Stephen Thompson (football chairman)

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Stephen Thompson (born 1965 or 1966) [1] is a Scottish businessman, who was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United. He is the son of former United chairman Eddie Thompson, who died of prostate cancer in October 2008. Stephen Thompson then succeeded to the chair of Dundee United, [2] a position he held until March 2018.

Dundee United F.C. association football club in Scotland

Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909. originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923. United are nicknamed The Terrors or The Tangerines and the supporters are known as Arabs.

Edward Henry Thompson OBE was a Scottish businessman. A well-known figure in the Scottish retail industry, he founded the convenience store chain Morning, Noon and Night in 1991, which he later sold for £30 million in 2004. He was awarded the OBE for services to the Scottish grocery industry in 2005.

Involvement with Dundee United

Thompson joined the Dundee United board in 2002 whilst taking on the role as Marketing Director at Morning, Noon and Night. [3] His father Eddie Thompson was the founder and Chief executive at Morning, Noon and Night and also the chairman of Dundee United. In February 2008, his father promoted him as chief executive with immediate effect. [4] Following the 2010 Scottish Cup victory, Thompson says he dedicated the cup to his late father. [5]

The 2010 Scottish Cup Final was the 125th final of the Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, the Scottish Cup. The match took place on 15 May 2010, at Hampden Park, Glasgow and was contested by first time finalists Ross County and 1994 winners Dundee United. Craig Conway scored a brace as Dundee United ended a wait of 16 years to win the Scottish Cup for the second time in the club's history. The match was the first final since 1938 in which both teams came from outwith the Central Belt.

Thompson told BBC Scotland that the Old Firm leaving Scottish Premier League could damage the Scotland's top flight. [6] Thompson was an opponent of the proposal to reduce the Scottish Premier League from 12 clubs to 10. [7]

Old Firm Celtic and Rangers, prominent rivals in Scottish football

The Old Firm is the collective name for the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Celtic and Rangers, which are both based in Glasgow. The two clubs are by far the most successful and popular in Scotland, and the rivalry between them has become deeply embedded in Scottish culture. It has reflected, and contributed to, political, social, and religious division and sectarianism in Scotland. As a result, the fixture has had an enduring appeal around the world.

Scottish Premier League professional association football league, contested by clubs from Scotland

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the top level league competition for professional football clubs in Scotland. The league was founded in 1998, when it broke away from the Scottish Football League (SFL). It was abolished in 2013, when the SPL and SFL merged to form the new Scottish Professional Football League, with its top division being known as the Scottish Premiership. A total of 19 clubs competed in the SPL, but only the Old Firm clubs, Celtic and Rangers won the league championship.

Thompson was also a member of the board of the Scottish Premier League until his resignation in late November 2012, citing "professional differences". [8] The resignation was explained over a clash with Ralph Topping and claims over leaking sensitive information. [9]

In February 2014, Thompson managed to help the club pay off their debt to the bank, the club have loaned. [10] The announcement were welcomed by financial experts. [11] In the years prior to this, the club had sold Johnny Russell to Derby County for £750,000 and David Goodwillie to Blackburn Rovers for £2 million. [10] Thompson says he was able to mend the club's mistakes during his father reign as the chairman and now handled their finance. [12]

Johnny Russell (footballer) Scottish footballer

Johnathon Simpson Snedden Russell is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for American club Sporting Kansas City. He has previously played for Dundee United, Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers and Derby County. Russell represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level. He was first named in the Scotland squad in 2012, and made his full international debut in November 2014.

David Goodwillie footballer

David Goodwillie is a Scottish footballer who plays for Clyde. Goodwillie came through the Dundee United youth system and he won the SPFA and SFWA Young Player of the Year awards for the 2010–11 season. His performances with United earned him selection for the Scotland national team and a £2 million move to Blackburn Rovers, who were then in the English Premier League. He failed to hold a regular place in the Blackburn team and was successively loaned to Crystal Palace, Dundee United and Blackpool. Goodwillie was released by Blackburn in 2014, after which he signed with Aberdeen. After a loan spell with Ross County, Goodwillie moved to Plymouth Argyle in 2016. He left Plymouth by mutual consent in January 2017, after a judge ruled in a civil case that Goodwillie had committed an act of rape.

Blackburn Rovers F.C. Association football club

Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional football club in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, following promotion from League One at the end of the 2017–18 season.

In September 2014, Thompson revealed the investor was interested buying the club earlier this 2014. However, Thompson rejected the approach. [13] The club was relegated to the Scottish Championship in 2016, after they finished last in the 2015–16 Scottish Premiership.

Scottish Championship

The Scottish Championship, known for sponsorship reasons as the Ladbrokes Championship, is the second tier of the Scottish Professional Football League, the league competition for men's professional football clubs in Scotland. The Scottish Championship was established in July 2013, after the Scottish Professional Football League was formed by a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League.

The 2015–16 Scottish Premiership was the third season of the Scottish Premiership, the highest division of Scottish football. The season began on 1 August 2015. Celtic were the defending champions.

Dundee United announced in January 2018 that Thompson would be stepping down as chairman at the end of the 2017–18 season. [14] Thompson resigned in March 2018, and announced his intention to sell his shareholding in the club. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "Key Staff". Official website. Dundee United FC.
  2. ↑ Lomax, Andrew (14 November 2008). "Stephen Thompson succeeds late father Eddie as Dundee United chairman". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dundee Utd takeover complete". BBC Sport. 26 September 2002. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "United reveal new chief executive". BBC Sport. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson to take Scottish Cup on emotional journey to father's grave". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  6. ↑ "English clubs cool Old Firm chat". BBC Sport. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Top 10 is sticking point for Dundee United". BBC Sport. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson resigns from SPL board". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Dundee United chief Stephen Thompson quits SPL board over claims he was leaking information". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Dundee United: Tannadice club wipes out bank debt". BBC Sport. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Finance expert hails Dundee Utd debt clearance.. but adds that fans deserve to be told details of £4m deal". Daily Record. Media Scotland. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Prudent Dundee United set to cash in". Express.co.uk. Northern & Shell. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Stephen Thompson: Dundee United rejected sale approach". BBC Sport. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Nicolson, Eric. "Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson to step down". The Courier. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Dundee United: Mike Martin replaces Steven Thompson as chairman". BBC Sport. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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