Hi Gang,
We have not had large numbers of late at the Shag watching the Live games that Andy puts on for us. As a result if there are only a few of us there, the staff at the Shag will not put the sound on. I can understand that as a business if there is a large number of people in the pub, and only a few people want to watch football then the majority rules, and we miss out. If we had greater numbers turn up to watch the games, we may be able to buy into the arguement. As a supporters group that uses the pub as a base, where the only reason we go to the venue is to watch the game,........ it is unacceptable to have no sound with music playing over the game. The ambience and beer may be great, but if we can't see and hear the game, then the situation is untenable. We need a venue that we can watch a game with other gooners, enjoy each others company, some banter, a few songs, and an ale. I am not sure why our numbers have diminished this season, the pub renovations are brilliant, however there appears to be a more upmarket clientelle and the Shag may have lost a bit of its Brit pub character. However I do know that unless we can guarantee a larger crowd we will not be able to continue to see live games with sound at the Shag. Andy has noted that for some of the early 8pm big games ie: Arsenal v Sp*rs we get a good turn out , but that is only a few times a year. Due to the licensing laws and the timings, the Sunday games are unavailable to us at the Shag, this in itself is too restrictive. Although the Carbon Bar is very inpersonal, it does show most of the games and the schedule is out a week ahead, so that you are able to see which games are on the big screen and with sound. Many Arsenal supporters that are not members of ArsenalAustralia go to these games to watch the games regardless of what us Perth group does. I propose that as we are not getting the numbers to warrant getting the sound on at the Shag, that we set the Carbon Bar as the default meeting for our normal games, and that when we get an early big game on a Saturday we put out a request as to who is going to turn up and based on the return interest we promote the Shag as a meeting point for that game...............This season I have tried to make all the advertised games at the Shag, but with the lack of numbers, technical and sound issues I am quite content to watch it at home on Foxtel HD if the support isn't there...................I am interested to hear what other Perth gooners think.............my thoughts

Although there have been many that have read this thread, there haven't been any comments on the situation from the floor since the original post over five weeks ago, so it is a given that it is just accepted that the current lack of live game get togethers is due to lack of interest.....or that everyone has had a gutfull of the hit and miss of turning up to see any live games....and everyone has gone out and got Foxtel put on.... Unfortunately with our "official home pub" unless there is a considerable number of fans that turn out to watch the game, the Shag staff will not put the sound on, as it disrupts the other customers..... our alternate location, "the Carbon bar" will show the game but on a small screen with no sound.......its a lose - lose situation!! I am still trying to source a central location in Perth that will guarantee to show all Arsenal games live with sound during licenced hours ... if anyone has any any ideas for the location of a new home please let me know!!! If you'd all rather just stay home and watch it by yourselves ..let me know and I'll stop torturing myself!!!....as I mentioned in a previous post, if there is no interest, I'm ok with that......... I'll always get to see all the games ok at home, so I'm happy.........if I get no responses or interest in organising live meets for Perth Arsenal fans interested in watching live games, I'm happy to stop promoting the same.............if someone else wants to take over the reins and try to get something better happening, just PM me, I'm open to any ideas...my thoughts

I'd love to make it to the Shag more often, but living 200 km away makes it very hard. I can understand your frustration Nigel, why don't more gooners in Perth get off their arses and get together? Maybe it's because we all like to have a few ales while we watch the game, and getting along to the Shag means either getting a skipper, or using Perths' GREAT public transport, or getting a cab which costs an arm and a leg (and a bit of the other arm too!) then when you get in the cab most times the cabby doesn't know where to go. I don't know the answer. Keep on trying mate!

AA-Perth has had not had a great season 09/10. We have lost our “premiere venue” “The Lucky Shag” as being the place to see Arsenal in Perth as for us, the venue became a victim of its own success……The place used to be a great watering hole where we could guarantee Arsenal games during licensed hours, we even got a late license on Saturdays so we could see all 3pm kick offs that finished at 1am Perth time. The owner Andy is a great Arsenal supporter and we had about 10 - 15 supporters turn up for each game, more for the bigger games, it was our "official home pub". However the Shag then had a huge makeover whereby they closed for months, cost a fortune, but in the end we had plasmas on all the walls, mini TVs in the toilets and great British ales on tap. The problem was that the clientele changed, and it became an upmarket trendy place. When we finally went back to catch a game, the staff were reluctant to put the football on, and when they did there was no sound as it “disrupts the other customers”. We who had been supporting the Shag for the previous three years had become outcasts. Obviously as we couldn’t guarantee to see the games the numbers dropped. Supporters had a gutful of the hit and miss of turning up to see live games as we were down to 3 – 5 people that had travelled up to an hour each way to watch the game, and being shunned. As a supporters group that uses the pub as a base, where the only reason we go to the venue is to watch the game...... it was unacceptable to have no sound with music playing over the game. The ambience and beer may be great, but if we can't see and hear the game, then the situation was untenable. I have tried to get a venue that will guarantee the games during licensed hours however the only pub at this stage that has considered it, is an hour north of Perth.
Burswood Casino has a 24 hour sports bar “The Carbon Bar” which is very impersonal, like an underground car park, not really central, and is not easy to get to by public transport. However it does show most of the games and the TV schedule is out a week ahead, so that you are able to see which games are on the big screen and with sound. Many Arsenal supporters that are not members of arsenalaustralia go there to watch the games regardless of what the Perth group does. I have been trying to drum up support for the Carbon Bar as a temporary base, however until I can find a venue that will guarantee Arsenal games and I can get the group up and running, I have to accept that the Perth group meetings have folded while on my watch. I am canvassing you……the Perth members, and other Arsenal supporters to try to find a new venue that takes into account the licensing laws, times of the game and the need to find something central for everyone…over to you gang!!!.......................we have a great product in the Arsenal, there is no reason why we can't have a great fan base in Perth...........................my thoughts

Hey Nigel,
What a shame it's all gone pear shaped this last season. I'd love to make games but after having a baby it made that pretty much impossible. I'll keep my ears and eyes out for a new location though. Shame about the shag.
Caroline

Many thanks for your support Caroline, especially pre-bub, it was always good to see you at the live meets, I trust all is going well and that feed times will coincide with live matches..........may your restless nights be few.
As for a new live games meet location.....
I haven't had any luck for a new game meet spot...........most decent bars want guarranteed numbers.....I guess it's like most places, they are happy to have you and a big drinking crowd for an FA CUP Final, or a major sports event, but won't do the hard yards and support you week in - week out.........I guess we'll see the same in June, when suddenly every trendy pub will suddenly be the place to see the Socceroos play, go back there a week later, and you'll be hard pressed to get any soccer shown on the screen, let alone with sound!! What we really need is a non-trendy central Perth bar with Foxtel, that doesn't get too many Sat or Sun night drinkers, is able to get a license till 1 am on a Saturday and is happy to guarantee to show Arsenal games. If we could do that, then we could gradually build up a base group of supporters and a regular clientelle for the bar..... However, my concern is that even if we could get a new location sorted, I have doubts that there would be enough support to sustain it.....After six months of petitioning and also informing the arsenalaustralia.com heirachy of the Perth situation, I have come to the conclusion that I am wasting my time trying to promote live game meets. I am happy enough to pay off this crusade as a lost cause, and watch my team in the comfort of my own home on Foxtel HD..........I get to see all the games......except of course, if I try to see a game at the shag.... then I only get to see the second half at home!..........Maybe it would be different if Mark Schwarzer gets to play in goal for Arsenal, then everyone will suddenly support Arsenal......like that is going to really happen!!................ I now know that my crusade has been in vain, as since my original "Attention Perth Gooners" post in Feb (letting the Perth Arsenal supporters know that we had lost the shag as our home bar), I haven't had much feedback either way....I also know there are many Perth and WA members out there that don't want to meet for live games.........with this in mind, I will cease to promote meets for games, and will keep the WA arsenalaustralia group as a web forum based group only................For all of those Perth gooners that have supported the Arsenal live game meets and Glory recruiting drive and curry nights in the past few years I thank you whole heartedly for your support. Steve M, Dave, Jake, Nick, Sky, Peter D, Luke C, Rich, Win, Rod, Vincent, Caroline, Fraser and Andy...apologies if I have missed anyone.....we will remember the good times..........my thoughts

Cheers Nigel. Don't get too down mate, you have tried your best. If I lived in Perth I would be a regular , wherever the meet was. Maybe we should have another meet at the Herbert Chapman!! Hope to catch you again when the season cranks up in August. Vincent

i havn't had internet since feb..so this is why i havn't been able to get down..it sucks that everyone seems to have 4got abt tha shag...great place 2 watch..but 4 me..if we get games on i will attend..i will even bring my little brother but if its gona be a ghost town..i may aswell stay home!

Hey guys it's been a while since I've been on ...,firstly had a great time in London with Nigel at the Arsenal game would of liked a better result but great all the same ... Secondly regards to the meeting place , I know how hard it's been for Nigel to organize this I do understand that the shag has to run a business but this place is not like it was I'd like thank Nigel for his efforts on this but I think I'll be sticking to watching games at home & at Nigels house we would prefer to watch it with fellow Gooners but the support is not there still hope to catch up with everyone on the odd times we have a big game at another pub etc. Thanks again Nigel I know the effort you've put in.

I agree with your view Nigel, i think we just get to Busrwood as often as we can for the game that's shown on big screen with sound, and from there we can advertise more about our group. I'm surprised there are so many Arsenal supporters out there who don't even know about the club. I watched the game vs Liverpool the other day, and i was surprised and thrilled by the number of gooners that turned up. shame i don't have any cards to hand out.

i dont have fox at home any more so i usually go 2 watch the games at carbon..was at the pool game and saw the 1st half of the blackpool game b4 i had 2 leave for personal reasons..very good 1 for me 2 leave an arsenal game..but i didnt see anyone else sept one guy in an arsenal shirt 4 that 1...

i can assure u all that if ur thinking of getting down 2 carbon 2 watch games it would b a good idea because their starting to think that not many people go down 4 arsenal..and that was evident by the fact that they had arsenal on the big screen wit no sound for the blackpool game while on the other big screen they were showing highlights of old super14 shite wit sound..shows how much they giv a shite abt out team..but i mean if no ones their why should they...only pool united n chelsea get sound and big screens 4 sure..but gettn down there is half the battle guys...so if u can doit join me..ill still be wearing my eduardo jersey till my rvp one comes in!

unfortunately I dont have fox at home therefore I only rock up at carbon to watch any arsenal games whether if its on the big screen or small screen with or without sound!

Well you can watch on internet too if you want steve... myp2p.eu is the place to go =)

Personally if Carbon bar don't show it on big screen and with sound, i can't be bothered going all the way there