Club Director Ken Friar OBE at the ‘Arsenal ‘Til I Die’ book launch
Arsenal in the Community celebrated the launch of a unique book, Arsenal ‘Til I Die, written by the fans, for the fans on Thursday 16 December. The book is part of an innovative national sports and literacy project, co-ordinated by the National Literacy Trust and Legends Publishing, in which fans enjoyed the opportunity to write about their experiences as passionate football fans and see them published in this special collectible title. Following the Gunners has become a way of life for many supporters and Arsenal ‘Til I Die charts the moments of elation and despair fans have experienced through a compilation of supporter stories. The book reveals the funny, the absurd, the peculiar and unbelievable that is part and parcel of following a football team through thick and thin over the years. The stories are from a cross section of supporters from across the globe some of whom attended a series of workshops to write their story.Speaking at the event, Club Director Ken Friar OBE said: “It’s fantastic to see such a wonderful collection of memories in this book. It’s a memento of just how much this great Club means to us all and to its many fans throughout the world. It has been an absolute pleasure hearing these stories and meeting the contributors this evening.”Irfan Master, Project Manager at the National Literacy Trust added: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the Arsenal ‘Til I Die book. Arsenal ‘Til I Die is one of 16 books we are producing nationally in 2010. We have discovered that tapping into football fans’ undying passion for their team is an excellent way to encourage them to enjoy writing and improve their skills. By empowering people to engage with literacy in meaningful ways, the aim of the National Literacy Trust is to create change that will last a lifetime.” Arsenal ‘Til I Die forms part of Arsenal’s wide range of education programmes working for the benefit of local schools and the community as a whole. 600 of the book will be distributed free of charge to local schools, where they will be a valuable tool to engage pupils in reading and learning about their community. It will also be available to buy at the launch, through the club website and club shop. This project has been funded by the Football Foundation, Arts Council England and the Professional Football Association. Arsenal til ‘ I Die, is one of 16 books being produced nationally by the National Literacy Trust and Legends Publishing, designed to encourage fans to tell and produce their own football stories. www.arsenallatest.co.uk | Work At Home Jobs
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