Monday 25th July 2022
Some people just leave a lasting impact on you and Maria was one of those. As well as attending every Arsenal game - Men, Women and Academy - hot or cold, rain or shine, she was also an AST member.
Maria became an AST member many years ago and regularly attended our events. She often had the last say, in the language of our guest speakers. Most recently we recall her singing a special song for Per Mertesecker at our December 2021 meeting. She really was one of a kind.
Maria was ever present at AST meetings held in London regardless of whether the meeting was attended by a “special guest” or not. We were proud she chose to come to meetings and grateful for the support and interest she showed in our work.
As the AST was a shareholder in The Arsenal Football Club plc with a visible and vocal presence at club AGM’s Maria made it known that she would quite like to own a share in the Club that was so dear to her heart.
In late 2009 we assisted Maria in this objective and facilitated an off market trade for one share with a willing seller who happened to be an AST Life Member.
Maria was now the proud owner of the share in Arsenal she so desired and for many subsequent years she attended the AGM at which her presence was more than noted! Like many 'small' supporter shareholders her share was compulsory purchased from her in 2018 when KSE UK Inc took Arsenal private and into the 100% ownership of Stan Kroenke.
One of our board members was at the FSE (Football Supporters Europe) conference when the news of Maria's passing broke and was very pleased to see a tribute to Maria who had been previously been honoured as a fan-tastic female in football:
