The Black-And-White Years: 30 Marvelous Vintage Photos Of Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium Between 1931-1967

By Chris Wright

Forgive the lack of pithy intro, but this one does exactly what it says on the tin…

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal v Chelsea - Highbury

The Arsenal goalkeeper collects a loose ball as Chelsea’s Hughie Gallacher (second right) is ready to pounce at Highbury, 1931

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Arsenal’s trophy haul (including the League Championship trophy and the London Combination Cup) is wheeled around Highbury for the fans to view at close quarters, 1934

Soccer Alex James

Arsenal captain Alex James leads his team out between Highbury’s ornate dugouts ahead of the first match of the 1936/37 season against Everton

Soccer - League Division One - Arsenal Photocall - Highbury

Arsenal’s Don Roper stages an action shot in front of the North Bank terrace at a pre-season photocall, 1947

Soccer - First Division - Arsenal - Denis Compton - Highbury - London - 1947

England cricketer and Arsenal footballer Denis Compton is massaged by trainer Jack Milne in Highbury’s medical room, 1947

Soccer - League Division One - Arsenal v Huddersfield - Highbury

Arsenal’s Reg Lewis gets his head on a cross during a game against Huddersfield at Highbury, 1947

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal Photocall

Highbury as it looked in 1948

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal v Aston Villa - Highbury

A queue of Arsenal fans snakes down the street outside Highbury before the Division One game against Aston Villa, 1948

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal

Highbury, looking from the North Terrace toward the Clock End, 1949

Soccer - FA Cup - Third Round - Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday - Highbury

Fans cram into the Clock End to watch Arsenal’s game against Sheffield Wednesday, 1950

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal

The East Stand, as seen from inside the stadium in 1950

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal

The expensive Art Deco facade of the East Stand at Highbury as seen from the street outside, 1950

Soccer - League Division One - Arsenal FC

The Arsenal groundsman studiously rolls the pitch at Highbury, 1951

Soccer - Floodlit Friendly - Arsenal v Hapoel Tel Aviv - Highbury

Arsenal play Hapoel Tel Aviv in a friendly specifically arranged to test Highbury’s brand new floodlights, 1951

Soccer - FA Cup - Arsenal Training - Highbury

Arsenal players prepare for their FA Cup match against Norwich with a jog around the pitch, 1952

Soccer - FA Cup - Arsenal Training - Highbury

Arsenal, seen preparing for the very same game against Norwich, indulge in a spot of “football tennis” in the exercise yard next to Highbury, 1952

Soccer - FA Cup - Sixth Round - Arsenal v Blackpool

Blackpool fans in fancy dress parade around the Highbury running track before an FA Cup sixth round tie, followed closely by an Arsenal fan brandishing a large cardboard cannon, 1953

Soccer - League Division One - Arsenal New Signing - Highbury

David Herd, a new £10,000 signing from Stockport County, unpacks his bags at Highbury, 1954

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal Training

Arsenal trio Jim Fotheringham, Dave Bowen and Derek Tapscott work out in the Highbury gymnasium, 1955

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal Training - Highbury

Arsenal’s boot-room boy Danny Cripps examines striker Tommy Lawton’s boots, 1955

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal Training - Highbury

Arsenal’s Doug Lishman enjoys a soap foam bath massage, performed by coach Alf Fields and Les Compton, 1955

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal Training - Highbury

Arsenal’s Jack Wilkinson receives ultra-sonic treatment for a pulled muscle from assistant trainer Bert Owen , 1955

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal - Highbury

The plush main hall and corridor leading to the offices inside Highbury’s East Stand, 1955

Soccer - Football League Division One - George Eastham Signs For Arsenal - Highbury

Arsenal’s new signing George Eastham admires Highbury’s marble entrance hall, 1960

Soccer - FA Cup - Third Round - Arsenal v Oxford United - Highbury

Unsurprisingly, Arsenal’s third round FA Cup tie against Oxford United had been postponed due to the eight inches of snow covering the Highbury pitch, 1963 

Soccer - League Division One - Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Highbury

Arsenal once again pack out the Clock End to watch their side take on Wolves, 1963

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal v Blackpool - Highbury

Arsenal and Blackpool players line up in the centre-circle in order to observe a minute’s silence in memory of assassinated American president John F. Kennedy, 1963

Soccer - Installation of Undersoil Heating at Highbury

Prior to the £10,000 installation of undersoil heating at Highbury, a diagram shows exactly where the cables are to be laid under the pitch, 1964

Soccer - Installation of Undersoil Heating at Highbury

Watched by several of his players, Arsenal manager Billy Wright (crouched) inspects the electric undersoil heating cables that will now run underneath his pitch, 1964

Soccer - Football League Division One - Arsenal v Leeds United - Highbury

The Highbury pitch is swamped after heavy rainfall prior to Arsenal’s Division One fixture against Leeds caused the game to be postponed, 1966

Soccer - Highbury Stadium

The wonderful East Stand facade again in all its glory, as seen in 1967

(Photos: PA)