George Forbes (businessman)
Encyclopedia
George Forbes is a Scottish
farmer and property developer and former chairman of Newcastle United
.
Forbes became a qualified auctioneer and built the family farm
from a small holding to a substantial farm. Showing substantial business skills he went from an employee of a relatively small auction mart
to the owner of the same mart, turning it into the biggest in the United Kingdom
. He also had property interests and was a director of other varying companies.
In the 1980s, Forbes was invited to join the Newcastle United board as the current board, under substantial pressure, aimed to appease fan discontent by appointing a number of local businessmen. He moved from director to vice-chairman and to finally chairman at Newcastle on 6 December 1990. He chaired the club during an extremely difficult period for no salary and no financial gain. He was an interim chairman during the takeover by Sir John Hall
.
After the takeover and his resignation as chairman in 1992, Forbes had the opportunity to remain as part of the new board but he felt Sir John Hall was the wrong man for the club since he had not been to a Newcastle game before his interest in the takeover. Clearly if he had stayed as part of this board, he would have been a very wealthy man today.
Forbes now still farms and runs a successful business, GRF Farms. He has an interest in a property development company and is a director of various businesses. He is also the chairman of the British Cereal Exports who promote the export of British cereal
s and advise the government.
He has two children (Sarah and Ian) with his wife, Judy.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
farmer and property developer and former chairman of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.
Biography
Forbes was born as a Newcastle United supporter and attended their games throughout the country from his late teens.Forbes became a qualified auctioneer and built the family farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
from a small holding to a substantial farm. Showing substantial business skills he went from an employee of a relatively small auction mart
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
to the owner of the same mart, turning it into the biggest in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He also had property interests and was a director of other varying companies.
In the 1980s, Forbes was invited to join the Newcastle United board as the current board, under substantial pressure, aimed to appease fan discontent by appointing a number of local businessmen. He moved from director to vice-chairman and to finally chairman at Newcastle on 6 December 1990. He chaired the club during an extremely difficult period for no salary and no financial gain. He was an interim chairman during the takeover by Sir John Hall
John Hall (businessman)
Sir John Hall is a property developer in North East England. He is also life president and former chairman of Newcastle United.-Biography:...
.
After the takeover and his resignation as chairman in 1992, Forbes had the opportunity to remain as part of the new board but he felt Sir John Hall was the wrong man for the club since he had not been to a Newcastle game before his interest in the takeover. Clearly if he had stayed as part of this board, he would have been a very wealthy man today.
Forbes now still farms and runs a successful business, GRF Farms. He has an interest in a property development company and is a director of various businesses. He is also the chairman of the British Cereal Exports who promote the export of British cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s and advise the government.
He has two children (Sarah and Ian) with his wife, Judy.