As the Group General Manager of the Pig N Whistle British Pubs in South-East Queensland, Arj has had to bite his tongue on many occasions, whilst having to maintain a professional (read neutral!) stance when it comes to English Football fans in his pubs.

Growing up in Sri Lanka, where Rugby and Football come a very distant second and third to cricket, he remembers listening to the FA Cup games on BBC World through the Short Wave Radio. He later migrated to Australia with his family, settling in the then Football-starved Brisbane in 1984. Although a Villa supporter as a kid (because his Dad made him!), it all changed in October 1995 when he lobbed into a share house in Islington.

The ensuing two years were dotted with a few visits to Highbury and even more visits to the pubs in North London to watch coveted Arsenal games. He was truly converted to a ‘Gooner’!

Upon returning to Australia, he was involved in establishing Brisbane’s first British Pub chain. Arj was instrumental in promoting Football in Brisbane long before the Socceroos’ World Cup success and the advent of A-League. Long suffering Football enthusiasts, who had previously endured sessions at Pubs that only showed League and Rugby, now come in droves to ‘The Pig’.