Ken Friar

Last updated

Ken Friar
OBE
Arsenal FC v Everton FC, 24 Oct 2015 - 02.JPG
Ken Friar statue at the Emirates Stadium
Personal information
Full name Kenneth John Friar
Date of birth (1934-08-13) 13 August 1934 (age 89)
Place of birth Islington, London, England

Kenneth John Friar OBE (born 13 August 1934) is a former board member, managing director and secretary of Arsenal Football Club. [1] In September 2020 he was appointed life president of the club. [2]

Ken Friar was educated at St John's School, Highbury and Highbury County Grammar School after passing the eleven-plus. Friar began working at Arsenal part-time as a 12-year-old. He left school in 1950 and started work in the club's box office. [3] Friar rose through the club ranks and became company secretary replacing Bob Wall in 1973. During this time, he took part in discussions held in the 1970s between the boards of Arsenal and rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC to share a new stadium at Alexandra Palace. In 1983, he was appointed managing director by chairman Peter Hill-Wood, a role he lasted in until 2000. During this time, Friar has taken an active role in negotiating manager and player contracts as well as fostering Arsenal's links with the community and supporter groups. He stepped down from this role to concentrate on the club's move to the Emirates Stadium and served on the board until September 2020 when he retired. [4] On 1 May 2008 it was announced that he had become acting managing director on the resignation of Keith Edelman prior to the appointment of Ivan Gazidis.

Friar was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honours for services to association football. [5] The London Borough of Islington also awarded him the freedom of the borough in 2004. [6]

As at 27 March 2007 he owned 47 shares representing 0.07% of Arsenal Football Club after he transferred 147 to the then Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. [7]

As of 7 September 2015, he owned 1 share representing 0.0016% of Arsenal Football Club, Ivan Gazidis also owns 1 share, with the remaining shares being owned by Arsenal (AFC Holdings) limited. [8]

On 14 April 2011, The North Bridge, which joins Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to Arsenal tube station, was renamed ‘The Ken Friar Bridge’ in tribute to Club Director Ken Friar OBE. [9]

At a short ceremony attended by Friar himself, family, friends and Club staff, a statue was unveiled at the end of the bridge, opposite the Arsenal Museum at the north end of the stadium. The statue depicts Friar playing football as a youngster in 1945 in front of the old Highbury Stadium.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal F.C.</span> Association football club in London, England

The Arsenal Football Club, commonly known as Arsenal, is an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London. Arsenal compete in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. In domestic football, Arsenal have won 13 league titles, a record 14 FA Cups, two League Cups, 17 FA Community Shields and a Football League Centenary Trophy. In European football, they have one European Cup Winners' Cup and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In terms of trophies won, it is the third-most successful club in English football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Islington</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Islington is a London borough which forms part of Inner London, England. Islington has an estimated population of 215,667. It was formed in 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, by the amalgamation of the metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holloway, London</span> Human settlement in England

Holloway is an area of north London in the London Borough of Islington, England, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) north of Charing Cross, which follows the line of the Holloway Road (A1). At the centre of Holloway is the Nag's Head commercial area which sits between the more residential Upper Holloway and Lower Holloway neighbourhoods. Holloway has a multicultural population and includes the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal F.C.. Until 2016, it was the site of Holloway Prison, the largest women's prison in Europe. Before 1965, it was in the historic county of Middlesex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Norris (businessman)</span> English businessman, politician and football club director (1865–1934)

Sir Henry George Norris was an English businessman, politician and football club director, most famous for his chairmanship of both Fulham and Arsenal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal tube station</span> London Underground station

Arsenal is a London Underground station located in Highbury, London. It is on the Piccadilly line, between Holloway Road and Finsbury Park stations, in Travelcard Zone 2. Originally known as Gillespie Road, it was renamed in 1932 after Arsenal Football Club, who at the time played at the nearby Highbury Stadium. It is the only tube station named directly after a football club. Although Highbury Stadium closed in 2006, the station retains its name and is still used by spectators attending matches at Arsenal's nearby Emirates Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal Stadium</span> Former football stadium in Highbury, North London, England

Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, London, which was the home of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006. It was popularly known as "Highbury" due to its location and was given the affectionate nickname of the "Home of Football".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert Chapman</span> English association football player and manager (1878-1934)

Herbert Chapman was an English football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most influential and successful managers in the early 20th century, before his sudden death in 1934. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest innovators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emirates Stadium</span> Football stadium in Holloway, London, England

The Emirates Stadium is a football stadium in Holloway, London, England. It has been the home stadium of Arsenal Football Club since its completion in 2006. It has a current seated capacity of 60,704, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in England by capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Mercer</span> English footballer and manager (1914–1990)

Joseph Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager. Mercer, who played as a defender for Everton and Arsenal in his footballing career, also went on to manage Aston Villa, Manchester City and England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Allison</span> English football journalist, broadcaster and manager

George Frederick Allison was an English football journalist, broadcaster and manager. He was the BBC's first sports commentator and Arsenal's second longest serving manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arsenal W.F.C.</span> Womens football club in London, England

Arsenal Women Football Club, commonly referred to as just Arsenal unless distinguishing themselves from the men's team, is an English professional women's football club based in Islington, London, England. The club plays in the Women's Super League, the top tier of English women's football. Arsenal were founded in 1987 following an initiative by Vic Akers, who became the club's first, longest-serving, and most successful manager. He guided Arsenal to continued success until his departure in 2009, winning the most top-flight matches in English football history. The club have sustained this record, and have won the most doubles and trebles in English football history. Arsenal have also completed a record seven unbeaten league seasons, setting a number of English records for longest top-flight unbeaten run, for goals scored, and points won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North London derby</span> Club football rivalry in London, England

The North London derby is the meeting of the association football clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, both of which are based in North London, England. Fans of both clubs consider the other to be their main rivals, and the derby is considered by many to be one of the fiercest derbies in the world. Although the two teams first played each other in 1887, the rivalry did not begin until 1913 when Arsenal moved their ground to North London from Woolwich, south of the River Thames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manor Ground (Plumstead)</span>

The Manor Ground located in Plumstead, south east London was a football stadium. This arena was the home of football club Royal Arsenal, which was later named Woolwich Arsenal, and as such came to be known as Arsenal F.C.

Keith Edelman is an English businessman. He was managing director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008.

William Robert Wall was an English football administrator. He spent his entire career with Arsenal Football Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ownership of Arsenal F.C. & W.F.C.</span> Legal aspect of the English football teams

The ownership of Arsenal F.C. and Arsenal W.F.C. is considerably different from that of other clubs in English football for men and women. It is owned by a parent company, Arsenal Holdings plc, which has relatively few shares which are infrequently traded. Historically, the club has been owned by descendants of the Bracewell-Smith and Hill-Wood families. The club attracted outside interest as two rival tycoons, Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov, acquired significant share holdings in 2007. In August 2018, Kroenke's offer of £550 million for Usmanov's share was accepted, and Kroenke bought out the remainder of the shares to become the club's sole shareholder.

Ivan Gazidis is a South African-Greek business executive and former footballer who last held an executive position at Italian Serie A club AC Milan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highbury Square</span> Apartment complex in London, England

Highbury Square is an apartment complex in Highbury, London. It is a redevelopment of the old Highbury Stadium site, the home stadium of Arsenal F.C. until 2006 when they moved to the newly built Emirates Stadium nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Emirates Cup</span> International football competition

The 2014 Emirates Cup was a pre-season football friendly tournament hosted by Arsenal at its home ground, the Emirates Stadium in London. It was the eighth Emirates Cup, an invitational competition inaugurated in 2007. Held on the weekend of 2–3 August 2014, the participants were Arsenal, Monaco, Valencia, and Benfica.

Vinaichandra Guduguntla Venkatesham is a British-Indian football administrator. He has served as the Chief Executive of Arsenal Football Club since 2020.

References

  1. "The Arsenal Board". www.arsenal.com.
  2. "Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
  3. "Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
  4. "Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
  5. United Kingdom: "No. 55879". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 19 June 2000. p. 11.
  6. Freedom of Islington for Arsenal pair Archived 21 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Arsenal FC - PLUS Markets Group". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  8. "Arsenal FC".
  9. "Arsenal FC - Tribute to Friar".
Sporting positions
Preceded by Arsenal F.C. Secretary
1973–2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Arsenal F.C. managing director
1983–2000
Succeeded by