman’s Arsenal JVC yellow one as that's my team. I was once bought it for Christmas and the reason is because my brothers liked to put me in goal - their thing was convincing me I was a good goalkeeper, so they didn’t have to go in goal. I actually used to run around the house and sign my name ‘Laura Woods Safe Hands’!
My Greatest: Game - France vs Brazil, 1998 World Cup final
I don’t know why, but the 1998 World Cup final, more than others, always stands out for me.
I watched it at my parent’s friend’s house and the colours of that tournament were absolutely incredible and so were the players.
When I was younger, everybody was in a trance with Brazil about their entertaining football and the players like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, who all stood out. The game was packed with all these great characters and personalities - Zidane scored twice for France and Emmanuel Petit scored the other. Being an Arsenal fan, I was in love with Petit and his long hair, Patrick Vieira came off the bench and Henry, who hadn't joined us yet, was an unused sub. It's just a game I remember clearly.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
My Greatest: Player - Thierry Henry
I could pick a million, but funnily enough, one of the game changers for me and someone I used to watch a lot when I was younger was Ray Parlour. He scored in the 2002 FA Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff and was just a character. He was almost the opposite of what a footballer is nowadays in that he had so much personality and, of course, we were both born in Romford – he is the 'Romford Pele'.
But it will always be Thierry Henry for me. He just brought this class to Arsenal and was like a man playing football with a boys team in the way he appeared one step ahead of everyone else in the goals he scored, the ones he created. He wasn't just a great Premier League imports, but a Premier League great full stop. He was at the top of his business.
My Greatest: Moment - Arsenal winning the league at White Hart Lane in 2004
I can’t really look beyond Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’, going the whole season unbeaten and winning the league at White Hart Lane. It was a 2-2 draw and whether or not you think that is glamorous, it is memorable and still hasn’t been done. Man City and Liverpool came close last season, but it’s such a difficult thing to achieve, though I do think it will eventually happen again.
My Greatest: Atmosphere - Millwall vs Everton, 2019
The thing about atmosphere is that it has to be fresh in the memory and the one that sticks out is last season at Millwall.
We [talkSPORT] went to the New Den and the gulf in difference in terms of money spent on the teams was huge and it felt like it was Everton’s to take. The minute we arrived I had goosebumps all over my body because of the sound from that crowd.
I don’t think it was a brilliant atmosphere, but there was something about the day that resonated. There was a wall of noise and the sound didn’t stop. I was sat next to Stuart Pearce and Sam Matterface with my headphones on and we couldn’t hear each other.
It was unbelievable and every now and then I took mine off because I wanted to take it all in and the way Millwall won with a last minute Murray Wallace goal made it a brilliant day and story.
Mad, exciting and magic.
