Steve Gibson (chairman)
Encyclopedia
Steve Gibson is an entrepreneur
and the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club
. He is acclaimed in Middlesbrough for being a local working class
man who made good. In 2008, he was 644th on the Sunday Times Rich List
with an estimated worth of £112 million.
millionaire, Gibson was born in Middlesbrough
and was raised in the tough Park End area of the town.
Gibson became Middlesbrough's youngest ever Labour
councillor, being elected to represent Park End at the age of 21.
Gibson is married to Vicky, with whom he has one daughter, Katie.
, a company dedicated to the global transportation of bulk liquids, powders and gasses. He set up the company by borrowing £1,000 from his father. Gibson is joint owner with Michael O'Neill of Gibson O'Neill, the holding company for Bulkhaul Limited.
at Ayresome Park
as a youngster. He joined the board as the club's youngest ever director at the age of 26 while Willie Maddren
was manager. He was instrumental in saving the club from liquidation in by forming a consortium in 1986. In 1993 he bought Scottish & Newcastle's
shares in the club, subsequently succeeding Colin Henderson as club chairman in 1994. He currently owns about 90% of the club.
for the Riverside Stadium
, a brand new all-seater stadium. He also made money available for the purchase of big-name players. Steve's appointment of Bryan Robson
as manager in May 1994
helped raise the profile of the club and achieve three Wembley
cup final appearances within 12 months during 1997
and 1998
. As a result of this investment the club was able to win its first trophy in 128 years, the English League Cup
. His tenure as chairman has also seen the club reach the UEFA Cup
final, Europe's second biggest club cup competition. Gibson has since stated that his aim for the club is to see it play more regular European football.
Gibson is well known for his support of his managers. Former manager Gareth Southgate
said
in Middlesbrough after the club won the English
League Cup
on 29 February 2004. He regularly has his name chanted by the clubs fans. Gibson has also been praised by the local council for his contribution to the football club as well as to the region as a whole.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. He is acclaimed in Middlesbrough for being a local working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
man who made good. In 2008, he was 644th on the Sunday Times Rich List
Sunday Times Rich List
The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement by British national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times since 1989...
with an estimated worth of £112 million.
Biography
A self-madeRags to riches
Rags to Riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, or sometimes from obscurity to fame. This is a common archetype in literature and popular culture ....
millionaire, Gibson was born in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
and was raised in the tough Park End area of the town.
Gibson became Middlesbrough's youngest ever Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
councillor, being elected to represent Park End at the age of 21.
Gibson is married to Vicky, with whom he has one daughter, Katie.
Bulkhaul Limited
In 1981 he founded Bulkhaul LimitedBulkhaul Limited
Bulkhaul Limited is a British company specialising in global tank transportation of bulk liquids, powders and gases. The company also repairs its own tanks. It was established in 1981 by Steve Gibson in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Bulkhaul Limited is run under the holding company Gibson O'Neill...
, a company dedicated to the global transportation of bulk liquids, powders and gasses. He set up the company by borrowing £1,000 from his father. Gibson is joint owner with Michael O'Neill of Gibson O'Neill, the holding company for Bulkhaul Limited.
Taking control
Gibson is a lifelong Middlesbrough fan, having attended matches with future player Chris KamaraChris Kamara
Chris Kamara is a retired English footballer. He ended his playing career in 1995 and last managed a club in 1998. He is now a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports.-Playing career:...
at Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
as a youngster. He joined the board as the club's youngest ever director at the age of 26 while Willie Maddren
Willie Maddren
William Dixon 'Willie' Maddren was a football player for Middlesbrough Football Club between 1968 and 1979.-Footballer at Middlesbrough:...
was manager. He was instrumental in saving the club from liquidation in by forming a consortium in 1986. In 1993 he bought Scottish & Newcastle's
Scottish & Newcastle
Scottish & Newcastle plc was a "long alcoholic drinks" company with positions in 15 countries, including UK, France and Russia. It was headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. In the last 20 years, S&N expanded significantly from its home base to become an international business with beer...
shares in the club, subsequently succeeding Colin Henderson as club chairman in 1994. He currently owns about 90% of the club.
Chairman
Gibson saw the club leave Ayresome Park in 1995FA Premier League 1995-96
-Promoted teams:Due to the decision to reduce the number of clubs in the Premier League from 22 to 20, only two clubs were promoted this season: Middlesbrough as Football League First Division champions, and Bolton Wanderers who won the 1994-95 playoff.-Transfers:...
for the Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
, a brand new all-seater stadium. He also made money available for the purchase of big-name players. Steve's appointment of Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson
Bryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
as manager in May 1994
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
helped raise the profile of the club and achieve three Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
cup final appearances within 12 months during 1997
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
and 1998
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
. As a result of this investment the club was able to win its first trophy in 128 years, the English League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. His tenure as chairman has also seen the club reach the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final, Europe's second biggest club cup competition. Gibson has since stated that his aim for the club is to see it play more regular European football.
Gibson is well known for his support of his managers. Former manager Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate in Crawley, West Sussex is a retired English footballer and ex-manager. He is known as the "Penalty Misser of '96." He served as manager of Middlesbrough from June 2006, until he was dismissed in October 2009...
said
"I am delighted for him [Gibson] because he's given me an opportunity here knowing that I am lacking experience. But I am picking that up all the time and I am determined to reward the faith he has had in me."
Popularity on Teesside
Gibson was given the freedom of the townFreedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
in Middlesbrough after the club won the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
on 29 February 2004. He regularly has his name chanted by the clubs fans. Gibson has also been praised by the local council for his contribution to the football club as well as to the region as a whole.