David Sheepshanks facts for kids
David Richard Sheepshanks is a well-known person in English football and charity work. He helped start and is currently the Chairman of the St George's Park National Football Centre. This is a special place for football training in England. He was also the chairman of Ipswich Town FC, a famous football club.
Mr. Sheepshanks also worked with UK Community Foundations (UKCF). This group helps people give money to good causes across the UK. He has also been involved with other businesses like Coutts Bank. Before that, he founded a food company called Suffolk Foods Ltd with his brother.
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David Sheepshanks' Career in Football
Leading Ipswich Town FC
David Sheepshanks joined the board of Ipswich Town FC in 1987. He became the club's chairman in 1995. During his time, he made many changes to the club. He had a famous "5-year plan" to improve things.
Under his leadership, Ipswich Town was promoted to the Premier League in 2000. The next year, they even qualified for the UEFA Cup, which is a big European competition. He also invested a lot of money to improve the club's stadium, Portman Road.
However, the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2002. This meant they had less money. For a short time in 2003, the club had to go through a process called "administration." This happens when a business needs help to manage its money problems.
To help the club, Mr. Sheepshanks looked for a new owner. In 2007, businessman Marcus Evans bought a large part of the club. Mr. Evans helped pay off the club's debt and invested more money. David Sheepshanks stayed on as chairman until July 2009. After 14 years, he stepped down, and Marcus Evans took over fully.
Working with Football Leagues and Associations
In 1997, David Sheepshanks became the chairman of the Football League for two years. He helped to reorganize the league. He also helped appoint Richard Scudamore as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
He served on the boards of the Football Association (FA) and the Football League for 12 years. He also worked with UEFA (European football's governing body) and the FIFA Marketing Committee. In 2007, he was considered to lead England's bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
In May 2010, Mr. Sheepshanks was appointed joint acting chairman of the FA. This was after the previous chairman resigned. His time in this role ended in January 2011.
Developing St George's Park
Since 2008, David Sheepshanks has led a very important project. He oversaw the creation and opening of the FA National Football Centre at St George's Park National Football Centre. This amazing facility opened in October 2012. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially opened it.
St George's Park is now the main learning center for English football. It focuses on training coaches, developing leaders, and improving player performance. It is also where all 24 England national teams train.
Awards and Recognition
David Sheepshanks has received several important awards for his work:
- In 2006, he received an Honorary degree from the University of East Anglia (UEA). This was for his services to the community.
- He was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the Suffolk County. This is a special role that supports the King's representative in the county.
- In 2013, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This honor was given for his services to football and his charity work in Suffolk.
