Steve Gibson (businessman)

Infobox_Celebrity

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name = Steve Gibson
birth_date = 1958
birth_place = Middlesbrough, Teesside, England
occupation = Entrepreneur, football club chairman
website =

Steve Gibson (born 1958 in Middlesbrough, Teesside ) 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. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article3791150.ece Steve Gibson ] ]

Biography

A self-made 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. [ [http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/tm_headline=&method=full&objectid=18772217&siteid=50081-name_page.html Steve Gibson - Sunday Sun ] ]

Gibson is married to Vicky, with whom he has one daughter, Katie. [ [http://ts7.gazettelive.co.uk/2007/08/lewis_bradley_sings_for_the_da.html Lewis Bradley sings for the daughter of Boro chairman Steve Gibson (TS7 - Marton & Nunthorpe) ] ]

Bulkhaul Limited

In 1981 he founded Bulkhaul Limited, 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. [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/article3821948.ece Michael O’Neill ] ]

Relationship with Middlesbrough F.C.

Taking control

Gibson is a lifelong Middlesbrough fan, having attended matches with future player Chris Kamara at Ayresome Park as a youngster. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/aug/10/newsstory.sport12 Ask the expert: Chris Kamara | Football | The Guardian ] ] He joined the board as the club's youngest ever director at the tender age of 26 while Willie Maddren was manager. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2007/08/07/steve_gibson_feature.shtml?comment=response BBC - Tees - Sport - Steve Gibson live on BBC Tees ] ] 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, [http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhosWhoDetail/0,,1,00.html STEVE GIBSON - CHAIRMAN | Middlesbrough | Club | Who's Who ] ] subsequently succeeding Colin Henderson as club chairman in 1994. He currently owns about 90% of the club. [ [http://www.pitchslap.co.uk/index.php/chairmen/steve-gibson/ Steve Gibson owner and Chairman of Middlesbrough football club | PitchSlap ] ]

Chairman

Gibson saw the club leave Ayresome Park in 1995 for the Riverside Stadium, a brand new all-seater stadium. [ [http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-club-info/ Boro FC club info, The Riverside Stadium - Gazette Live ] ] 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. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2006/08/22/boro_liquidation_feature.shtml BBC - Tees - We Are Teesside - Middlesbrough 1986 - Looking Back 20 Years ] ] 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. [ [http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05092007/1/gibson-manifesto-middlesbrough.html Gibson has manifesto at Middlesbrough - Yahoo! Eurosport UK ] ]

Gibson is well known for his support of his managers. [ [http://www.squarefootball.net/article/article.asp?aid=3510 The Premiership Sack Race 2006 ] ] Current manager Gareth Southgate 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." [ [http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1308660,00.html Premier League football news from the Barclays Premier League ] ]

Popularity on Teesside

Gibson was given the freedom of the town in Middlesbrough after the club won the English League Cup on 29 February 2004. [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/3549127.stm BBC NEWS | England | Tees | Freedom honour for Boro chairman ] ] He regularly has his name chanted by the clubs fans. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2007/oct/14/middlesbrough.premierleague The good the bad and the ugly | Football | The Observer ] ] 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. [http://www2.middlesbrough.gov.uk/commgmt/Comm2006.nsf/f4a32b4f8f871c6b8025693c005431ba/0bd86b657a4e2344802571b700325454/$FILE/44348%20Middlesbrough%20Council%2021.06.06.doc]

References and notes