FORMER Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has died at the age of 84.
Keswick was a lifelong Gunners supporter, and was a regular feature at Highbury when he was younger.
Getty – ContributorFormer Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick has died[/caption]
Keswick took over as chairman in 2013 and oversaw four FA Cup triumphsGetty – Contributor
An Arsenal statement announced the sad news this morning.
The club said: “It is with great sadness that the club reports the death of former Chairman, Sir Chips Keswick.
“A lifelong Arsenal supporter, he was a regular at Highbury after first standing in the boys’ enclosure in 1949 and listed his early heroes as the Compton brothers and Jimmy Logie but, above all, goalkeeper – and later manager – George Swindin, as young Chips was a budding schoolboy keeper himself.”
Keswick became the chairman of the north London side in 2013 having initially joined the club’s board alongside Lord Harris in November 2005.
In becoming chair he replaced Peter Hill-Wood.
During his time there he oversaw the team winning four FA Cups, with his final year fittingly seeing the team win the 2020 FA Cup as he stepped down in May of that year.
The tribute continued: “Retirement allowed him to spend more time with his beloved family as well as indulge in his other great sporting passion, horse racing – he was a respected owner of numerous racehorses over the years.
“Sir Chips will be greatly missed by everyone at Arsenal who knew him and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Lady Sarah and their children David, Tobias and Adam.”
Keswick had previously been a vice-chairman of Hambros bank between 1986 and 1998 and knighted by the Queen for services to banking in 1993.
He was known to be a keen racehorse owner and owned some with the Queen.
Keswick won the Cheltenham Festival Novices’ Handicap Chase in 2014 with Present View, trained by Jamie Snowden, but missed it because Arsenal were playing in Europe.
After landing another Cheltenham win last year, he said on his first time miss: “It is great to be here this time. I had to watch Arsenal against Bayern and they beat us 3-1 (on aggregate).
“I retired when I was 80 from the board. I think when you leave, you leave.
“You shouldn’t hang around, but rest assured I watch Arsenal every time on the television.”
Sir John Chippendale “Chips” Lindley Keswick was a major figure at Arsenal Football Club.
He joined the board in 2005 and then in 2013 was named chairman – a role he held for seven years.
During that time as chairman, Arsenal won the FA Cup four times.
He earned his money as chairman of Hambros Bank and as a director of the Bank of England.
Upon his retirement as the most powerful man at Arsenal in 2020 he said: “It has been an honour to be the chairman of this great football club.
“Arsenal has always held a special place in my life and that will remain the case in the future.”
Current Arsenal owners Stan and Josh Kroenke said at the time he stepped down: “His extensive business knowledge and experience coupled with his deep love of Arsenal have made him the perfect chairman.”
He was a lifelong Arsenal fan.