Arsenal pay emotional tribute as club legend Ken Friar dies aged 92

Ken Friar worked for Arsenal for 70 years and was named the club's life president in 2020, having played a key role in their move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal have announced the death of life president Ken Friar at the age of 92. Friar spent 70 years working for the club and became their life president in 2020 after stepping down from his role as an executive director.

In an emotional tribute, Arsenal posted on their website: "Since our formation in 1886, there have been many inspirational individuals who have driven our club forward, but no one has had an influence on Arsenal Football Club quite like 'Mr Friar' and he leaves an extraordinary life of service to the club as his legacy. One that will surely never be matched. Rest in peace."

The story of how Friar joined Arsenal is the stuff of Gunners folklore. In 1945, he accidentally kicked a ball underneath a parked car which belonged to Arsenal boss George Allison.

The young Friar's enthusiasm impressed Allison - who won two First Division titles and an FA Cup as manager - and got him a job as a runner in the club's box office. Having started working full-time in 1950, the Islington-born chief grafted his way up to become Arsenal's secretary in 1973 and later their managing director.

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After 23 years in that role, Friar changed position in 2000 to oversee Arsenal's move from Highbury to a new stadium. He is immortalised at the Emirates through The Ken Friar Bridge, complete with a statue depicting him as a young footballer before his fateful meeting with Allison.

Friar was awarded an OBE for services to football in 2000 and also received the Freedom of the Borough of Islington. He married wife Gwendoline in 1957 and the couple would go on to become grandparents. Gwendoline sadly died aged 88 in December 2020 after suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Despite taking up a non-executive role that same year, Friar still arrived early for matches at the Emirates in order to spend time on several club issues. He witnessed 11 title wins as an Arsenal supporter, including seeing the Gunners end their 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy again in May.

Arsenal added: "He will never be forgotten by all those who knew him, be they players who he meticulously talked through a contract, members of the local council who he quietly but persuasively explained the club’s value to the Borough, staff members who delighted in hearing his treasure trove of stories gleaned over many decades but most of all his family and close friends, who loved him for the kind, generous, wonderful father, grandad or friend that he was."

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