:Tuesday Club
{{About|the English term|the American Congressional Caucus|Tuesday Group}}{{about||the diplomatic group|Tuesday Club (Bangladesh)}}
The Tuesday Club was the name of social gatherings held by players of English association football club Arsenal in the 1990s. It was viewed as a club bonding experience by the players and manager, George Graham.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/lee-dixon-it-might-sound-hypocritical-after-my-days-in-the-tuesday-club-but-players-should-now-be-2259929.html|title = Lee Dixon: It might sound hypocritical after my days in the Tuesday|website = Independent.co.uk|date = April 2011}}
History
The Tuesday Club involved regular heavy drinking sessions by Arsenal players in the 1990s. These sessions were led by Arsenal captain Tony Adams and usually involved other Arsenal players such as Lee Dixon,{{cite news|author=Nicky Campbell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/feb/08/sport.comment?INTCMP=SRCH |title=How football's intimate details become drowned in drink |work=The Guardian |date= 2007-02-08|accessdate=2012-09-11 |location=London}} Perry Groves and Paul Merson.{{cite news|author=Football |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2353009/How-life-in-fast-lane-paid-off-for-Arsenal-icon.html |title=How life in fast lane paid off for Arsenal icon |publisher=Telegraph |date= 2006-12-29|accessdate=2012-09-11 |location=London}} It became known as the Tuesday Club as the events occurred on Tuesday nights as Arsenal had a day off from training on Wednesdays.{{cite news|author=Josh Widdicombe |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/23/ray-parlour-small-talk |title=Ray Parlour | Small Talk |publisher=Guardian |date= 2010-04-23|accessdate=2012-09-11 |location=London}} Merson wrote that Graham was aware of the sessions but ignored them as the participants always arrived for training on Thursdays.{{cite book | first = Paul | last = Merson | title = How Not to Be a Professional Footballer| publisher = HarperCollins UK | year = 2011| isbn =978-0007424955 | chapter = Lesson 3: Do Not Cross Gorgeous George}} Regular participants of The Tuesday Club also indulged in eating contests during trips to away games.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/20/seven-deadly-sins-football-gluttony-part-one |title=Seven deadly sins of football: Gluttony - part 1 |publisher=Guardian |date=2009-05-20 |accessdate=2012-09-12 |location=London}}
Antics
The Tuesday Club also became known for the antics of some of the participants. In 1990, Merson, Nigel Winterburn and two other Arsenal players were sent home from an Arsenal tour to Singapore due to being involved in a drinking session.{{cite book | first = Myles | last = Palmer | title = The Professor: Arsène Wenger| publisher =Random House | year = 2011| isbn =978-0753546611 | page = 27}} In 1995, Ray Parlour was arrested for assault for throwing prawn crackers at a taxi before hitting the driver during an Arsenal tour to Hong Kong. This led to Parlour being fined HK$2,000 by Eastern Magistrates Court and £5,000 by Arsenal.{{cite book | first = Myles | last = Palmer | title = The Professor: Arsène Wenger| publisher =Random House | year = 2011| isbn =978-0753546611 | page = 29}} In 1996, Adams and Parlour deliberately set off a fire extinguisher in a restaurant.
The Tuesday Club was unofficially ended by the appointment of Arsène Wenger as Arsenal manager as he portrayed alcohol negatively in order to change the culture at Arsenal.{{cite news|last=Purnell |first=Gareth |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/lee-dixon-it-might-sound-hypocritical-after-my-days-in-the-tuesday-club-but-players-should-now-be-teetotal-2259929.html |title=Lee Dixon: It might sound hypocritical after my days in the Tuesday Club but players should now be teetotal |work=The Independent |date= 2011-04-02|accessdate=2012-09-11 |location=London}}
Podcast
In 2010 the "It's Up For Grabs Now" online podcast was renamed after The Tuesday Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycaster.com/profile/ian-stone/ |title=Ian Stone - Stand Up Comedian |publisher=Comedycaster.com |accessdate=2012-09-11}} It is hosted by comedian Alan Davies alongside Keith Dover, Tayo Popoola, Ian Stone and Damian Harris. The podcast received notoriety in newspapers after Davies criticised Liverpool for refusing to play on the date of the anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9194491/Arsenal-fan-Alan-Davies-under-fire-after-criticising-Liverpools-refusal-to-play-on-Hillsborough-anniversary.html |title=Arsenal fan Alan Davies under fire after criticising Liverpool's refusal to play on Hillsborough anniversary |publisher=Telegraph |date=2012-04-09 |accessdate=2012-09-11 |location=London}}
References
{{Arsenal F.C.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuesday Club, The}}