Peter Hill-Wood was last of gentleman investors who ran Arsenal as an institution rather than a business… and hilariously leaked news of Arsene Wenger’s appointment

THE passing of Peter Hill-Wood marks the sad end of an era at Arsenal and in English football.

The long-serving former chairman was the last of the gentleman investors who ran the club as an institution rather than a business.

Even when he sold the last of his family’s shares to Stan Kroenke for £5.5million, he insisted: “It was nice to make that money, but I was never involved in Arsenal for that reason.

“I was involved because I have been brought up to love Arsenal and that is my only concern.”

Hill-Wood served for 51 years on the Arsenal board of directors, 31 of them as chairman, before he stepped down to ill health in 2013.

He carried on his family’s long and proud history of running the club, following on from his grandfather, Samuel, and father, Denis.

Peter Hill-Wood served for a staggering 51 years on the Arsenal board of directors

Peter Hill-Wood appointed George Graham as Arsenal boss in 1986

Peter Hill-Wood appointed Arsene Wenger as manager in 1996

The Eton-educated banker was always insistent on maintaining the old-school traditions and methods which made Arsenal stand out through the second half of the 20th century.

A former lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards, his plummy accent and genial manner belied a sharp business brain.

It was Hill-Wood who appointed two of the most successful managers in the club’s history in George Graham and Arsene Wenger.

And when Graham was involved in taking bungs from an agent, Hill-Wood did not hesitate in dispensing with the Scotsman for failing to uphold the club’s strictly imposed standards.

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