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In the
1912-1913 season, Arsenal were playing
their home matches at The Manor Ground in
Plumstead. Virtually bankrupt, relegated,
with an unloved ground and unappreciative
supporters, the take-over by a certain
Henry Norris, the Mayor of Fulham, came
as a welcome chance for a new beginning.
After much talk of mergers and
ground-sharing with Fulham, the club,
re-named The Arsenal, moved to a new site
in Highbury, on fields belonging to St
John's College of Divinity. |
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The
original ground on the site, opened in an
unfinished state on 6 September 1913,
followed the conventional pattern of the
day. (see photo below) Banking was raised
on three sides, and a main stand,
designed by the ubiquitous Archibald
Leitch, occupied the largest side. The
stand was different from the usual Leitch
formula, as it had two tiers and an
unusual roof comprising nine spans, with
the gables face-on to the pitch. Wolves
fans will remember the formula, as a
virtually identical stand was built at
Molyneux. |
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Photo kindly
supplied by "Northbank"
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Despite the large size of
the ground, the main stand alone could
hold 9,000, The Arsenal's problems
continued. Low crowds, large debts and a
moderate playing record, forced the club
into the 1919 promotion scandal. Norris,
(by now Sir Henry Norris MP) using his
political nous, secured promotion to the
First Division at the expense of local
rivals Tottenham. Despite finishing fifth
in the previous season, which was four
years previous due to the suspension of
football during the war, The Arsenal
started the 1919 season in the top
division and have stayed there ever
since. The ground, hemmed in by
houses on two sides, yet close to
Gillespie Rd tube station, quickly rose
to prominence. International matches were
held at the ground, much to the
displeasure of nearby Tottenham, whose
ground was far better appointed at the
time. The additional funds enabled Norris
to purchase the site outright. But
scandal continued to dog him, and in
1925, he was suspended by the FA for
illegal use of funds.
As if to
signal yet another fresh start, the club
changed name again, dropping
"The" from the name in 1927,
although supporters to this day still use
the old name.
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 Photo kindly
supplied by "Northbank"
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In the early 1930's, the
ground was slowly redeveloped. The
banking at the north end was raised,
local residents being encouraged to tip
their rubbish there, as had happened at
St. Andrew's in Birmingham. It was at
this time that the myth of a horse being
buried under the banking came to light.
The story suggests that it was coal
merchants horse which slipped and died,
yet when in 1991 the banking was removed
to build a new north bank, no bones were
found. |
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 Photo
kindly supplied by "Northbank"
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In 1932, work began on a
new West Stand. Forsaking the
conventional Leitch formula, the club
took the brave and visionary decision to
appoint an acclaimed architect. Claude
Waterlow Ferrier, in partnership with
Major W. B. Binnie, created an archetypal
1930's building, having merit both as a
building and as a large well appointed
stand holding 21,000 spectators.. At this
time, the Gillespie Rd tube station was
renamed Arsenal, the ground, which had
been called Highbury, changed its name to
Arsenal Stadium, and under the guidance
of Herbert Chapman, the team enjoyed
success on the field. A roof was added
to the open terracing on the now enlarged
North Bank. The clock, the first at an
English ground, which had been
temporarily sited on the north bank, was
moved to the south end, which became
known thereafter as the Clock End.
In 1936,
work started on a new stand on the east
side of the ground. The original Leitch
stand was too expensive to maintain, and
too limiting in its facilities. Although
Ferrier had died, his partner, Binnie,
created a stand almost identical to the
earlier West Stand. However, the new East
Stand had a frontage onto Avenall Rd, and
therefore became the main entrance to the
ground. This stand was to become perhaps
the most famous single structure at any
of England's football grounds. It was
certainly the most expensive, and has set
the tone for the club for the last 65
years.
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 The Arsenal Stadium
1995
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By the mid-90's, the
development of the Arsenal Stadium was
complete. In 1992, a new North Bank stand
was opened. Designed by HOK + Lobb, it
has two tiers, with the upper tier fully
cantilevered over the lower. The Clock
End had been redeveloped earlier. Two
rows of executive boxes were constructed
above the terracing, which was then
converted to seats in the early 90's.
Conference facilities and a new club shop
were built behind the stand, on land that
was once a playing field. The centrepiece
of the stadium, despite all the new
construction, remained the magnificent
East Stand. |
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 The East Stand
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