Walkersteel
Encyclopedia
Walkersteel is a major steel processing company based in Blackburn, Lancashire
. The firm was originally established by the Walker family before sons Fred and Jack Walker
turned the business into a major concern.
The company was sold to British Steel
in 1989 for a fee in excess of £300million - which helped fund Jack Walker's takeover of Blackburn Rovers
in early 1991. By this time, the steel company was achieving profits worth close to £50million a year, though the onset of the recession saw the steel market suffer a major slump.
The company is once again independent.
The firm sponsors the Blackburn End Stand of Ewood Park
home of Blackburn Rovers, having initially sponsored the Riverside Stand which was opened in 1988, by which time Walker already had a controlling interest in the club but was still a couple of years away from gaining full control.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The firm was originally established by the Walker family before sons Fred and Jack Walker
Jack Walker
Jack Walker was a British industrialist and businessman, from Blackburn, Lancashire. Walker invested tens of millions of pounds in Blackburn Rovers football club after amassing a personal fortune of £600 million...
turned the business into a major concern.
The company was sold to British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
in 1989 for a fee in excess of £300million - which helped fund Jack Walker's takeover of Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in early 1991. By this time, the steel company was achieving profits worth close to £50million a year, though the onset of the recession saw the steel market suffer a major slump.
The company is once again independent.
The firm sponsors the Blackburn End Stand of Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
home of Blackburn Rovers, having initially sponsored the Riverside Stand which was opened in 1988, by which time Walker already had a controlling interest in the club but was still a couple of years away from gaining full control.