Jon Spurling 'Highbury' book signings

The Arsenal grounds at Highbury hold a special place in the history of English football. This year sees the end of an era when the Gunners leave long-time home for the high-tech Emirate Stadium. Jon Spurling takes an affectionate look at the old grounds and provides a frank and definitive history of Highbury.

Kicking off with the story of the original 'soccer czar', Sir Henry Norris, who bulldozed through opposition on many levels to move Woolwich Arsenal to north London (and probably taught many subsequent chairman everything they knew on that score), Jon Spurling's all-encompassing history of Arsenal's time at Highbury features testimony from everyone: from the peanut sellers, turnstile operators, local publicans and fans, through to the likes of Bob Wilson, Frank McLintock, Charlie George, Charlie Nicholas Edu, and Patrick Vieira.

This warts-and-all look at the last century in the club's history, tells the story of local opposition to the club's move in 1913, through the construction of the impressive art deco East and West stands in the thirties. The assembling of the various title-winning sides and culminates in the story of local opposition to the club's move (2004). An expert in the history of Arsenal Jon Spurling has written a truly definitive account of the great club.

Book signings will take place as follows:

April 29th (11am - 12 noon) at Ottakars Enfield.
May 5th. (11am -12 noon) at Ottakars St Albans.

(Published by Orion on 27 April 2006 - HB 0 75287 344 X - price £18.99)