Noel White facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noel White
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Noel White in 2012
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| Born | 16 December 1929 Altrincham, Cheshire, England
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| Died | 30 June 2019 (aged 89) |
| Years active | 1955—2019 |
Noel White BEM (born December 16, 1929 – died June 30, 2019) was a successful businessman and a very important person in English football. He was a chairman and director for several football clubs. Noel White was one of the main people who helped create the Premier League. This is now one of the biggest and most watched football leagues in the world. He was also a Life Vice President of The Football Association, which is the governing body for football in England.
Noel White: A Leader in Business and Football
Starting His Business Career
Noel White began his business journey in 1955. He started a company called White and Swales Ltd in Altrincham. He partnered with Peter Swales for this venture.
White and Swales Ltd
At first, their company sold sheet music, records, and musical instruments. Later, they moved into renting televisions. This was a very popular business at the time. White and Swales Ltd grew to have 15 branches. These stores were located across Cheshire and South Manchester.
Running the Bowdon Hotel
After selling White and Swales Ltd, Noel White bought and managed the Bowdon Hotel. This hotel is also in Altrincham. He made many improvements to the hotel. Because of his work, the hotel earned a 3-star rating. He sold the Bowdon Hotel in 1986. Today, it is part of the Mercure Hotels group.
His Amazing Football Journey
Noel White became well-known in football in 1961. He and Peter Swales took over Altrincham Football Club.
Helping Altrincham F.C.
When White and Swales took over, Altrincham F.C. was struggling. The club was near the bottom of the Cheshire County League and almost bankrupt. Noel White was the Vice-Chairman until 1967. Then, he became the Chairman of Altrincham F.C. for 19 years. During his time, he helped turn Altrincham into one of the best non-league clubs. In 1986, he left Altrincham to join Liverpool F.C.. He was made President of Altrincham F.C., a title he held for life. He also became President of the Northern Premier League.
Time at Liverpool F.C.
Noel White joined Liverpool F.C. as a director in March 1986. He served on the board for more than 20 years. He was even the Chairman of Liverpool F.C. from 1990 to 1991. He had a long and important connection with the club.
Creating the Premier League
Noel White played a huge role in creating the Premier League. While he was Chairman of Liverpool F.C., he worked with four other key people. These were Martin Edwards, David Dein, Irving Scholar, and Philip Carter. Together, they were the five founding architects of the Premier League. In 2011, they were honored for their work. They received a special award with the crests of all the clubs that had played in the Premier League since it started in 1992.
Working with The Football Association
Noel White's involvement with The Football Association (FA) began in 1976. He was elected as a council member. He represented clubs from Cheshire and Merseyside. He helped introduce automatic promotion and relegation with the Football League. This was a big change that made football fairer. In 1982, he joined the FA International Committee. He became its Chairman in 1994. He led the FA's International Committee for 14 years, until 2008. In 2002, he was named Life Vice President of The Football Association.
His Role at UEFA
In 2002, Noel White was also appointed Vice-Chairman of the UEFA National Team Committee. He served in this role for four years. This committee represents European countries that play in European football competitions. These include senior and Under-21 level tournaments.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2013, Noel White received a special award. He was given a British Empire Medal (BEM). This award was for his great services to football. It was part of the Queen's birthday honours list that year.
Later Life
Noel White passed away on June 30, 2019. He had been ill for a long time. He left behind a lasting legacy in both business and football.
