"A Proper Ground"

Although the Emirates is probably the pick of the new breed of football ground, you can't beat a proper stadium. Highbury had character in spades: the matching Archibald Leitch stands with the 'gun' logo, the huge clock, and those peculiar glass dugouts that looked more like hospital incubators.

Highbury was always one of the landmarks I would look out for on train journeys to the capital, although I only went to one match there - a season opener in 1978 that ended Arsenal 2 v Leeds 2, with Tony Currie beating Pat Jennings from distance for the first and a Liam Brady 'special'.

I stood at the Clock End with the other Leeds fans, entirely surrounded by Arsenal thugs, thanks to a lack of effective segregation but managed to escape with my life.

Location

Highbury was well located for the tube (even better than the Emirates). Coaches were parked in one big 'block', which provided an ideal hiding place for Arsenal fans intent on ambushing their opposite numbers.

View

The Clock End was uncovered when I went, so no roof supports to hinder viewing

Police & Stewards

Police were effective in protecting the away fans inside Highbury on my one and only visit, but we were held back at the end of the game. As we left the ground, a police cordon kept the two sets of supporters apart, but the boys in blue lost interest when we neared the coaches. As a result, the more violent Arsenal supporters were able to pick off the Leeds fans as they boarded.

Atmosphere

Ok, but not as good as other grounds

Write your own review of Highbury

Have you been to Highbury? Write a review!