Steve Parish (businessman)
Steve Parish | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 July 1965 Lewisham, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Colfe's School |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www |
Stephen Parish (born 1965) is the part-owner and chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club.
Early life and education
Parish was born in Forest Hill, London, attending Christ Church School and later Colfe's School.[1]
Career
Steve Parish began his career working in computer graphics. He went on to buy a stake in a company called Adplates Ltd, assuming control of the business and renaming it Tag Worldwide, transforming it from a London-based business to a global production powerhouse with 2,800 employees in 13 countries. He sold the business to Deutsche Post DHL Group’s Willliam Lea in 2011.[2] In April 2017, it was announced that Parish was going to join the Dragons' Den line-up for the 15th series of the show. However, it was later announced by Parish that he had withdrawn.[3]
Crystal Palace Football Club
In June 2010, Parish led a consortium called 'CPFC 2010' to acquire Crystal Palace and save the club from a second spell in administration and from imminent liquidation after negotiating a £3.5m deal to buy Selhurst Park from Lloyds Bank. He became chairman and leading shareholder of the Club with three fellow supporters, Stephen Browett, Jeremy Hosking and Martin Long.[4]
In January 2011, Parish unveiled plans to move Crystal Palace to a new 40,000-seat stadium at their original home – now the National Sports Centre. In May 2013, the South London based club were promoted to the English Premier League after beating Watford in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, beginning an unbroken seven-season stay in English football’s top division, a record for the Club.
A deal was completed in December 2015 with US investors David Blitzer and Josh Harris, in which they each took an 18% stake in the Club, injecting £50m capital and becoming co-owners alongside Parish, who remained chairman.[5] In 2016, Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup Final but were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.
In December 2017, Parish announced £75m to £100m plans to redevelop Selhurst Park, commissioning stadium architects KSS to build a new five-story Main Stand to increase the capacity from 26,000 to 34,000, transforming the matchday experience and providing enhanced community facilities.[6] After the scheme was granted planning permission by Croydon Council in April 2018, Parish said: "This project will not only transform the stadium, which has been our home since 1924, but it will also have a positive impact on the south London community”.[7]
Parish revealed plans in October 2019 for a £20m redevelopment of the Club’s Academy, having secured a long-term lease for the site in Beckenham in December 2018, with enhanced playing and welfare facilities for the Club’s young players.[8] In July 2020, a month after Bromley Council granted planning permission, the Academy was awarded Category 1 status by the Premier League.[9]
In May 2020, Parish was credited by influential TV pundit Gary Neville with playing a key role in the return of Premier League football after the coronavirus pandemic following his support for ‘Project Restart’ in a Sunday Times column.[10][11]
In a Sunday Times column in October 2020, Parish explained why the Premier League was right to reject ‘Project Big Picture’, a plan by Liverpool and Manchester United to restructure the league,[12] and in April 2021, Parish was very critical of the proposed European Super League, calling it a "self-appointed elite".[13]
References
- ^ Trotter, Sarah (27 February 2014). "Crystal Palace's Steve Parish visits his old school in Lee to inspire pupils". This is Local London. London: Newsquest. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ "Worldwide CEO Steve Parish to stand down". Print Week.
- ^ Nerssessian, Joe (2017-04-27). "Crystal Palace boss Steve Parish pulls out of Dragons' Den". mirror. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ Scott, Matt (2010-06-01). "Crystal Palace saved from liquidation by CPFC 2010". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ "Palace agree deal with US investors". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ Ballinger, Chris (2017-12-04). "Crystal Palace unveil plans for brand new Selhurst Park". croydonadvertiser. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ "Palace granted green light over stadium redevelopment". ITV News. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ "Palace unveil Academy plans as it targets Category 1 status". www.cpfc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ Cawley, Richard (2020-07-07). "Crystal Palace academy awarded category 1 status – joining England's elite clubs in terms of junior set-up". South London News. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ Stead, Matthew (2020-05-29). "Neville credits surprise figure for 'big moment' in PL return". Football News -. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ chairman, Steve Parish, Crystal Palace. "Why I'm backing the Premier League's Project Restart". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Parish, Steve. "Steve Parish: Why we had to say no to Project Big Picture". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
- ^ Smith, Sam (2021-04-19). "Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish condemns Super League plans as a 'gilded elite that cannot be challenged'". South London News. Retrieved 2021-05-05.