Lionel Pickering
Encyclopedia
Lionel Victor Pickering (4 December 1931 – 2 September 2006) was an English
businessman, best known as the owner of Derby County F.C.
between 1991 and 2003. A self-made millionaire, he previously built up a free local newspaper business, making his fortune primarily from the advertising revenue it generated.
for just over £1 million from Robert Maxwell
and invested heavily in players over the next two years, spending nearly £10 million.
In January 1992, with Arthur Cox's low budget team just in touch with the leading pack, Pickering embarked on a spending increase, the biggest in the club's history, with the £1 m signing of Marco Gabbiadini
from Crystal Palace
. Joining him in that season were Paul Kitson
, Tommy Johnson
& Paul Simpson
, followed by Steve Sutton, Mark Pembridge
, Darren Wassall
, Craig Short
& Martin Kuhl
a year later.
In 1995, Pickering appointed Jim Smith
in order to change the club's fortunes. With a string of superb signings and the hiring of future England coach Steve McClaren
as assistant manager, Smith took the club to the top level of competition in his first season.
Pickering put Derby at the forefront of English football by building Pride Park Stadium
while many other clubs were still thinking about similar moves. Lionel also presided over the development of the academy for young footballers at Moor Farm, Oakwood.
As the club's fortunes levelled off and subsequently began to slump, there was a moderate amount of disquiet amongst fans. Lionel went onto Radio Derby and said: "If you can do better, where's your money - and if you don't like it, go and watch Forest.”
In October 2003, Derby County's parent company, Derby County Limited, briefly went into liquidation and Pickering, the majority shareholder, gave way to a new board of John Sleightholme
, Jeremy Keith
and Steve Harding, who bought the club for £3.
Derby finished 20th in the 2003-2004 First Division campaign, but improved dramatically in the 2004-2005 season and finished 4th in the Football League Championship (the new name for the Football League First Division) and qualified for a promotion play-off spot, losing in the semi-finals to Preston North End.
Lionel died of cancer in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on Saturday, 2 September 2006, aged 74. He leaves three sons, William, Benjamin and Matthew. A one minute's applause at Derby County's following home game against Sunderland
on Saturday, 9 September 2006 was held; followed by a memorial service at Derby Cathedral
on Tuesday, 26 September 2006. At the request of Mr Pickering's family, attendees were asked to come dressed in Derby County shirts.
The life and work of Lionel was remembered at the first game of the new 2009-10 season and dedicated as ‘Lionel Pickering Day’. A new memorial in his honour, The Lionel Pickering Entrance, was unveiled by his sons. The special construction is an exact replica of the former entrance of the Baseball Ground, using the same bricks and components from the original ground.
Also see http://www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk/News/Robbie-eyes-a-home-inbrAshbourne.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article627946.ece
http://beehive.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=11165&PageID=87955
http://footballblog.co.uk/remembering-mr-derby-county.html
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, best known as the owner of Derby County F.C.
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
between 1991 and 2003. A self-made millionaire, he previously built up a free local newspaper business, making his fortune primarily from the advertising revenue it generated.
Biography
In 1991, Pickering purchased Derby County Football ClubDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
for just over £1 million from Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
and invested heavily in players over the next two years, spending nearly £10 million.
In January 1992, with Arthur Cox's low budget team just in touch with the leading pack, Pickering embarked on a spending increase, the biggest in the club's history, with the £1 m signing of Marco Gabbiadini
Marco Gabbiadini
Marco Gabbiadini is an English former footballer whose career lasted 18 years from 1985 to 2003. He totalled nearly £3 million in transfer fees and played for 12 different clubs, scoring a total of 226 league goals.-York City:...
from Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. Joining him in that season were Paul Kitson
Paul Kitson
For the English footballer who spent most of his career in the United States, see Paul Kitson .Paul Kitson is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker...
, Tommy Johnson
Tommy Johnson (footballer born 1971)
Thomas "Tommy" Johnson is a retired footballer who played as a striker for clubs including Notts County, Celtic and Aston Villa.-Notts County:...
& Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson (footballer)
Paul David Simpson is an English former footballer and manager. His son Jake is also a professional footballer.-Manchester City:...
, followed by Steve Sutton, Mark Pembridge
Mark Pembridge
Mark Anthony Pembridge is a former footballer whose favoured position was the left side of midfield. He won numerous caps for Wales. He is currently a coach at the academy for Fulham.-Club career:...
, Darren Wassall
Darren Wassall
Darren Wassall is a retired English football defender.Wassall began his career in 1984 at Nottingham Forest, where he was a product of the youth system. He failed to win a regular first team place, although he was a reliable stand-in to the likes of Des Walker, and was loaned out to Hereford...
, Craig Short
Craig Short
Craig Jonathan Short is a former football player who played as a central-defender...
& Martin Kuhl
Martin Kuhl
Martin Kuhl is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 474 appearances in the Football League for Birmingham City, Sheffield United, Watford, Portsmouth, Derby County, Notts County and Bristol City...
a year later.
In 1995, Pickering appointed Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
in order to change the club's fortunes. With a string of superb signings and the hiring of future England coach Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
as assistant manager, Smith took the club to the top level of competition in his first season.
Pickering put Derby at the forefront of English football by building Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
while many other clubs were still thinking about similar moves. Lionel also presided over the development of the academy for young footballers at Moor Farm, Oakwood.
As the club's fortunes levelled off and subsequently began to slump, there was a moderate amount of disquiet amongst fans. Lionel went onto Radio Derby and said: "If you can do better, where's your money - and if you don't like it, go and watch Forest.”
In October 2003, Derby County's parent company, Derby County Limited, briefly went into liquidation and Pickering, the majority shareholder, gave way to a new board of John Sleightholme
John Sleightholme
John Sleightholme was the chairman of Derby County Football Club. He is a barrister and deputy coroner, and was nominally made chairman and owner of two-thirds of Derby County in October 2003, in a move arranged by Murdo Mackay. There were also two other directors, Jeremy Keith, who owned one-third...
, Jeremy Keith
Jeremy Keith
Jeremy Keith became chief executive of Derby County after a corporation he controlled with two others bought the club out of receivership for £3 in 2003. He had previously been a director at Portsmouth and had a financial role at Leeds United....
and Steve Harding, who bought the club for £3.
Derby finished 20th in the 2003-2004 First Division campaign, but improved dramatically in the 2004-2005 season and finished 4th in the Football League Championship (the new name for the Football League First Division) and qualified for a promotion play-off spot, losing in the semi-finals to Preston North End.
Lionel died of cancer in Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on Saturday, 2 September 2006, aged 74. He leaves three sons, William, Benjamin and Matthew. A one minute's applause at Derby County's following home game against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on Saturday, 9 September 2006 was held; followed by a memorial service at Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral
The Cathedral of All Saints , is a cathedral church in the City of Derby, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Derby, and with an area of around is the smallest Anglican cathedral in England.-History:...
on Tuesday, 26 September 2006. At the request of Mr Pickering's family, attendees were asked to come dressed in Derby County shirts.
The life and work of Lionel was remembered at the first game of the new 2009-10 season and dedicated as ‘Lionel Pickering Day’. A new memorial in his honour, The Lionel Pickering Entrance, was unveiled by his sons. The special construction is an exact replica of the former entrance of the Baseball Ground, using the same bricks and components from the original ground.
Also see http://www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk/News/Robbie-eyes-a-home-inbrAshbourne.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article627946.ece
http://beehive.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=11165&PageID=87955
http://footballblog.co.uk/remembering-mr-derby-county.html