AN ARSENAL-MAD Grange man scored a place in the club's history books when he made a fan-friendly suggestion for a piece of memorabilia to include in a time capsule celebrating 91 years of football at Highbury, reports Luke Dicicco.

John Sayle, of Fell Drive, travelled to the under-construction Emirates Stadium with fellow die-hard fan son Joshua,11, to watch his suggestion to include the names of every Arsenal player to have graced the hallowed turf of Highbury, buried for future generations.

Mr Sayle's suggestion topped the table in a fans' survey on the club's official website by netting 2,500 votes.

"It was a once in a life-time opportunity and a day we will never forget," beamed the joint manager of Grange United Under 12s football club.

"It felt brilliant to go to the new ground and step over the security barriers - we felt really important!

"Everybody in Grange knows I'm an Arsenal fan my father supported them so I did too, I suppose to be different from everyone else around here who supports Manchester United or Liverpool."

The father and son who had to leave fellow Gunner fanatic, wife Debbie and five-year-old daughter Leonie outside the ground for the ceremony - brushed shoulders with past Arsenal stars Charlie George, who scored the winner during the 1971 FA Cup win over Liverpool, and Frank McLintock, captain of the same side, which secured a league and cup double.

And they also got the chance to meet Arsenal celebrities including comedian Alan Davies and author Nick Hornby, manager Arsene Wenger and star players Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, who were more than happy to sign their shirts.

And Mr Wenger was intrigued and flattered that the pair had made the five-and-a-half hour journey to the new ground in north London.

"He was really interested and surprised at how far we had come and we chatted for a while about the club's recent record-breaking unbeaten run," said Mr Sayle.

The capsule included 40 items, 25 of which were voted for by the fans, and was buried in preparation for the opening of the new 65,000-seater Emirates Stadium in 2006.

Other items placed in the capsule included memorabilia such as former captain Tony Adams's armband, a replica model of Highbury and an original shirt worn by David Rocastle, who died recently.