William Robert Wall (25 February 1912 – 23 March 1981) was an English football administrator. He 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. He was married to Clare (née Nightingale) until his death in 1981. They didn't have any children. He joined Arsenal in 1928 as a clerical worker, handling the club's

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where ticket (admission), tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a Wicket gate, wicke ...

and manager Herbert Chapman's personal correspondence. He soon gained Chapman's trust and assisted with transfer deals. In his very first deal at Chapman's side, when Chapman signed

David Jack David Bone Nightingale Jack (3 April 1898 – 10 September 1958) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward. He scored 267 goals from 490 appearances in the Football League playing for Plymouth Argyle, Bolton Wanderers and Arsena ...

from

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club () is a professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in . The club played at Burnden Park for 102 years from 1895 after moving from their original home at Pike's ...

, Wall would later recall that Chapman made sure the Bolton directors' drinks contained double measures while his own had no alcohol whatsoever. When the Bolton directors got very drunk, Chapman managed to haggle down the fee to a price he considered a bargain. Wall continued to work for Arsenal for nearly 50 years. He became assistant secretary in 1950 and secretary of Arsenal Football Club six years later. After secretary-manager Tom Whittaker died, the club decided to split the role, with

Jack Crayston William John Crayston (9 October 1910 – 26 December 1992) was an English football player and manager. Playing career Born in Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, Crayston played for local school sides and Ulverston Town before moving to Third Div ...

taking over the role of manager. Described by Arsenal captain Frank McLintock as "an authoritarian personality", Wall would eventually come to be effectively in charge of the club's day-to-day running with the board of directors taking a backseat role. In 1973, Wall became Arsenal's general manager.

Ken Friar Kenneth John Friar OBE (born 13 August 1934) is a former board member, managing director and secretary of Arsenal Football Club. In September 2020 he was appointed life president of the club. Ken Friar was educated at St John's School, Highbury ...

succeeded him as secretary. In 1969, Wall published his own account of life at the club in ''Arsenal from the Heart'' (). He retired from his position 1977, accepting a position on the club's board that he retained until his death.

References

1912 births 1981 deaths Arsenal F.C. non-playing staff Arsenal F.C. directors and chairmen Sportspeople from Hackney Central {{England-footy-bio-stub