Roy's Red Army!

Please note: this post is 82 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

For over 4 years North London Cares has hosted a Weekly Social Club in Kentish Town, where friends - old and new - join their younger neighbours for a whole host of activities. Roy, a keen music and sports fan, has been a regular at that club for a couple of years now and in that time his confidence has grown immeasurably as he's shared time with neighbours. As it often does, conversation this week turned to the football...

"How are you Roy?"

"I'm OK. Well, actually I'm a bit nervous. It's the League Cup Final this weekend isn't it..."

Apprehension about Arsenal's performance isn't a particularly new feeling for Roy as he's followed the club all his life. And let's face it, Arsenal never do things the easy way! But this time round, he feels even more invested in the result come Sunday tea time.

Roy, along with Paul, Emma, Harry, Richard and friends were in attendance at the start of Arsenal's League Cup run, seeing them beat Doncaster (sorry Mike!). A win that would set them on their way to Wembley. A big thank you again to our friends at Arsenal In The Community, who kindly invited local neighbours to the stadium that night for a taste of cup football under the floodlights.

It was the first time that many of these neighbours, who've met and become pals in different social clubs across north London, had been to watch their local team. For some, like Joan who cheered the lads on with her Love Your Neighbour friend Ellie, it was a familiar setting and scoreline - "One nil, to The Arsenal" - a chant that was particularly loud on this row of the Emirates that evening!

For Roy, a regular at Highbury in times gone by, it was his first game at the Emirates Stadium. He was quickly back in the old routine though, making sure he was dressed in home colours, that he had chips before kick-off and bought a programme to take away with him to read when he got home. He has a programme from every Arsenal match he's been to.

"Take a picture of us in front of Bobby Pires!"

Roy had slipped into thinking the match day experience wasn't really for him - "I wouldn't go on my own" - well on this night he was in good company.

And Roy himself continues to be good company, better than good in fact, brilliant company on a weekly basis at North London Cares social clubs. Keeping up with old friends and welcoming new ones to the fold too. It's a team game.

Altogether now - COME ON YOU REDS!