Arsenal - Highbury

Highbury – The Early Years

When Arsenal arrived in Highbury in the summer of 1913, the move represented far more than a simple change of address. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in the club's history, one that would eventually establish Arsenal as one of England's foremost football institutions. Until then the club had played in Plumstead, south-east London, but chairman Sir Henry Norris believed that a move north of the River Thames would provide greater opportunities for growth and financial stability.

The chosen site was the recreation ground of St John's College of Divinity in Highbury. Norris secured a 21-year lease for the land, although the proposal was not universally welcomed. Islington Borough Council, local residents and even neighbouring clubs, notably Tottenham Hotspur and Clapton Orient, voiced strong objections to Arsenal's arrival. Despite the opposition, the agreement was completed, with several unusual conditions attached. Initially, matches were not to be played on religious holy days and alcohol was forbidden from being sold within the ground, although both restrictions were eventually removed. One of the site's greatest advantages was its excellent transport links, with Gillespie Road Underground station situated only a short walk from the entrance.

Construction began during the summer of 1913 under the direction of the renowned Scottish stadium architect Archibald Leitch, whose work had already become synonymous with many of Britain's leading football grounds. Time was short, and the builders worked rapidly to ensure the stadium was ready for the opening of the new season. The original design was relatively straightforward: a single covered stand along the eastern touchline, with open banking and terracing on the remaining three sides. Although modest by later standards, the project represented a substantial investment, costing around £125,000 to complete.

Highbury officially opened on 6 September 1913, even though parts of the stadium were still unfinished. Arsenal marked the occasion with a 2–1 victory over Leicester Fosse in the Second Division. History was made that afternoon when Leicester's Tommy Benfield became the first player to score at the new stadium, before George Jobey netted Arsenal's first goal at Highbury. It was a fitting beginning for a ground that would witness countless memorable moments over the next nine decades.

The stadium quickly established itself as an important sporting venue. England played their first international at Highbury in 1920, while other sports, including rugby league, also found a home there during its formative years. In 1921, the touring Australian rugby league team suffered their first defeat of the tour when England edged a closely contested match before a crowd of around 12,000 spectators. These early events demonstrated that Highbury was becoming recognised as more than simply Arsenal's home ground.

Arsenal's confidence in their new surroundings was underlined in 1925 when the club purchased the stadium outright for £64,000. Ownership gave Arsenal the freedom to think beyond the functional Leitch design and to imagine a ground worthy of one of the country's leading clubs. That vision would soon be realised through a remarkable programme of redevelopment that transformed Highbury into one of the most admired stadiums in world football.

The turning point came during the 1930s under the inspirational leadership of Herbert Chapman. Rather than simply enlarging the existing ground, Chapman envisaged a stadium that would rival the grandeur of Aston Villa's Villa Park while reflecting the modern architectural style of the period. The first stage saw the construction of the elegant Art Deco West Stand, designed by Claude Waterlow Ferrier and William Binnie, which opened in 1932. That same year, following Chapman's persistent lobbying, Gillespie Road Underground station was officially renamed Arsenal, a distinction that remains unique on the London Underground today.

Chapman also introduced one of Highbury's most enduring symbols. In 1930 he installed a large clock overlooking the North Bank, despite concerns from the Football Association that it might interfere with the referee's authority. When the North Bank received a roof in 1935, the clock was moved to the opposite end of the ground, creating the famous "Clock End" that would become one of English football's best-known landmarks.

The transformation was completed in 1936 when Leitch's original main stand was demolished to make way for the magnificent East Stand. Mirroring the Art Deco styling of the West Stand, it provided Highbury with the architectural elegance for which it would become renowned. The East Stand ultimately proved considerably more expensive than anticipated, but the investment created a stadium that was admired as much for its appearance as for the football played within it.

By the eve of the Second World War, Highbury had evolved from a hastily constructed football ground into one of Britain's finest sporting arenas. Its distinctive Art Deco stands, innovative design and growing reputation reflected Arsenal's emergence as one of the country's dominant clubs. The foundations laid between 1913 and the mid-1930s ensured that Highbury would not simply be remembered as Arsenal's home, but as one of football's most iconic and influential stadiums.

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