Kenneth John Friar OBE (born 13 August 1934) is a former board member, managing director and secretary of

Arsenal Football Club Arsenal Football Club, commonly referred to as Arsenal, is a professional football club based in Islington, London, England. Arsenal plays in the Premier League, the top flight of English football. The club has won 13 league titles (incl ...

. In September 2020 he was appointed life president of the club. 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. 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 Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as Tottenham () or Spurs, is a professional association football, football club based in Tottenham, London, England. It competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English footba ...

to share a new stadium at Alexandra Palace. In 1983, he was appointed managing director by chairman

Peter Hill-Wood Peter Denis Hill-Wood (25 February 1936 – 28 December 2018) was a British businessman and a chairman of Arsenal F.C., Arsenal Football Club. Biography Hill-Wood was born in Kensington, London, son of Denis Hill-Wood and his wife Mary Smi ...

, 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. On 1 May 2008 it was announced that he had become acting managing director on the resignation of

Keith Edelman Keith Edelman (born June 1950) is an English businessman. He was managing director of Arsenal Football Club between 2000 and 2008. Biography Business Keith Edelman graduated from UMIST in 1971 with a BSc (Hons) in management sciences. He then ...

prior to the appointment of

Ivan Gazidis Ivan Gazidis (born 13 September 1964) is the Executive of Italian Serie A club AC Milan. Biography Gazidis is of Greek origin, but was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. At the age of 4 moved to Manchester in the United Kingdom and attended ind ...

. Friar was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the

2000 Birthday Honours The Queen's Birthday Honours were announced on 19 June 2000 to celebrate the Queen's Official Birthday in the United Kingdom,United Kingdom: Australia (12 June), New Zealand (13 June),New ZealandThe Queen's Birthday Honours 2000(13 June 2000), ''N ...

for services to association football.United Kingdom: The

London Borough of Islington The London Borough of Islington ( ) is a London borough in Inner London. Whilst the majority of the district is located in north London, the borough also includes a significant area to the south which forms part of central London. Islington has ...

also 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 then Arsenal chairman

. 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. 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. 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.

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1934 births Living people British businesspeople Arsenal F.C. directors and chairmen Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Islington (district) People from Winchmore Hill {{UK-business-bio-stub