Ken Friar, Arsenal life president and one of club’s most important figures, dies aged 92

Arsenal have paid homage to their life president Ken Friar, who has died aged 92. Born in Islington in August 1934, Friar’s association with the club started in 1945 as an 11-year-old messenger following a chance meeting with manager George Allison. He was appointed club secretary in 1973 and managing director in 1983, playing a key role in the Gunners’ move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium . Friar served on the board until 2020, when he stepped down as executive director to become life president. He was awarded an OBE for services to football in 2000 and received the Freedom of the Borough of Islington in 2004. Friar is among the Arsenal figures, alongside Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, former managers Arsene Wenger and Herbert Chapman, immortalised with bronze statues outside the ground. Arsenal’s players will wear black armbands in Friar's memory during Tuesday evening’s Champions League match at home to Lille. Ken Friar became club secretary in 1973 and managing director in 1983 before later playing a leading role in the Gunners’ move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium (PA) Further tributes will take place when the Gunners host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, 24 October. “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’,” the club said in a tribute on its website. “He leaves an extraordinary life of service to the club as his legacy. One that will surely never be matched.” When made a life president in 2020, Friar said it had been “an honour and a privilege to see the club grow whilst maintaining its core traditions and values”. Ken Friar served on the board until 2020, when he stepped down as executive director to become life president. (GETTY IMAGES) “Every day of my working life has been at this great club and I have treasured them all,” he told the club’s website. “It has been an honour and a privilege to see the club grow whilst maintaining its core traditions and values. “I know that will continue as we move forward. I made this decision several months ago before the pandemic arrived. The club is in the hands of good people in Stan and Josh Kroenke, the board and our staff. “They understand what we stand for and what we mean to our many millions of supporters around the world. I look forward to finally being able to watch our matches purely as a supporter without the inevitable concerns and stresses which come with management and board responsibilities.”