Mark Brindle: The supporter of our supporters

Each programme we catch up with a member of staff, to find out more about what makes the club tick behind the scenes Today we hear from Supporter Liaison Officer Mark Brindle. Arsenal ‘through and through’, Mark talks us through his important role at the club.

The Arsenal has been a really big part of my life since childhood. My grandad worked in the Foreign Office and he was a big influence on me when I was a kid. He used to come to Highbury – I remember he went to the Anderlecht game in 1970 – and away matches too, including that famous one at White Hart Lane in 1971.

My grandad was a fantastic storyteller and he’d tell me stories about the Arsenal team of the 1930s – Alex James in his baggy shorts, Ted Drake and his seven goals, things like that. I was really keen to go and see what it was all about and, in November 1971, I finally got my wish.

We were living in Woolwich – at that age, I wasn’t aware of the connections! There was a lot of strong support for Arsenal in south London at the time because after the war a lot of people were moved from Islington to Thamesmead. My first game was against Manchester City – Sammy Nelson scored for us but we lost 2-1. I cried my eyes out afterwards!

I still remember the feeling of visiting Highbury for the first time. It was a beautiful, sunny day, despite it being autumn, and we sat in the West Stand. I got my first season ticket in around 1980 and moved to Essex when I married my wife in 1997. At that point I’d already done quite a bit of work on the fans’ forum and for REDaction, but then I noticed there wasn’t an Essex Supporters’ Club.

I spoke to Jill Smith the supporter liaison officer, who I’d known for years, and she told me there was someone else – Ian Harold – interested in starting one up. I spoke to Ian and we built it from there.

I worked in financial services, ultimately running my own business for around 25 years. During that time I’d still do quite a lot of work together with the club. I knew Jill Smith and her boss, Sue Campbell. I always used to joke around with Jill and tell her I’d have loved to have done her job, all the while thinking she’d never retire. Jill truly is Mrs Arsenal – she still goes to every game, home and away.

Anyway, one day I got an email with news of Jill’s upcoming retirement. At that point I’d had enough of my business – so I spoke to my wife and she told me to have a chat with Sue. I left it a day and then picked the phone up. I asked Sue if she’d be recruiting for Jill’s position. She burst out laughing and told me she was disappointed it had taken me a day to phone her!

Sue told me it was an even playing field and that I’d need to go through the interview process. After my final interview she took me to the lifts and, as we were waiting, a door swung open and who should walk out but Liam Brady, my all-time hero. Sue introduced me to him, and then the door opened again and Frank McLintock came through it.

On the train home from Islington that day my phone kept ringing. It was Sue – she asked if I was somewhere quiet and, when I told her I was on a packed commuter train, she told me to make sure I was sitting down. Sue told me I’d got the job and it all got a bit much. Half the people on the train started looking at me because I couldn’t help but well up.

That was eight years ago – I joined in April 2014, a month before we beat Hull in the FA Cup final. I was at the victory parade the day after and being on the inside was just such a change from what I was used to. It was incredible.

"One of my favourite aspects of the job is taking supporters into the ground for the first time"

In terms of my role, the UEFA definition of a Supporter Liaison Officer is to ensure everyone has a positive experience on a matchday. I’ll work towards that during the week – there’s a lot of collaborative work with other departments, helping to plan events.

On a matchday I make sure I’m visible and present for people to come and talk to me. I attend a lot of supporter events, we also run the fans’ forum and I’m involved with the advisory board too. I’ll hold regular meetings with the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust and other groups. It’s full-on – but the beauty of it is that every week is different.

Supporters’ groups are a vital part of this club. A really good example was the recent tour to the United States. Dealing with Arsenal America, the supporters’ club out there, and witnessing the passion for The Arsenal was just amazing.

We were out in Baltimore and they had a pub that’s solely for Arsenal supporters. It felt like being in Islington – you walked in and there was just red and white everywhere. They’d organised a block party for matchday and, honestly, they’d closed off the whole street. I’d say there were at least 2,000 people gathered outside. They all marched up to the stadium, singing songs. That’s what being in a supporters’ club is all about – it’s that sense of community.

Covid presented us all with issues but we adjusted to that by moving meetings online. To make sure we were regularly in communication with supporters around the world, they took place monthly. We had guest speakers and we’ve seen the audience grow as a result. You get people from all over the world joining in, which has been really beneficial. It’s fostered a lot of good relations.

Being back in Europe helps supporters attend matches too. I remember going to Bulgaria a few years ago – we had people travelling hundreds of miles to get to the game. They turned up at the ground three hours before kick-off and chanted for the full 90 minutes. When you see things like that, it really rams home how global this club is.

One of my favourite aspects of the job is taking supporters into the ground for the first time, just like my grandad did with me all those years ago. I love the fact that we’re all Gooners. We’ve never had issues at Arsenal with accepting people. When I first went in 1971, as a quiet kid from south London, I found a family – and that’s what people still find now.