Neil Doncaster
Encyclopedia
Neil Doncaster is an association football executive. He was appointed as chief executive
of the Scottish Premier League
in July 2009, having previously held the same position at Norwich City F.C.
from 2001 to 2009.
, Doncaster graduated from Bristol University in 1992, qualified as a solicitor and worked for four years for Burges Salmon, solicitors. In 2008, he obtained an MBA
from the University of East Anglia
.
While at Norwich City
, he was a director of FL Interactive Limited, the subsidiary of The Football League
responsible for official club websites, and EventGuard Limited, a security company.
in November 1997 as company secretary
and solicitor
, and two years later he was promoted to Head of Operations before taking up the role of Chief Executive in 2001.
During his time at Norwich, he took an active role in English football. From 2006, he was a director of The Football League
. In July 2008, he was elected to The Football Association
board as one of two representatives of The Football League
.
As Chief Executive of Norwich City
, Doncaster oversaw their promotion to the Premier League for the 2004/05 season. However, after the team's relegation from The Championship
to League One
in May 2009, he stepped down from his position, along with Chairman Roger Munby
. In the following months, he also left his positions on the boards of the The Football Association
and The Football League
.
On 7 July 2009, Doncaster was appointed Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League
.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
in July 2009, having previously held the same position at Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
from 2001 to 2009.
Profile
Born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Doncaster graduated from Bristol University in 1992, qualified as a solicitor and worked for four years for Burges Salmon, solicitors. In 2008, he obtained an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
While at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, he was a director of FL Interactive Limited, the subsidiary of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
responsible for official club websites, and EventGuard Limited, a security company.
Football career
Doncaster joined Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in November 1997 as company secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
and solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, and two years later he was promoted to Head of Operations before taking up the role of Chief Executive in 2001.
During his time at Norwich, he took an active role in English football. From 2006, he was a director of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. In July 2008, he was elected to The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
board as one of two representatives of The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
As Chief Executive of Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Doncaster oversaw their promotion to the Premier League for the 2004/05 season. However, after the team's relegation from The Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
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....
in May 2009, he stepped down from his position, along with Chairman Roger Munby
Roger Munby
-Norwich City:Roger became a Director of the club in May 1996 and also had a previous stint between January 1986 and September 1987 and took over the Chairman's role from Bob Cooper in 2002...
. In the following months, he also left his positions on the boards of the The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
On 7 July 2009, Doncaster was appointed Chief Executive of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
.