Appeal to Arsenal to ‘come to the rescue’ made at Islington’s Fairness Commission
Calls for club’s profits to be used to help community
Published: 17th December, 2010
by TOM FOOT
ARSENAL Football Club should “stump up” more of its vast fortune to save crucial policing and services for disadvantaged children, Islington’s Fairness Commission heard on Tuesday.
The Commission – chaired by Professor Richard Wilkinson – met in the House of Rock Church to discuss with the public ways of managing massive budget cuts.
While Arsenal top the league and announced record profits of £56 million this year, Islington Council is forced to sack hundreds of staff and axe the majority of its crucial public services.
Fairness “commissioner” Gary Heather, also secretary of Islington Trades Council, told the meeting: “When Arsenal got planning permission for the Emirates they said they would be a good neighbour.
“In difficult times, when someone is doing well, but a neighbour is not doing so well, you help them out.
“We should think about making an appeal to Arsenal to make them stump up more.”
Arsenal has paid off its £130 million debt on the Highbury Square flats it built since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 and income from the sale of properties has boosted figures.
Its £56 million profit, made between June 2009 and May 2010, is around 25 per cent more than the year before.
The Commission heard the cost of policing outside of the stadium on Arsenal match-days – at least 30 times each year – came directly out of Islington’s police budget.
Borough Commander Mike Wise said police officer numbers at “low category games” cut by 14 and that Arsenal had helped by providing stewards outside the ground.
He added: “This issue of policing football matches is an important point – there is quite a robust debate on both sides of the house.
“They [Arsenal] pay for inside the stadium, we pay outside.
“It must be said that Arsenal already do a massive amount for the community – especially around the youth agenda.”
Was Gooners’ finest Herbert Chapman really a Sheppey lad?
HE was the legendary Arsenal manager who transformed the fortunes of the club and has been immortalised with a bronze bust inside Emirates Stadium.
But was Herbert Chapman Gooner through-and-through?
Arsenal historians believe they have unearthed records that Chapman actually lined up against the club while playing for Kent minnows Sheppey United.
Arsenal fan Tony Attwood, who runs the History of Arsenal website, said: “Herbert Chapman may actually have played against us!”
Chapman – regarded as one of football’s greatest managers, but with just a mediocre career on the pitch – played one solitary season for Sheppey in 1898. Little is known about his time at Sheppey and team sheets are not available.
Mr Attwood said: “In 1899, Bristol Rovers played a Sheppey United side that included Herbert Chapman. Woolwich Arsenal had played Sheppey United on November 20 1898 but I have no information at the moment as to whether Chapman was in that side.”
Mr Attwood has also delved into the records to reveal that north London rivals Spurs may have “bribed their way to promotion” in 1919.
He said: “It turns out that Tottenham managed to get out of the Southern League and into Division 2 of the Football League not by winning the Southern League, but by coming 7th. We wonder how this feat was achieved?”
To discover more about Arsenal’s magical past visit www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk