Clare had three children, the eldest of whom was 19 and the youngest was 10. With two teenage girls I did not have a clue how to get through to but with the boy there was more opportunity.

Freddie was a very bright child, able to mix and talk with people from 8 to 80. At the start of our time together I often referred to Arsenal and told him tales of travelling away with Arsenal in far flung towns and that was it . . . I had my opportunity there right in front of me. The next time Arsenal came to town that would be Freddie and me in the away end. Brilliant!

On the Wednesday night, Arsenal could not have given themselves a bigger billing. They beat the mighty Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with a typically wonderful goal from Thierry Henry.

Freddie was very interested in being part of the Arsenal away end. I had introduced him to some of the more off colour songs that the chaps on the terraces would use and as you can imagine, he was laughing like only a small boy can. I ventured over to the Fernhurst pub for the traditional pre-match pint, bottle of coke and bag of crisps for the boy and to soak up some of the atmosphere. We were ready to enter the arena. I was getting a bit revved up feeling like I was back home in London.

As we found our seats we were deafened by a wall of sound. I was about to sit down when Freddie shouted, “You can’t sit down Dan, you’ve got to stand up”, as the Arsenal fans were chanting “stand up, if you hate Tottenham, stand up, if you hate Tottenham”. There was Freddie singing along as if it was second nature.

After being given permission to sit by the young Gooner he found his feet listening to the chorus of rather choice ditties. As Robbie Savage’s legitimacy was questioned or the referee was offered the choice of different opticians or even some other foul statement about the Spurs manager’s mum, my embarrassment was made easier as Freddie would just look at me and burst out laughing. All was going well.

That was until Craig Bellamy got the ball down the right wing, took our Swiss international defender to the cleaners and then set up Pederson for goal number one. How could the team of Wenger, Henry and Pires be losing to players like Andy Todd and Ryan Nelsen?

They could not be bothered. They had beaten the Galacticos but a few strong tackles and a taste of February in Lancashire was too much for them. Chance after chance was squandered; the Arsenal boys were getting more and more restless. I was starting to feel terrible for young Freddie. Why could they not turn the magic on for him?

He just looked at me with an expression of, ‘well there goes another dream’. As I was losing myself in the game, not taking notice, the great Thierry Henry got the ball and managed to squander another good chance. This was too much for some but then there came a noise right from next to me in a broad East Lancs accent most Arsenal fans were not expecting, “Henry! You’re bloody rubbish!”

Freddie Shaw aged 11 and three quarters and the wisest of all Arsenal fans that day and since.