Brady promotes Highbury homes sale

Arsenal midfielder Liam Brady lifted the FA Cup in his hometown of Dublin today, as the Gunners gave Irish fans the chance to buy a home at Highbury.

The FA cup holders were in Ireland to promote the redevelopment of their historic ground into apartments following the team’s move to the nearby Emirates stadium after the end of this season.

The trophy had its own seat on the plane from London, flanked by security guards, and was given a boarding card for ‘Mr F.A. Cup’.

Brady, who won the FA Cup as a player in 1979, said it was great to be able to bring it to his home city.

“That was my best time at Arsenal, when we beat Manchester United 3-2, that was the highlight of my time at Arsenal.

“It’s a magical competition,” the former Irish International said.

“I always dreamed when I was a kid that one day I might have the pleasure of playing at Wembley and winning the FA Cup and it happened.”

Brady, who joined the north London club in 1973 aged just 17, said the move to the new stadium was necessary to allow the Gunners to keep pace with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.

“It’s a sad time in the history of the club on the one hand to leave a stadium that steeped in history and wonderful moments in football.

“But it’s progress on the other hand and something that has to be done if the club are going to be able to compete in European club football.”

While Brady, who is now head of youth development at the club, said the team were fragile at the moment, he said new signing Theo Walcott was a very fine player with lightning pace and would be worth every penny of his transfer fee in the future.

Asked what he thought of the chance to buy an apartment at Highbury, he said: “It’s attractive if you can afford it.

“I know a couple of people who because of the significance and where it’s going to be let their hearts – and their heads – take over and decided to buy.”

Highbury is being converted into 711 apartments, 66 of which will be affordable housing units.

The stands are being redeveloped into one, two and three-bedroom flats, and a garden designed for the pitch.

The homes start at €422,000 and Arsenal’s managing director Keith Edelman said there had been a huge amount of interest and strong sales since they went on the market last October.

“Irish agents Mannion had a lot of interest from Ireland, and have already generated some sales, and because of that high level of interest we’ve come over to Ireland to do a property exhibition next weekend at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin,” he said.

:: Arsenal were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Wigan last night in a semi-final.