Arsenal honorary president Ken Friar dies aged 91

Arsenal have announced the death of honorary president Ken Friar, who spent 80 years serving the club. He was 91.

Friar first became involved with Arsenal in 1945, at the age of 11, after being spotted by manager George Allison. He was offered work assisting club staff and was appointed to a permanent role in the ticket office in 1950.

He became assistant club secretary in 1965 before taking over as club secretary in 1973. A decade later, in 1983, Friar was appointed managing director.

Friar played a key role in Arsenal’s move from Highbury to the Emirates. In 2000, he became the director responsible for delivering the new stadium project, which opened in July 2006.

He left his position as executive director in 2020 and was then made a life president of Arsenal.

The club expressed its condolences to Friar’s family and friends.