Peter Hill Wood

It seems impossible to imagine an Arsenal without a Hill Wood. When I was growing up it was Denis and no one ever had a bad word about him. Read books by the likes of Terry Neill and Malcolm MacDonald, they all speak fondly of him.

Denis went and Peter took over as chairman. Now he is characterised as a bumbling old toff better known for mishaps than anything else. 'Thank you for your interest in the club', 'we don't want his sort here'.

And when the Arsenal introduced the controversial bond scheme in the early 1990s he called those who shelled the 1000 quid + 'suckers'!

When Peter was appointed to the board in 1962, the picture and text come from the West Ham United programme on 13 October, he became the 3rd generation Hill Wood to have served on the board and now, 51 years later he is still there.

That family must have some programme collection if they didn't use them to light their cigars!

Pity poor Peter? He was the only director, along with Robert Bellinger, without any kind of title! His old man was an MC but poor old Pete had to make do with an Esq after his name.

Another link with the past. Guy Bracewell Smith, who boasted an MBE and a BA, was a director back in 1962. Today a relative, Nina, is an Honourary Vice President