Gus Mears
Encyclopedia
Henry Augustus "Gus" Mears (1873 - 4 February 1912) was an English
businessman, most notable for founding Chelsea Football Club
.
He was born in 1873, the son of Joseph and Charlotte Mears.
In 1896, Mears and his brother Joseph
purchased the Stamford Bridge Athletics Ground
and later the nearby market garden
with the intention of turning it into the country's finest football
ground and staging high profile matches there. He failed to persuade Fulham FC
chairman Henry Norris to re-locate his club to the ground, and considered selling the land to the Great Western Railway Company
, who wished to use it as a coal yard.
Mears was ultimately persuaded not to sell up, and instead decided to found his own team, Chelsea, in March, 1905. The story goes that he was on the verge of giving up on the football project when his Scotch Terrier
bit his colleague Fred Parker, who still supported the idea. So impressed was Mears with his friend's reaction, he decided to take his advice.
Mears was on the club's first board of directors, but did not live to see the club achieve any success. His dream of making Stamford Bridge one of England
's top stadiums was realised, however, as it staged the FA Cup Final
from 1920-22. His descendents would continue to own the club until 1982, when his great-nephew Brian
sold it to Ken Bates
.
Mears died in 1912, and his grave is in the nearby Brompton Cemetery
, London.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
businessman, most notable for founding Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
.
In 1896, Mears and his brother Joseph
Joseph Mears
Joseph Theophilus "JT" Mears , was an English businessman, most notable for co-founding Chelsea Football Club.Joseph Mears was born in 1871 in Hammersmith, London, the elder son of Joseph Mears, a builder....
purchased the Stamford Bridge Athletics Ground
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
and later the nearby market garden
Market garden
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. It is distinguishable from other types of farming by the diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically, from under one acre ...
with the intention of turning it into the country's finest football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
ground and staging high profile matches there. He failed to persuade Fulham FC
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
chairman Henry Norris to re-locate his club to the ground, and considered selling the land to the Great Western Railway Company
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, who wished to use it as a coal yard.
Mears was ultimately persuaded not to sell up, and instead decided to found his own team, Chelsea, in March, 1905. The story goes that he was on the verge of giving up on the football project when his Scotch Terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
bit his colleague Fred Parker, who still supported the idea. So impressed was Mears with his friend's reaction, he decided to take his advice.
Mears was on the club's first board of directors, but did not live to see the club achieve any success. His dream of making Stamford Bridge one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's top stadiums was realised, however, as it staged the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
from 1920-22. His descendents would continue to own the club until 1982, when his great-nephew Brian
Brian Mears
Joseph Brian Mears was a chairman of Chelsea Football Club. He was the son of Joe Mears, also a chairman of Chelsea, and grandson of Joseph Mears, co-founder of the club. He was born in Richmond, Surrey, and educated at Malvern College. In 1950 he emigrated to Canada where he began working life...
sold it to Ken Bates
Ken Bates
Kenneth William Bates is a British businessman and football executive. The current chairman and now owner of Leeds United AFC, Bates was previously chairman and majority shareholder of Chelsea FC from 1982 until 2003....
.
Mears died in 1912, and his grave is in the nearby Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, London.