Ken Friar
Encyclopedia
Kenneth John Friar OBE
is a director of Arsenal Football Club, he lives in Winchmore Hill
, North London. He is currently the club's acting managing director.
Ken Friar was born in Islington
on 13-8-1934 and went to school in Highbury (St John’s School and Highbury County Grammar School). He began working at Arsenal part-time as a 12 year old. A bronze bust of him was unveiled at the club's AGM on 27 October 2011 to mark his 60 years with the club.
He rose through the club ranks to become Company Secretary replacing Bob Wall
in 1973. During this time, he took part in discussions held in the 1970s between the boards of Arsenal and rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC to share a new stadium at Alexandra Palace
. In 1983, he was appointed Managing Director, a role he lasted in until 2000. During this time Friar has taken an active role in negotiating manager and player contracts as well as fostering Arsenal's links with the community and supporter groups. He stepped down from this role to concentrate on the club's move to the Emirates Stadium
, but remains a board member. On May 1, 2008 it was announced that he had become acting Managing Director on the resignation of Keith Edelman
.
He was awarded his OBE
in the 2000 for services to Association Football. The London Borough of Islington
awarded him the freedom of the borough in 2004.
As at 27 March 2007 he owned 47 shares representing 0.07% of Arsenal Football Club after he transferred 147 to the Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood
.
On 14 April 2011, The North Bridge, which joins Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to Drayton Park, close to Arsenal tube station, was renamed ‘The Ken Friar Bridge’ in tribute to Club Director Ken Friar OBE.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a director of Arsenal Football Club, he lives in Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill
Winchmore Hill is a district in the Borough of Enfield, North London, in the N21 postal district.- Location :With the Winchmore Hill conservation area as a focal point, Winchmore Hill is a ward of Enfield borough, bounded on the east by Green Lanes , Barrowell Green, Firs Lane and Fords Grove, and...
, North London. He is currently the club's acting managing director.
Ken Friar was born in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
on 13-8-1934 and went to school in Highbury (St John’s School and Highbury County Grammar School). He began working at Arsenal part-time as a 12 year old. A bronze bust of him was unveiled at the club's AGM on 27 October 2011 to mark his 60 years with the club.
He rose through the club ranks to become Company Secretary replacing Bob Wall
Bob Wall (football administrator)
William Robert "Bob" Wall was an English football administrator, who spent his entire career with Arsenal Football Club.Born in Hackney, he went to school in the Highbury area and attended Finsbury Park commercial college...
in 1973. During this time, he took part in discussions held in the 1970s between the boards of Arsenal and rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC to share a new stadium at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
. In 1983, he was appointed Managing Director, a role he lasted in until 2000. During this time Friar has taken an active role in negotiating manager and player contracts as well as fostering Arsenal's links with the community and supporter groups. He stepped down from this role to concentrate on the club's move to the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
, but remains a board member. On May 1, 2008 it was announced that he had become acting Managing Director on the resignation of Keith Edelman
Keith Edelman
Keith Edelman is an English businessman. He was Managing Director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008.-Business:Keith Edelman graduated from UMIST in 1971 with a BSc in Management Sciences. He then worked for Rank Xerox, IBM and Fiat before joining Bank of America in 1978...
.
He was awarded his OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the 2000 for services to Association Football. The London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
awarded him the freedom of the borough in 2004.
As at 27 March 2007 he owned 47 shares representing 0.07% of Arsenal Football Club after he transferred 147 to the Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood
Peter Hill-Wood
Peter Denis Hill-Wood is a British businessman and the current chairman of Arsenal Football Club.-Biography:Hill-Wood was born in Kensington, London. His father, three uncles and grandfather all played first-class cricket for Derbyshire CCC. He attended Eton College where he was a classmate of...
.
On 14 April 2011, The North Bridge, which joins Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to Drayton Park, close to Arsenal tube station, was renamed ‘The Ken Friar Bridge’ in tribute to Club Director Ken Friar OBE.