Oh how Bill Kenwright must dream of a phone call like this. It was just over a year ago, when the phone rang at the office of local Northern League football club Bedlington Terriers. Bedlington Terriers? Exactly. Waiting on the other end of the line was, quite literally, Mr Rich. Mr Bob Rich. Billionaire American businessman, owner of a number of baseball teams, food company mogul and the 488th richest man in the world, Bob Rich. So following American takeovers of Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa it was now the turn of little Bedlington Terriers to bask in the glory of foreign investment.
Cha ching…
Not quite, this story isn’t quite as vulgar as a rich foreigner splashing his cash and taking over a local club. This is more an act of transatlantic philanthropy. Bob you see, or Mr Rich if you prefer, has English roots and had just been bought the title of Lord of Bedlington for Christmas by his wife, Mrs Rich. The new Lord wanted to do something for the community, so he picked up the phone, called Bedlington Terriers and simply offered to sponsor the team. “I thought someone was winding me up” said the Terriers chairman, David Holmes after the initial contact. But this was no wind up and today the Terriers play with the Rich corporation’s logo emblazoned across their shirts. The club is also waiting on the installation of an electronic scoreboard, which will be the only one in the league, any day now, a personal donation from the clubs improbable sponsor.
In an area that hasn’t had much in the way of good news since the closing of its mines, the support of Lord Rich has given a huge lift to the club and its supporters. And as I write this article, they’re sitting in the right half of the table and in good form. Here’s hoping their new found wealth and fame can bring them more success and, dare we dream an FA Cup tie with another club under American ownership!
For another slice of irony google ‘Bedlington Terriers ground name’. Ten thousand spoons indeed.
