Description
Highbury, one of the world's most famous, historic and elegant football grounds, closed at the end of the 2005-06 season. Arsenal will move to the new, vastly expensive Emirates Stadium, but Farewell to Highbury - The Arsenal Story questions the need and advisability of the venture and puts the history of both the old ground, with its gracious 1930s grandstands, and the club itself into perspective. Norman Fox points out that, since the arrival of Roman Abromovich at Chelsea, the financial goalposts of football have been moved, leaving Arsenal and other clubs picking up the crumbs in the transfer market and making their futures less secure.
Other books have attempted to portray Arsenal's history from the early days of struggle and crisis to the glorious eras of Herbert Chapman and Arsene Wenger. This one goes further, linking Highbury itself with the dramas, scandals and successes of teams, players and managers through the ages. It tells how the club gained first division status by devious means; analyses Chapman's triumphs and discloses how his most famous team came within feet of being wiped out on an aircraft. Read why the club gambled on the virtually unknown Wenger and what the players really think of him. There are also serious questions raised about why a team that can win so many trophies in domestic competition regularly fails in Europe.
This is a book that highlights a nostalgic time for Arsenal fans and one that marks the end of an era.
Author profile
Norman Fox, one of Britain's most experienced and respected sports journalists, has watched and reported hundreds of matches at Highbury but none more dramatic or poignant than his first, which was on 1 February 1958 when Arsenal lost 5-4 to Manchester United's Busby Babes, several of whom died in the Munich air crash in the following week. He saw that game from the terraces but in later years spent most games in the Press Box. He was Football Correspondent of The Times and later the Independent on Sunday, for whom he still contributes. Since the 1960s he has reported virtually all of footballs major competitions at home and abroad as well as several Olympic Games.