‘Highbury Spy’ Steve Ashford, centre, with The Gooner’s current editor Layth Yousif, and its former editor Kevin Whitcher

WARM and heartfelt tributes have been made to one of the most dedicated writers of the Arsenal fanzine, The Gooner.

Steve Ashford, who wrote the “Highbury Spy” column in every issue since the early 1990s, has died from leukaemia.

The fanzine – which is sold outside the Arsenal stadium on match days – will be devoted to his memory next month.

Editor Layth Yousif said in his obituary tribute: “His writing would make our readers laugh out loud, or fume – it really didn’t matter which. For as I learned from Steve, the first rule of an outstanding columnist is that you turned to their writing whether you agreed with the sentiments shared, or staunchly disagreed with every single word they wrote.

“How many of us eagerly rifled through the ink pages that we were holding in our hands to locate such a column, the second you opened a newspaper, magazine, or in our case, a fiercely independent little fanzine with its own wonderful community of loyal readers, subscribers and match day aficionados that formed a small but fiercely loyal little Gooner family. And still do. Which is why Steve’s death has hit so many, so hard.”

Mr Ashford died the morning after Arsenal hammered Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League last month.

Another former editor of The Gooner, Kevin Whitcher, recalled poignant memories of away day trips in this country and across Europe.

He recalled fond memories of Steve as a real ale devotee and David Bowie fan, who loved a curry and a gripping TV drama. He was known around several of the pubs of Highbury, before moving to the south coast in later life.

“We developed a solid friendship that lasted up until his death, and in his last few years, we sat together in Block 111 of the East Upper, surrounded by regulars that all loved Steve,” wrote Mr Whitcher. “And that was the thing about him. I never met anyone who had quite the charisma that Steve possessed. He was great, entertaining company and very popular with everyone he met.

“I messaged him last Thursday and discussed the feasibility that when he was out of hospital – and at that stage, things were looking promising – of him recovering sufficiently to attend the final home match of the season. He responded, ‘I’ll keep battling with the goal of going to an Arsenal game before the end of the season’. Sadly, it was a battle he lost.”

The last Arsenal match he was able to attend was the 3-1 win away to Southampton, more than a year ago in October 2024.

The long walk up to his seat in the Upper Tier at the Emirates was becoming too much for him due to his illness.

The Gunners are in imperious form and are favourites to win the league title this year. Fans like Mr Ashford though have been there through thick and thin.

Supporters can celebrate the Highbury Spy at the next home game by picking up a copy of the fanzine in his memory.