Ray Kennedy played upfront as a key player in the 1971 Double winning Arsenal team, an Arsenal Legend. Ray scored in the first leg of the Fairs Cup final in 1970 and also scored the winning goal that clinched the league title at White Hart Lane in the 1971 Double Year. A colossus of a striker for Arsenal who later became a midfielder for Liverpool, he won every domestic honour in the game in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Members of Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club shared the upset felt by other supporters’ clubs about the lack of full appreciation afforded to at his passing.
Full marks to others who also wrote to the officers of Arsenal FC to register their disappointment as well as to Arsenal FC for recognising the hurt caused. We welcome the arrangements being made for fans and players to show their respect to Ray Kennedy at Arsenal’s Home match on Wednesday against West Ham.
We append the following shared correspondence between Arsenal Independent Supporters Association and Arsenal Football Club.
Victory through harmony!
Dave Harrold (Chair) and Martin O’Donnell (Club Secretary)
Arsenal Scotland Supporters Club
From: Drew Gray, 13 December 2021 13:59
To: Vinai Venkatesham; Mark Gonnella
Subject: Ray Kennedy
Dear Vinai,
I hope you and yours are well and looking forward to the winter festivities.
On behalf of AISA and our members I would like to express our disappointment that the passing of Ray Kennedy was not recognised by a period of silence or applause on Saturday in keeping with his long service to our club. We appreciate that there was a memorial in the programme and on the website but would ask that you take the opportunity to mark his service before the West Ham game kicks off on Wednesday.
With best wishes, Drew (AISA Chair)
From: Mark Gonnella, 13 December 2021 14:23
To: Drew Gray, Vinai Venkatesham
Subject: RE: Ray Kennedy
Hi Drew
Thanks for your note. We understand completely the disappointment.
As you will be aware the team wore black armbands after Ray’s passing when we played United and the club paid tribute on all our channels, including Saturday’s matchday programme.
That said, we should have given fans, players and the wider club the chance to show their respects before Saturday’s match and we have plans in place to make sure this happens in an appropriate way before the game on Wednesday night.
Mark
Media, Communications & Community Affairs Director
Arsenal Football Club