Mark Goldberg
Encyclopedia
Mark Goldberg is an English
football club chairman and manager, who is currently in his third spell with Bromley F.C.
recruitment industry, becoming a multi millionaire. He sold his company in 1997.
, a club he was a fan of, from long-time chairman Ron Noades
. At first this was thought to be simply speculation but soon developed into a serious story. Noades offered the club and its Selhurst Park
stadium to Goldberg for £30million (with a £3million option to be used for playing staff), considered by most to be an extortionate amount for a club that was likely to be relegated from the Premier League. Nevertheless Goldberg had agreed to this deal and went out to raise funds. He came back to Noades after he had run out of time on the £3million option claiming he had only £22.8million, an amount that led Noades to suggest that Goldberg could purchase just the club and not the stadium for that total, and the club would be handed a ten year lease to continue playing there. However it soon came to light that Goldberg only actually had £18million, gained from promises from investors, and so was loaned £5million from Noades to make up the complete total.
The deal went through and Goldberg was installed as Palace chairman. His first move was to change the manager, with the long-serving Steve Coppell
moved to Director of Football and Italy international Attilio Lombardo
and the soon-to-retire Tomas Brolin
taking over as player-managers. This was considered strange, as Lombardo did not speak English and was the side's star player. The duo did not last long in these roles, and Goldberg then appointed none other than former owner Noades, alongside coach Ray Lewington, as caretaker manager.
The club were relegated from the Premier League, finishing bottom of the table by a big margin.
In order to "secure further investment" in the club, Goldberg installed former-England
Head Coach Terry Venables
(who had started his managerial career at Palace, then left in acrimonious circumstances) as Palace Head Coach. Palace stormed to the top of the First Division with the side putting together some strong performances. However the club was now surrounded in unrest with Goldberg's financial backers withdrawing their support.
The club's highest earners, Venables and Lombardo, were allowed to leave in hope of reducing the wage bill significantly. Steve Coppell resumed the role of manager as the club slid towards liquidation. Goldberg left the club in January 1999. He was replaced by Peter Morley
and the club put in administration.
Goldberg himself lost his entire fortune and was declared bankrupt in 2000. The Goldberg family helped him climb out of this and he returned to a normal life working in agency.
season the pair announced the controversial decision that Goldberg would replace the highly successful and highly popular George Wakeling and his management team, who had led to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League
, and then secured survival by a long distance.
Goldberg's start in management was successful, leading Bromley to promotion into the Conference South
division via the play-offs. His first pre-season included a tie against the youth team of Crystal Palace and his competitive start was good, with Bromley topping the Premier Division after his first eleven games and reaching the First Round of the FA Cup
before losing 4-1 to League One
side Gillingham
.
Goldberg left Bromley during the 2007-08 season, to be succeeded by Simon Osborn
, but returned to the club at the end of the season. In January 2011 he again left the club due to an internal disagreement.
On 18 June 2011 Goldberg returned to Bromley after the appointment of a new club chairman, Ashley Reading.
As a young man, Goldberg played two seasons of football in the United States at the College of William and Mary (1982–1983). He was recruited by William and Mary head coach Al Albert
. Goldberg's teammate at William and Mary was world-famous political comedian Jon Stewart
.
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...
football club chairman and manager, who is currently in his third spell with Bromley F.C.
Business
Goldberg originally made his fortune in the ITInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
recruitment industry, becoming a multi millionaire. He sold his company in 1997.
Crystal Palace
In 1997, he was linked with purchasing Premier League club Crystal PalaceCrystal 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...
, a club he was a fan of, from long-time chairman Ron Noades
Ron Noades
Ron Noades is an English businessman who has a strong connection with investments in football clubs. In his time, he has been chairman of Southall, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and Brentford between 1981 and 1998.-Crystal Palace:...
. At first this was thought to be simply speculation but soon developed into a serious story. Noades offered the club and its Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
stadium to Goldberg for £30million (with a £3million option to be used for playing staff), considered by most to be an extortionate amount for a club that was likely to be relegated from the Premier League. Nevertheless Goldberg had agreed to this deal and went out to raise funds. He came back to Noades after he had run out of time on the £3million option claiming he had only £22.8million, an amount that led Noades to suggest that Goldberg could purchase just the club and not the stadium for that total, and the club would be handed a ten year lease to continue playing there. However it soon came to light that Goldberg only actually had £18million, gained from promises from investors, and so was loaned £5million from Noades to make up the complete total.
The deal went through and Goldberg was installed as Palace chairman. His first move was to change the manager, with the long-serving Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
moved to Director of Football and Italy international Attilio Lombardo
Attilio Lombardo
Attilio Lombardo is a retired football player turned manager.-Playing:...
and the soon-to-retire Tomas Brolin
Tomas Brolin
Per Tomas Brolin is a Swedish former professional football player who had a successful period with A.C. Parma during the early nineties winning the 1992 Coppa Italia, the 1993 Cup Winners' Cup, the 1993 UEFA Super Cup and the 1995 UEFA Cup.Brolin also played for the Swedish national team,...
taking over as player-managers. This was considered strange, as Lombardo did not speak English and was the side's star player. The duo did not last long in these roles, and Goldberg then appointed none other than former owner Noades, alongside coach Ray Lewington, as caretaker manager.
The club were relegated from the Premier League, finishing bottom of the table by a big margin.
In order to "secure further investment" in the club, Goldberg installed former-England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
Head Coach Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
(who had started his managerial career at Palace, then left in acrimonious circumstances) as Palace Head Coach. Palace stormed to the top of the First Division with the side putting together some strong performances. However the club was now surrounded in unrest with Goldberg's financial backers withdrawing their support.
The club's highest earners, Venables and Lombardo, were allowed to leave in hope of reducing the wage bill significantly. Steve Coppell resumed the role of manager as the club slid towards liquidation. Goldberg left the club in January 1999. He was replaced by Peter Morley
Peter Morley
Peter Morley, CBE is the President of Crystal Palace Football Club, a football club who are, as of the 2010-2011 season, in the Championship, the second level of English football....
and the club put in administration.
Goldberg himself lost his entire fortune and was declared bankrupt in 2000. The Goldberg family helped him climb out of this and he returned to a normal life working in agency.
Bromley
Goldberg's brother-in-law, Jerry Dolke, had become chairman of non-league Bromley and during the 2005-062005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season the pair announced the controversial decision that Goldberg would replace the highly successful and highly popular George Wakeling and his management team, who had led to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
, and then secured survival by a long distance.
Goldberg's start in management was successful, leading Bromley to promotion into the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
division via the play-offs. His first pre-season included a tie against the youth team of Crystal Palace and his competitive start was good, with Bromley topping the Premier Division after his first eleven games and reaching the First Round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
before losing 4-1 to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
.
Goldberg left Bromley during the 2007-08 season, to be succeeded by Simon Osborn
Simon Osborn
Simon Osborn is an English footballer who played as a midfielder.-Playing career:A central midfielder, Osborn started his career as a trainee at Crystal Palace in 1988, turning professional for the 1989-90 season, when his performances for a newly promoted Palace side secured their First Division...
, but returned to the club at the end of the season. In January 2011 he again left the club due to an internal disagreement.
On 18 June 2011 Goldberg returned to Bromley after the appointment of a new club chairman, Ashley Reading.
Playing football
In April 2009, Goldberg suffered serious damage to his knee ligament while playing for Bromley Veterans in an Isthmian Veterans Cup semi-final. This injury caused him to be absent from the dugout for at least the remainder of the 2008-09 season.As a young man, Goldberg played two seasons of football in the United States at the College of William and Mary (1982–1983). He was recruited by William and Mary head coach Al Albert
Al Albert (soccer coach)
Al Albert is an American college soccer coach. Albert is best known for his longstanding tenure as the head coach of The College of William and Mary men's soccer program in Williamsburg, Virginia.-Early life:...
. Goldberg's teammate at William and Mary was world-famous political comedian Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
.