The history of Highbury Stadium – Full History

Highbury — officially Arsenal Stadium — served as the home of Arsenal Football Club from 1913 to 2006, standing for nearly a century as one of football's most elegant, influential and architecturally distinctive grounds. With its Art Deco lines, marble halls, immaculate pitch and the unmistakable roar of the North Bank, Highbury became more than a venue. It became Arsenal's identity.

Check out the Arsenal collection

This page traces Highbury's origins, its architectural transformation, its defining football eras, and the legacy that still shapes Arsenal today.

Origins: Arsenal Arrive in North London (1913)

Arsenal relocated from Woolwich to Highbury in 1913, settling on land leased from St John's College of Divinity. The original stadium was designed by Archibald Leitch, the Scottish architect whose work also shaped Hillsborough, Bramall Lane, Oakwell and White Hart Lane. The first match — a 2–1 win over Leicester Fosse on 6 September 1913 — marked the beginning of a new era for the club.

Early Highbury was modest, but its tight footprint within a residential neighbourhood gave it an intimacy few stadiums could match. Supporters were close to the pitch, close to the players, and close to the heartbeat of the club.

The Art Deco Transformation (1930s)

The 1930s reshaped Highbury into the architectural icon supporters remember today. Arsenal commissioned architect Claude Waterlow Ferrier, working with William Binnie, to deliver striking Art Deco designs that made the stadium unique in world football.

Key developments included:

● West Stand (1932) – Elegant geometric lines and modernist detailing.
● East Stand (1936) – A Grade II listed Art Deco masterpiece, home to the famous Marble Halls entrance.
● Marble Halls – The famous entrance with marble floors and busts of club legends.
● The Clock – First erected on the North Bank in 1930, later moved to the south terrace in 1935 (giving that end its name, the Clock End), and finally relocated to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.

These additions gave Highbury a sense of sophistication and identity unmatched by any other English ground of the era.

The Stands: Character in Every Corner

Highbury's compact layout created an atmosphere that was both intense and unmistakably Arsenal.

● North Bank – The beating heart of Arsenal support; rebuilt in 1993 as an all-seater stand.
● Clock End – Known for its terrace culture and iconic scoreboard.
● East Stand – The Art Deco jewel, home to the Marble Halls.
● West Stand – Another listed structure with distinctive architecture and executive facilities.

The pitch was famously tight and pristine, encouraging fast, technical football — a hallmark of Arsenal's style, especially under Arsène Wenger.

Record Crowds & Historic Matches

Highbury's record attendance was 73,295, set during a First Division match against title rivals Sunderland on 9 March 1935 — a 0–0 draw that remains a reminder of how vast the terraces once were.

Historic moments include:

● 1930s dominance under Herbert Chapman – WM formation, floodlights, modern tactics.
● 1971 Double – Arsenal's first league and FA Cup double.
● 1989 Anfield finale – The title-winning goal that defined an era.
● 1998, 2002, 2004 Premier League titles – Including the Invincibles season.
● Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright – Legends who defined Highbury's modern era.

Highbury became synonymous with elegance, precision and unforgettable football.

The Final Years & Emotional Farewell

By the early 2000s, Highbury's limited 38,000 capacity restricted Arsenal's growth. Plans were approved for a new stadium at Ashburton Grove.

The final match at Highbury was played on 7 May 2006, a 4–2 win over Wigan Athletic. Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick, kissed the turf, and delivered one of the most emotional farewells in Premier League history.

Supporters remained long after the final whistle for a closing ceremony honouring 93 years of footballing memories.

Highbury After Football

Highbury was redeveloped into Highbury Square, a residential complex that preserved the listed East and West Stands. The pitch became communal gardens, and many original features — including the façade, marble halls and Art Deco details — remain intact.

It is widely regarded as one of the most respectful and successful stadium redevelopments ever completed.

Highbury's Legacy

Highbury remains one of the most beloved stadiums in football history. Elegant, intimate, stylish and unmistakably Arsenal — it shaped generations of supporters and defined the club's identity.

Its spirit lives on in the Emirates Stadium, in the Clock End clock, and in the memories of every fan who walked down Avenell Road.