Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack has made a startling admission about his time at the north London club, confessing that he operated a profitable sideline selling counterfeit Gucci accessories to his teammates. Stack, who was part of the legendary Invincibles squad that won the Premier League without losing a match, revealed the details during an appearance on the In The Mixer podcast.
The Lucrative Counterfeit Operation
The 44-year-old former shot-stopper explained how he identified a business opportunity as a teenager in Arsenal's academy. "We used to have a feller at our pub who would come in with belts, bags, wallets, [fake] Gucci. The lot," Stack recalled. "I thought, 'There is a move here.' I was in the academy and was only 17 at the time."
Stack described how he would fill the boot of his car with counterfeit merchandise and drive to training sessions. "I was taking orders from people," he said. "I used to basically go in, showcase what I had, take the orders then go back, fill my boot up and come in the next day."
First-Team Customers and Embarrassing Discoveries
The operation quickly gained traction among Arsenal's senior players. "I'm laying out all the Gucci in the car park, I'm at Arsenal football club!" Stack exclaimed. "All the first-team boys had seen I had bags, like Gucci bags. A few of the lads were saying, 'I'll have a couple of them for the Mrs.'"
The situation led to some awkward moments at a Christmas party when the scale of Stack's operation became apparent. "I had given them loads and loads of bags and we had a Christmas do. Lo and behold, all the boys are all Gucci'd up. But all the birds had the same Gucci bag," he revealed.
The identical counterfeit accessories created particularly embarrassing situations for some high-profile teammates. "David Seaman had been telling his Mrs he's gone into town, Selfridges, 'I thought I'd get you a nice little treat.' Ray Parlour had said the same to his bird," Stack explained.
The situation reached its peak when players gathered for dinner. "We also all had Gucci wallets so when we sat down and everyone put their wallets on the table, it was all the same wallet!" Stack said. "It was all just full of dodgy Gucci gear!"
Stack's Arsenal Career and Legacy
Graham Stack emerged from Arsenal's academy and served as backup goalkeeper during his time at the club before departing for Reading in 2006. Although he was part of the historic Invincibles squad, he did not receive a Premier League winner's medal due to insufficient appearances.
During his professional career, Stack made over 350 appearances for various clubs including Hibernian, Barnet, and Eastleigh. He transitioned into coaching nearly a decade ago and now promotes boxing events for former professional athletes.
Stack's admission provides a fascinating glimpse into the off-pitch activities of professional footballers during one of Arsenal's most successful periods. His story highlights how even at the highest levels of the sport, players engaged in unconventional side ventures that created memorable, if somewhat embarrassing, moments for those involved.
