David Sharpe (born 11 May 1991) is an English football administrator who has been the head of football operations at Bradford City since April 2024. He was formerly chairman of Wigan Athletic (2015–2019).
Sharpe was born in Wigan. [1] He was educated at Shrewsbury School, and then studied business at Oxford Brookes University. [2] Sharpe's grandfather is Dave Whelan, who took control of Wigan Athletic in February 1995. Whelan made Sharpe a director at Wigan in December 2014, and was appointed as chairman after Whelan's resignation in March 2015. At the age of 23, he became one of the world's youngest football bosses. [3] Sharpe's appointment came with shock and scepticism from both fans and the media as the youngest chairman in English football. [4] [5] He left the club in 2019. [6]
After working at Mansfield Town, he became head of football operations at Bradford City in April 2024. [7] [8] The appointment was praised by City manager Graham Alexander. [9]
Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in the EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English professional football club in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The team competes in League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system, and is managed by Graham Alexander.
Malcolm George Mackay is a Scottish professional football coach and former player, who is the sporting director at Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.
David Whelan is an English businessman and former footballer. During his football career, he played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. Whelan is the former owner of club Wigan Athletic, having also been the chairman of the club for twenty years, before passing the position over to his grandson, David Sharpe, who eventually passed the ownership over to International Entertainment Corporation.
JJB Sports plc was a British sports retailer. On 24 September 2012, shares in JJB Sports were suspended, and the firm called in administrators. On 1 October 2012, it was announced that Sports Direct had purchased part of the business, including 20 stores, the brand, and its website for £28.3 million.
Roberto Martínez Montoliu is a Spanish professional football manager and former professional player who is currently the head coach of the Portugal national team.
Gregory Stephen Abbott is an English football coach and former player who is the head of recruitment of Carlisle United.
James Robert Hanson is an English former professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bradford.
Jake Kenny Reeves is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon.
The history of Wigan Athletic Football Club starts in 1932, when the club were founded. They were elected to The Football League in 1978, and reached the Premier League for the first time in 2005, spending eight years in the top flight. Their first major honour was victory in the 2013 FA Cup Final, the same year they were relegated from the Premiership. Since then the club has bounced between the EFL Championship and League One, sometimes partly due to financial difficulties.
Reece Frederick James Burke is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Luton Town. Mainly a centre-back, he can also play as a left-back.
Devante Lavon Andrew Dewar-Cole is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League One club Barnsley.
The 2015–16 Football League One was the 12th season of the Football League One under its current title and the 23rd season under its current league division format. The season began on 8 August 2015, and concluded on 8 May 2016.
The 2016–17 EFL League One was the 13th season of the Football League One under its current title and the 24th season under its current league division format. The fixtures were announced on 22 June 2016.
The 2017–18 EFL League One was the 14th season of the Football League One under its current title, and the 25th season under its current league division format.
Jordan Lewis Gibson is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Carlisle United. He will sign for Doncaster Rovers on 1 July 2024.
Jensen Guy Weir is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
Abobaker Mamoun Eisa is a Sudanese professional footballer who plays as a winger for EFL League Two side Grimsby Town and the Sudan national team. He will become a free agent on 30 June 2024.
The 2018–19 season was Wigan Athletic's 87th year in existence and their first back in the Championship, after gaining promotion the previous season. Along with competing in the league, the club also participated in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
The 2020–21 season is the 118th season of Bradford City and the second consecutive season in EFL League Two, Along with League Two, the club will also participate in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.