Ken Friar
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Kenneth John Friar OBE is a director of Arsenal Football Club, he lives in Winchmore Hill, North London.
Ken Friar was born in Islington 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 and has been with the club for over 50 years.
He rose through the club ranks to become Company Secretary replacing Bob Wall and in 1973 was appointed Managing Director. He stepped down from this role in 2000, but remains a Board Member.
He stepped down from his role as Managing Director to concentrate on the club's move to the Emirates Stadium. This was slightly poignant as he took part in discussions held in the 1970s between the boards of Arsenal and rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC to ground share a new stadium at Alexandra Palace.
Ken 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 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. [1]
As at 27th March 2007 he owned 47 shares representing 0.07% of Arsenal Football Club after he transferred 147 to the Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. [2]
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