Dave Richards
Encyclopedia
Sir Dave Richards is the chairman of the FA Premier League
, member of the Football Association
(FA)'s Board, chairman of the FA's international committee, president of the European Professional Football Leagues
organisation, chairman of UEFA
's Professional Football Committee and former chairman of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Richards was a director of companies involved in engineering, telecommunications and water and waste treatment, several of which entered administrative receivership or were dissolved. He became a director of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
in October 1989 and chairman five months later, following the departure of the long-serving Bert McGee. During his 10-year reign at Hillsborough
, where he insisted on being called "Mr Chairman", Wednesday lost considerable amounts of cash, and Richards undid all of McGee's hard work and sowed the seeds for further decline for years after.
Richards was made chairman of the Premier League in 1999 and left Sheffield Wednesday shortly afterwards with the club facing relegation from the Premiership, despite claiming to be a big fan and being wholly responsible for the position they were in. He succeeded Lord Pendry as chairman of the Football Foundation in March 2003, and left the post in 2008.
In 2006 Richards received a knighthood for services to sport. At the time of his knighthood the Sports Minister was Richard Caborn
. Richard Caborn is a Sheffield United fan.
In March 2009, Richards was made Deputy Chairman of the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid, a position he resigned that November.
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
, member of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
(FA)'s Board, chairman of the FA's international committee, president of the European Professional Football Leagues
European Professional Football Leagues
European Professional Football Leagues is a sports organization within football , created in 1997, originally under the name Association of the European Union Premier Professional Football Leagues...
organisation, chairman of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's Professional Football Committee and former chairman of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
Richards was a director of companies involved in engineering, telecommunications and water and waste treatment, several of which entered administrative receivership or were dissolved. He became a director of Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in October 1989 and chairman five months later, following the departure of the long-serving Bert McGee. During his 10-year reign at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, where he insisted on being called "Mr Chairman", Wednesday lost considerable amounts of cash, and Richards undid all of McGee's hard work and sowed the seeds for further decline for years after.
Richards was made chairman of the Premier League in 1999 and left Sheffield Wednesday shortly afterwards with the club facing relegation from the Premiership, despite claiming to be a big fan and being wholly responsible for the position they were in. He succeeded Lord Pendry as chairman of the Football Foundation in March 2003, and left the post in 2008.
In 2006 Richards received a knighthood for services to sport. At the time of his knighthood the Sports Minister was Richard Caborn
Richard Caborn
Richard George Caborn PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central from 1983 to 2010...
. Richard Caborn is a Sheffield United fan.
In March 2009, Richards was made Deputy Chairman of the England 2018 FIFA World Cup bid, a position he resigned that November.