Tom Mann with his brother Will

FRIENDS and family of an Arsenal obsessive who died in a tragic accident have been granted permission to place a bench in Highbury Fields to honour his life.

Tom Mann, who died almost two years ago in a tragic accident aged just 27, grew up in Rutland but was drawn to Islington because of his obsession with the Gunners.

He spent five years living in a flat in the former Highbury stadium with his partner Phoebe, and “never missed a match”.

Speaking to the Tribune, his younger brother Will Mann said that Tom “fell in love” with Islington, and Highbury especially, was his “happy place”.

“He was the biggest Arsenal fan I’ve ever met, but Highbury and Highbury Fields became something incredibly special to him beyond that,” he said.

“The fields are such a nice contrast from the busyness of Highbury and Islington station and the stadium.

Tom at the Emirates

“They were a sanctuary for him, he would walk here multiple times a week, to meet friends or with his partner, just to breath it in and enjoy being outdoors. So we put the bench here because he was just so in love with the area.”

Islington Council granted permission for the construction of the bench, but said that it would cost £1,400, something friends and family are now hoping to raise.

From as early as Will can remember, Tom was “football obsessed”. At age six he would tell family that football was “his life”.

He played to a high standard up until his death and followed Arsenal home and away.

Mr Mann added: “He stuck with Arsenal, through thick and thin. It was a real shame he didn’t get to see us lift the Premier League trophy this year, that would’ve been life complete for him, he would’ve been over the moon.

“It’s one of those situations where you have to laugh or you’ll cry, that he wasn’t there to see it.”

Ever popular, charming and community focussed, Tom’s bright personality drew people towards him constantly. It was his older brother’s influence that persuaded Will to take an interest in Arsenal, and that same influence that persuaded him to eventually move to Highbury to be close to his brother.

Highbury Fields, where there will be a bench in Tom’s honour

“It was such a lovely spot for us both to be, so connected to the Arsenal. When I first moved to London I lived elsewhere but eventually I moved to Highbury, as basically all of his friends also did.

“He was a real magnet, just great to be around and just a real level-headed and warm bloke. His energy was infectious, people did just want to be around him.”

Tom had recently qualified as a lawyer, but also spent his weekends and spare time volunteering and helping with food banks and charities in Islington and other areas of London.

When he died in October 2024, his family wanted to carry on his legacy of “spreading positivity” and “giving people opportunities” to enjoy football.

They set up the “Tom Mann Foundation”, which provides opportunities, equipment and funding to grassroots football teams.

A charity football match will be played on Monday 31 August to raise funds for the bench, or donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/bench-for-tom-in-highbury-fields

Any donations over the cost of the bench will be reinvested into the Tom Mann Foundation.