Leon_Crouch

Leon Crouch

Leon Crouch

English businessman (1949–2019)

Leon Crouch (16 August 1949 – 13 September 2019) was an English businessman, who was formerly chairman of Southampton Football Club.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Crouch was the founder and chairman of the "Fullers Group" of companies which specialise in the manufacture, inspection and supply of precision engineered products, including machined components, fabrications, assemblies, kit sets and cold formed products for the telecommunications, medical, oil, defence, space, and marine industries.[1]

Crouch was a lifelong Southampton fan and paid more than £1.6 million to purchase a significant stake in the club in 2006.[2] He was acting chairman of Southampton until he was removed by the board in July 2007, but was re-appointed in December 2007, following Michael Wilde’s departure.[citation needed] Crouch was again forced to resign his position on 15 May 2008, when major shareholders, including Wilde and Rupert Lowe called an EGM requiring his removal.[3] Whilst chairman of the club, Crouch paid personally for the replacement bronze statue of Saints legend Ted Bates which is now sited outside Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.[4]

It was claimed by a representative of a Southampton Supporter's Club on Sky Sports News in late May 2009, that the only reason for Southampton's continued existence as a business was due to Leon Crouch putting money into the club "out of the goodness of his own heart".[citation needed]

He died on 13 September 2019 following a battle with cancer.[5] Following his death, in November 2019 Crouch was awarded the Forever Saint Award, with his daughter collecting the accolade.[6]

References

  1. [1]
    "The Fullers Group". www.fullers-group.com. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  2. [2]
    Yandell, Chris (14 September 2019). "Tributes to former Saints chairman Leon Crouch". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Lowe on verge of Southampton return". The Argus. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Second Ted Bates statue unveiled". BBC News. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  5. [5]
    Yandell, Christopher (14 September 2019). "Former Saints chairman Leon Crouch dies aged 70 after battling cancer". Daily Echo. Southampton. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  6. [6]
    "Forever Saint Award: Leon Crouch". Southampton FC. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.


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