Ken Friar OBE (1934-2026): A Lifetime Devoted to Arsenal

Former Arsenal Life President Ken Friar OBE has passed away at the age of 92, concluding more than eight decades of service to the club. Friar first joined Arsenal in 1945 as an 11-year-old messenger boy after being noticed by manager George Allison, before taking on a full-time role in 1950 and rising to become club secretary, managing director, and eventually Life President in 2020.

Friar played a crucial role alongside Danny Fiszman in overseeing Arsenal's relocation from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in Islington. His enduring legacy at the club is permanently recognized by the Ken Friar Bridge and a statue at the stadium commemorating his journey from local schoolboy to senior executive.