Arsenal Supporters Meet Dynamo Fans In Kiev

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

Arsenal supporters led by Steven Powell, chair of Arsenal Independent Supporters' Association (AISA) met with supporters of Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev the night before their UEFA Champions' League clash in the Ukrainian capital.
 
The meeting, sponsored by the British Council, was a great success with standing room only, as Steven answered questions as wide ranging as why Arsenal's domestic form doesn't translate into the Champions' League to the structure of Arsenal supporters' organisations to the relationships between Turkish and English supporters.
 
After a lively discussion, a draw was held for two Arsenal shirts and other Gunners' souvenirs that the London supporters had brought with them. All present then adjourned to the bar where the exchanges continued.
 
Commenting on the initiative, Steven said, "This is the third interchange we've undertaken with local supporters on our European travels. As a consequence we now have relationships with independent supporters' organisations at Bayern Munich and Schalke 04. We managed to set up these contacts on our own. We're thrilled that the British Council has set up this meeting. All the other six lads who came with me told me how much they enjoyed the session.
 
"It's great to have the chance to meet local supporters. We also want to show that there's another side to supporters of English clubs. It's only a minority who like causing trouble. Most of us just want to have a good time and a laugh whilst seeing something of places we wouldn't otherwise see. Perhaps meeting people like us in person will help break down the stereotype of the average English club supporter that many supporters are working very hard to change this. The one iron rule of all the people we travel with is we all want to leave with the local people counting the days until we return because we've been such good visitors. All too often local people have been pleased to see the back of supporters of both the English national team and club sides. We're out to change that."
 
After the meeting, some of the Dynamo supporters expressed scepticism to people at the British Council as to how "independent" AISA is of the club. How can they be, various people said, when they're staying at the same five star hotel as the Arsenal team? Steven Powell laughed when he heard this. "I can see how they'd come to that conclusion. It must be very difficult for a citizen of Kiev to understand how an ordinary football supporter can afford to stay in a five star hotel. One night at the hotel is apparently two or three times the local monthly salary. This is the gulf of understanding we're trying to breach between eastern and western Europe. For us the hotel is expensive but affordable as a treat for a couple of nights. We certainly couldn't afford to stay in a five star hotel in Paris or Berlin!"
 
Steven also met up with one of those present at the meeting in the stadium after the game. Whilst waiting to leave the ground, he heard his name being called. He looked over to the police cordon where he saw one of the lads who'd been at the meeting calling over him. "The lad, Dimitri his name was I think, was trying to get through the police line to have a chat with us and swap scarves. Unfortunately the police wouldn't let him across. We had to leave it with a scarf swap and a couple of photos.
 
"As we left the ground in our coach, there he was outside the gates holding up the Arsenal scarf we'd swapped with him. We all had another great night out in Kiev, just about managing to muster for the bus to the airport the following day at lunchtime. We all left for the airport with great memories of a fabulous trip. Just a pity we didn't have the three points with us in the baggage... But then we made up for that last week with Ashley Cole's last gasp header ensuring the honours were spread evenly between both sides!"

Steven Powell & Gerry Burns, Nov 2003