MK Arsenal….the story so far

Back in 1991, a small band of Arsenal Supporters from Milton Keynes who regularly went to watch virtually all of Arsenal’s matches at Highbury, and quite a number of their away games too, decided to arrange organised travel to the matches they attended, and so under Steve Birch’s stewardship, Milton Keynes Arsenal Supporters Club was born. In these early days, the Club as with virtually all Supporters Clubs was not officially recognised. Coaches were hired to cope with the number of members wishing to go to games increased and the membership grew and grew. We were having to use 70 seat coaches to travel to some home matches.

Membership numbers began to drop in the late 90s and early 2000s, and with the Club struggling to break even, almost folded in 2002 when those running the Club decided they would no longer be involved. A meeting of about 20 members not wanting the Club to die was held at the Eight Belles pub in Bletchley, and from those present, a Committee was formed. With only £1.76 in the bank, substantial financial input was required, and John Smith, who for good reason had been elected Treasurer, kept the Club afloat for season 2002-3.

The membership did increase to 150 in subsequent years, though in more recent times has dropped to around 70, mainly because of the pice of tickets. We still run transport to all home games and arrange for those of our members wishing to go to Arsenal’s away games to be picked up by other Supporters Clubs running transport to the matches.

Since 2010, John Smith has been elected Chairman and Graham Clarke our Treasurer and Tony Bartlett, our Secretary.