It's finally here! Four years in the making… W+K, Nike and Arsenal this week unveiled 'The Spirit of Highbury' - the world's biggest team picture. Here it is:
And here's a section:
And here's Danny, Shay and Karrelle - just three of the many, many people involved in its creation.
The permanently fixed structure is housed at The Emirates stadium, and features every Arsenal player and manager to have appeared at Highbury, the Club’s home of 93 years. You can find it at the South end of the public walkway around the Gunner's state-of-the-art home and will remain as a constant symbol of the Club's proud history.
The research undertaken to create this artwork has been developed in conjunction with the Club historian Fred Ollier. It is also crafted to include images ranging from glass negatives to modern digital photography.
From 1913 to 2006, over 490 first team players and managers graced the Highbury turf. Images for all of them have been included, with the exception of just four players who still remain missing - Tom Maxwell, William Maycock, James Caldwell and Fred Jones. Arsenal is inviting all supporters to complete the picture by emailing any images and background information of the missing four to spirit@arsenal.co.uk.
Tony D particularly pleased: “"I said two years ago that I wan't going to cut my hair or shave off my beard until this project became a reality. I've had to spend all that time with an itchy face wearing a hat. I'm bloody delighted that The Spirit of Highbury’ will be there to act as a great testament to how good ideas can continue to resonate in the future. I'm off to the barber's now."
Here's a time lapse film of the structure being built:
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