Martin Cearns

Martin Cearns
BornApril 1945
DiedMay 2024 (aged 79)
Occupation(s)Chairman, West Ham United

Martin William Cearns (April 1945 – May 2024) was an English football executive who was chairman of West Ham United.

Life and career

Cearns was born in April 1945.[1] A bank manager with Barclays Bank, Cearns became a board member with West Ham taking over the chairmanship in 1990 from his father, Len Cearns. He held the position until 1992 when it was taken over by Terry Brown.[2] Although no longer chairman, Cearns remained on the board until 1 December 2006 when he resigned when the club was sold to Icelandic billionaire, Björgólfur Guðmundsson for £85 million.[3][4][5] As part of the takeover he made £7.76 million from the sale of his 1,844,000 shares in West Ham.[6]

Cearns' time at West Ham is remembered for his advocacy, with Peter Storrie, of the Hammers Bond scheme, a financial bond which West Ham fans would have been forced to buy before being allowed to purchase a season ticket. The proposal led to demonstrations both inside and outside West Ham's ground and to pitch invasions.[1][7][8]

West Ham announced Cearns' death on 7 May 2024, at the age of 79.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "MARTIN WILLIAM CEARNS". Companiesintheuk.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. ^ May, John. "Who IS Terence Brown?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Martin William Cearns". Company-director-check-co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  4. ^ Atwal, June (27 June 2011). "WW1 memoir gives window on history". www.newhamrecorder.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  5. ^ Belton, Brian (2008). Brown Out. London: Pennant Books. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-906015-11-4.
  6. ^ Conn, David (22 November 2006). "Brown cashes in on overseas gold rush". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  7. ^ Pierson, Mark (27 January 1997). "Football: West Ham fear FA censure over pitch invasion". London: Independent. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  8. ^ "League Honour Martin Cearns". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  9. ^ "West Ham United mourns former Chairman Martin Cearns". West Ham United F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.


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