John Houlding
John Houlding | |
---|---|
Lord Mayor of Liverpool | |
In office 1897–1898 | |
Preceded by | Thomas Hughes |
Succeeded by | William Oulton |
Personal details | |
Born | c. August 1833 |
Died | 17 March 1902 (aged 68) Cimiez, Nice, France |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Occupation | Businessman, politician |
Known for | Founding Liverpool F.C. |
John Houlding (c. August 1833 – 17 March 1902) was an English businessman, most notable for being Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and the founder of Liverpool Football Club.[1] In November 2017, Houlding was commemorated with a bronze bust outside Anfield to mark the 125th anniversary of Liverpool F.C.[2]
Biography
Houlding was a businessman in the city of
Prior to his election Houlding was involved with the city's first professional football team, Everton F.C. In 1882, a ruling forced Everton to play their games at an enclosed ground, having previously played them on the public Stanley Park. A meeting held in the Sandon Hotel in Anfield, Liverpool, owned by Houlding, led to Everton F.C. renting a field off Priory Road. When the owner of this field eventually asked them to leave, Houlding secured a new pitch at Anfield Road, paying a small rent to John Orrell, a fellow brewer. The first football match at Anfield was on 28 September 1884, when Everton beat Earlestown 5–0.
At Anfield stands were erected, attendance figures reached 8,000 per game, and Everton became a founding member of
Houlding purchased the land at
Many of the club's members accused Houlding of trying to make a profit at the club's expense. The club's 279 members met in January 1892 to discuss the matter. Following another meeting on 15 March 1892, the club decided to leave Anfield and find a new ground. Later that year Everton F.C. moved to Goodison Park, on the north side of Stanley Park.
Houlding and Orrell were left with an empty football ground, and Houlding felt that the only proper course of action would be to found a new football club, which he duly did. The new club was called Everton Athletic but the Football Association would not allow this name to be used due to its similarity to the original club, so the new club was renamed
Houlding died following a lengthy illness in 1902 in Cimiez, a neighbourhood of Nice, France, in his 69th year.[6] At his funeral, players of both Liverpool and Everton carried his coffin as a mark of respect for all he had done for football in the city. In November 2018, Houlding was commemorated with a bronze bust, which stands at just under 7 feet, outside Anfield, to mark the 125th anniversary of Liverpool F.C.[2] Growing interest in the legacy of John Houlding led to a biography being published by historian Dr David Kennedy in 2022.[7]
See also
References
- ISBN 0-600-57308-7.
- ^ a b "John Houlding tribute installed at Anfield". Liverpool FC. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "David Kennedy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Anfield Lodge No. 2215". Woolton Group of Lodges and Chapters. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ISBN 9781138716612.
- ISBN 978-1845967109.
- ISBN 978-1538141236.