Geoffrey Richmond
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Richmond was a football chairman of Bradford City
from 1994 to 2002, and previously chairman of Scarborough
.
, where he attended Roundhay Grammar School. After leaving school, he worked as a salesman, selling children's encycylopedias door-to-door, car bulbs and car bumper and window stickers, before initially retiring before the age of 40. He bought Ronsons Lighters from the receivers for £250,000 before selling it in 1994 for £10m.
Richmond became chairman of Bradford City
in January 1994 when he and David Simpson switched positions, with Simpson moving to Scarborough
. He immediately loaned Bradford £2.3m to clear the club debts.
He was at Bradford during their most successful times, including their first appearance at Wembley Stadium in the 1996 Second Division play-off final
and their promotion to the Premier League in the 1998–99
season. He left after the club was relegated in 2001 and went into administration in 2002, having lost the confidence of the fans. The failure of the club was put down to heavy spending in the club's second season in the Premier League and the collapse of ITV Digital
with the resulting loss of television rights. Richmond said: "I will never, ever, forgive myself for spending the money we did. Looking back now, it was six weeks of madness and I hold my hands up." He later added: "I went into my office on the following Monday and cleared my desk. As I drove away, I was in tears. It had been my life, and I have never been back since.
Richmond was later linked with Notts County
and Leeds United
before being declared bankrupt in 2004. He owed £3.3m to the Inland Revenue, for the sale of Ronsons 10 years previously; the sum included £1m in interest.
Richmond was also an advocate of the Phoenix League, a proposed second tier of the Premier League.
He is married to Elizabeth. They have sons, David and Michael. In July 2000, he was made a Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford
. Richmond was also chairman of New Rover Cricket Club, in Adel, Leeds
.
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
from 1994 to 2002, and previously chairman of Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
.
Biography
Richmond was born and raised in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, where he attended Roundhay Grammar School. After leaving school, he worked as a salesman, selling children's encycylopedias door-to-door, car bulbs and car bumper and window stickers, before initially retiring before the age of 40. He bought Ronsons Lighters from the receivers for £250,000 before selling it in 1994 for £10m.
Richmond became chairman of Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in January 1994 when he and David Simpson switched positions, with Simpson moving to Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
. He immediately loaned Bradford £2.3m to clear the club debts.
He was at Bradford during their most successful times, including their first appearance at Wembley Stadium in the 1996 Second Division play-off final
1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final
The 1996 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 1996, at the end of the 1995–96 English league season to determine the final promoted side from the Second Division. Bradford City beat Notts County 2–0 to join Swindon Town and Oxford...
and their promotion to the Premier League in the 1998–99
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
season. He left after the club was relegated in 2001 and went into administration in 2002, having lost the confidence of the fans. The failure of the club was put down to heavy spending in the club's second season in the Premier League and the collapse of ITV Digital
ITV Digital
ITV Digital was a British digital terrestrial television broadcaster, which launched a pay-TV service on the world's first digital terrestrial television network as ONdigital in 1998 and briefly re-branded as ITV Digital in July 2001, before the service ceased in May 2002. Its main shareholders...
with the resulting loss of television rights. Richmond said: "I will never, ever, forgive myself for spending the money we did. Looking back now, it was six weeks of madness and I hold my hands up." He later added: "I went into my office on the following Monday and cleared my desk. As I drove away, I was in tears. It had been my life, and I have never been back since.
Richmond was later linked with Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
before being declared bankrupt in 2004. He owed £3.3m to the Inland Revenue, for the sale of Ronsons 10 years previously; the sum included £1m in interest.
Richmond was also an advocate of the Phoenix League, a proposed second tier of the Premier League.
He is married to Elizabeth. They have sons, David and Michael. In July 2000, he was made a Doctor of Letters from the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
. Richmond was also chairman of New Rover Cricket Club, in Adel, Leeds
Adel, Leeds
Adel is a suburb in North Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated between Cookridge, Holt Park, Weetwood and Alwoodley. To the north are the villages of Arthington and Bramhope and the market town of Otley...
.