**Arsenal have announced the death of club legend Ken Friar, who spent almost 80 years serving the Gunners in a career that took him from a 12-year-old messenger boy to life president.**
Affectionately known as ‘Mr Arsenal’, Friar was one of the most influential figures in the club’s history, playing a key role in its development on and off the pitch, including the move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium.
Born in Islington in August 1934, his association with Arsenal began in 1946 when he caught the attention of manager George Allison after kicking a football underneath his car outside Highbury. Allison offered the youngster a job as a matchday messenger, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Friar joined the club’s box office full-time in 1950 before rising through the ranks to become club secretary in 1973 and managing director in 1983.
He spent 17 years as managing director, helping oversee the club’s operations during a period of considerable change in English football. His contribution was particularly significant in the planning and delivery of Arsenal’s move from [Highbury to the Emirates Stadium,](https://hayters.com/arsenal-reveal-brand-new-emirates-stadium-artwork/) which opened in 2006.
Working alongside fellow director Danny Fiszman, Friar helped deliver a project that would shape Arsenal’s future and provide the infrastructure for the club to compete at the highest level.
He remained on the board until 2020, when he stepped down and was appointed life president, having spent more than seven decades at the heart of the club.
His service was recognised with an OBE in 2000, while he was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Islington in 2004. The Ken Friar Bridge, which links the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal station, also bears his name.
A statue depicting Friar as a young boy playing football outside Highbury serves as a reminder of how his story began, long before he became one of the most familiar and respected figures at the club.
Arsenal will pay tribute to Friar at Tuesday night’s Champions League match against Lille, with players wearing black armbands. Further commemorations are planned for the Premier League fixture against [Everton](https://hayters.com/everton-owners-exploring-sale-of-the-club/) on October 24.
Few figures have been so closely associated with Arsenal for so long. Friar witnessed the club’s transformation across generations, from its post-war years at Highbury to life at the Emirates, while helping maintain the connection between its history and its future.
His death marks the loss of a figure whose contribution to Arsenal extended far beyond any single role, with his influence and dedication leaving a lasting mark on the club.