IT USED to be a running joke between myself and the former Arsenal Women’s manager, Joe Montemurro. 

There was a spell, when, during every post-match interview he gave as boss, I’d purposely ask him when his team would play regularly at the men’s stadium. 

Joe, a likeable Aussie that I had huge respect for, led the Gunners’ female arm for four years between 2017 and 2021. Yet, he was always polite, but non-committal in his answers on that subject.

The easy-going Melbourne-born boss steered the side through some choppy waters during the start of the pandemic, earning plaudits for his calm, no-nonsense manner. 

He was also the last boss to have led the North Londoners to silverware, winning the Women’s Super League back in 2019.

However, I always felt that when I grilled him about the prospect of Arsenal Women regularly playing big games at a sold-out Ashburton Grove, he didn’t think it would happen.

Reading between the lines of the answers he dead-batted away with his usual charm, I felt as if he – and many others – simply didn’t believe such a thing would materialise any time soon. 

Meadow Park is a homely venue for Arsenal Women, with one of its main attractions being the strong and genuine bond between players and the wonderfully loyal, knowledgeable and passionate supporters. 

Yet, Joe, along with many others, simply couldn’t envisage the two or three thousand regulars transforming into 50-60,000-strong crowds at Arsenal. 

He also firmly felt that women’s games deserved to be played in front of full houses — anything less would be an insult to the players. Though of course he was far too diplomatic to say it in those stark terms. But he was right. 

There were a scattering of games held in N5, mostly viewed as a tepid warm-up before the men, or as an afterthought once the main event had passed. And Joe was absolutely correct in wanting the best for his team – not wide expanses of empty seats. 

All changed, changed utterly after this summer.

The Lionesses’ stirring triumph has led to an increased fascination in the women’s game, which in turn has led to a near sell-out at Arsenal this weekend. 

Long may it continue, in what must be a hugely satisfying moment for so many trailblazers on and off the pitch, passionate advocates of women’s football who are savouring the incredible progression that is unfolding – and continues to unfold at such a speedy rate, almost on a daily basis. 

Today’s near capacity crowd is for all those players who were derided by men for even having the temerity to play the game decades ago. 

Kudos also to all those who covered the game long before I and many others did. 

And, of course, to the fans. First and foremost, those hardy souls who attended week in week out in an unprepossessing part of the North London/Herts border – and still do, judging by the two impressive attendances at the pair of games I’ve reported on this week at Meadow Park. 

Along with other true believers, and recent converts up and down the country, today’s North London Derby near sell-out is for all of you. 

As an aside I also have to say a big well done to the club and Daniel Lane in particular, who have made the Meadow Park experience far more comfortable these days.  

This week of all weeks I recalled, with a smile, many visits to Meadow Park under Joe.

He was always open and approachable, fair and honest in his appraisal of a match, during his post-match press conferences. 

Well, I say pressers, back then it was more a chat with a small huddle of journalists, next to a dilapidated fence on a crumbling open terrace in front of the changing rooms at Meadow Park. 

Afterwards, he would take time to attend to each and every single request for an autograph and a chat with fans. 

I would often take my youngest daughter to games while I covered the game – back then we could actually sit next to each other, and I recall, on her ninth birthday, she actually took her latest – and highly prized – Arsenal shirt to be signed. 

She joined the good-natured throng of supporters waiting patiently for the boss to finish speaking with me and a few others at Boreham Wood. 

Once Joe had completed his media duties, off he went to chat to fans. After he had worked his way through most supporters, he came to my daughter. Upon realising we were related, Joe affected mock indignation, saying to her with a big, ready smile: “Your dad never leaves me alone. I’ll sign your shirt – but yer dad can get lost as he always asks me difficult questions.” 

To say his jokey personal message pleased my daughter would be an understatement. She loved it, and to be fair, so did I. 

As I did the time I sat in the media room in Spurs’ new ground in the aftermath of Arsenal’s impressive 2-0 victory over their rivals back in 2019, in front of what was the previous record attendance for a domestic women’s game, 38,262.

In one of my proudest moments, when a journalist colleague sitting next to me asked Joe what it meant to him to win the North London Derby, a smiling Joe paused, and said: “Mate, ask the bloke next to you.” Meaning me. I still dine out on that now before every North London Derby, men’s or women’s.

Fast forward a few seasons, as I head to the club’s impressive London Colney training ground for the Arsenal Women’s Friday presser, Joe will be pleased I won’t be asking current boss Jonas Eidevall the same question as I pestered the popular Aussie with for years. 

Why? Because, today, Arsenal Women vs Spurs Women will be played in front of more than 50,000 fans. 

That makes me extremely happy, to the point of my throat catching with emotion as I write this.

Not least because the running joke between Joe and me has finally been laid to rest. 

PS I’ll be there selling the Gooner Fanzine before the game – a big thank you to all our new readers who bought a copy at the sold-out Brighton home game last week to launch the new WSL season. I’ll also be taking my two (now) teenage daughters and two of their pals. They’ll be sitting in the home end cheering on the Gunners, while I head to the press box before kick-off to cover the game. Parenting Arsenal style. I suspect Joe would approve.