Arsenal life president Ken Friar has died at the age of 92 and the club have planned a tribute for their Champions League match against Lille at Emirates Stadium
Ken Friar in the stands at Wembley
Ken Friar watched Arsenal beat Chelsea in the 2020 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium
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Arsenal players will wear black armbands during their Champions League match against Lille in memory of their life president, Ken Friar, football.london understands.
The club announced his death at the age of 92 seven hours before kick-off. Further tributes will take place at their next home match, which is against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, October 24.
Friar became Arsenal 's life president in 2020 after stepping down from his role on the club's board as an executive director. He had previously been club secretary and managing director, and led their move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Arsenal released a statement to report the news. The club say: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of life president Ken Friar OBE.
"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 statement concluded: "Our thoughts are with Ken Friar's family and many friends at this difficult time."
A statue of Ken Friar outside Emirates Stadium
A statue of Ken Friar sits outside Emirates Stadium on the South Stand Bridge
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His first role at the club came when he was 11, in 1945, after the Second World War. Friar was hired directly by the then-Arsenal manager George Allison following a chance encounter outside Highbury.
He was paid half a crown a week as a messenger, running from the stadium's front door to the box office. Five years later, Friar turned down an opportunity to become a trainee stockbroker in favour of joining the box office as a junior.
Within 15 years, he was assistant secretary to Bob Wall. He succeeded the latter when they became Arsenal's general manager in 1973.
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A decade later, he became managing director. Then, alongside Danny Fiszman, he moved into a new directorial role in 2000, responsible for Arsenal's relocation from Highbury to a new stadium.
That same year, he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Services to Football. During the club's move to Islington, where he was born in 1934, he was bestowed with the Freedom of the Borough honour.
The South Stand Bridge has been named in his honour since 2014. It features a statue depicting Friar as a young footballer on Avenell Road outside Highbury's Marble Halls.