Kenneth John FriarOBE (born 13 August 1934) is a former board member, managing director and secretary of Arsenal Football Club.[1] In September 2020 he was appointed life president of the club.[2]
Ken Friar was educated at St John's School, Highbury and Highbury County Grammar School after passing the eleven-plus. Friar began working at Arsenal part-time as a 12-year-old. He left school in 1950 and started work in the club's box office.[3] Friar rose through the club ranks and became 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 by chairman Peter Hill-Wood, 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 and served on the board until September 2020 when he retired.[4] On 1 May 2008 it was announced that he had become acting managing director on the resignation of Keith Edelman prior to the appointment of Ivan Gazidis.
Friar was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honours for services to association football.[5] The London Borough of Islington also awarded him the freedom of the borough in 2004.[6]
As at 27 March 2007 he owned 47 shares representing 0.07% of Arsenal Football Club after he transferred 147 to the then Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood.[7]
As of 7 September 2015, he owned 1 share representing 0.0016% of Arsenal Football Club, Ivan Gazidis also owns 1 share, with the remaining shares being owned by Arsenal (AFC Holdings) limited.[8]
On 14 April 2011, The North Bridge, which joins Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to Arsenal tube station, was renamed ‘The Ken Friar Bridge’ in tribute to Club Director Ken Friar OBE.[9]
At a short ceremony attended by Friar himself, family, friends and Club staff, a statue was unveiled at the end of the bridge, opposite the Arsenal Museum at the north end of the stadium. The statue depicts Friar playing football as a youngster in 1945 in front of the old Highbury Stadium.
^"The Arsenal Board". www.arsenal.com.
^"Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
^"Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
^"Ken Friar OBE to become life president". www.arsenal.com.
^United Kingdom: "No. 55879". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 19 June 2000. p. 11.
^Freedom of Islington for Arsenal pair Archived 21 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
^"Arsenal FC - PLUS Markets Group". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
of the club. KenFriar was educated at St John's School, Highbury and Highbury County Grammar School after passing the eleven-plus. Friar began working...
Arsenal renamed two bridges near the stadium in honour of club directors KenFriar and Danny Fiszman. As part of the club's 125 anniversary celebrations...
manager's job. After an interview with Peter Hill-Wood, David Dein and KenFriar the Arsenal directors appointed Graham as their new manager on 14 May...
Former Players’ Foundation. For services to Football in the UK and Europe. KenFriar 2000-Jun OBE For services to Association Football. Steve Gibson 2016-Jun...
Retrieved July 11, 2011. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ken Davitian. Ken Davitian at IMDb Ken Davitian is enjoying, very much, his Hollywood high five...
13 December 2015. Stride, Chris; Thomas, Ffion; Wilson, John (2012). "KenFriar". From Pitch to Plinth: The Sporting Statues Project. Retrieved 13 December...
First Hermit Bl. Gonçalo de Amarante, 13th century, Portugal, Dominican friar Richard Rolle de Hampole, 13th century, England, religious writer Sergius...
Football Association), the Friars defeated the league's Columbus Panhandles 14-0. For this game, the Friars employed Bob Peck and Ken Huffine. Then after a...
college ice hockey for the Providence Friars of the Hockey East conference. He was instrumental in the Friars' championship title at the 2015 NCAA Division...
The team's name, Spanish for "fathers", refers to the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded San Diego in 1769. The Padres are owned by the estate of Peter...
Carmel Dagan. "Ken Greengrass, Music, TV Producer and Personal Manager, Dies at 87". Variety. Retrieved 2014-04-20. "Ken Greengrass Dead: Friars Club Member...
Hallmark's African epic Forbidden Territory, and Ken Follett's On Wings of Eagles and Red Eagle. He played Friar Sands in The Lost Empire, for NBC. He also...
"Scarlok" or "Scathelocke") all appear, although not yet Maid Marian or Friar Tuck. The friar has been part of the legend since at least the later 15th century...
others, by the British Father Hilary - a humble but outspoken Franciscan friar who is the book's protagonist. Trans-Carpathia G.I. Joe Eastern European...
McHale has supported include DoSomething.org, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Friar's Charitable Foundation, Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation...
Diego's friend; Diego's deaf and mute servant Bernardo; his ally, Fray (Friar) Felipe; his father, Don Alejandro Vega, the wealthiest landowner in California...
and Bar the Door", "John Blunt", "Old John Jones" (Child 275) 116. "The Friar (in the Well/and the Maid/Well Fitted)" (Child 276) 117. "The Wife Wrapt...
the life, times and work of Gregor Mendel, the 19th century Augustinian friar whose revolutionary scientific Experiments in selective breeding have made...
considered All Things Must Pass to be his first solo album. I went to George's Friar Park ... and he said, "I have a few ditties for you to hear." It was endless...
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