William Westwood, 2nd Baron Westwood
Encyclopedia
William Westwood, 2nd Baron Westwood (25 December 1907 – 8 November 1991) was a British
peer, director of Hornby Railways
and former chairman of Newcastle United
.
Lord Westwood followed his father, seven years after the death of his father, into the Newcastle United boardroom in 1960. Three years later he became chairman and was to hold the post for the next 18 years. The colourful chairman was at the helm the last time the club captured a meaningful trophy, the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
. In that time he was voted president of the Football League in 1974, vice-chairman of the Football Association and served on the UEFA
professional committee.
Lord Westwood was known as a man who dominated the boardroom with his razor sharp wit, a talent which made him an outstanding after dinner speaker and a captivating conversationalist.
Despite his good record as chairman he resigned from the board under controversial circumstances in 1981. Newcastle United were in dire straits and each director had been asked to put a £16,000 guarantee into the club to help finances. Lord Westwood had just been hit with a big financial loss following the stock market collapse of DCM
, Europe's leading toy company, of which he was also chairman, and he refused to dig any deeper in helping out Newcastle United.
Hornby Railways
released a model Hall Class Locomotive in 1973 and 1974 called Lord Westwood.
The lowest point in his stint as chairman was in the crisis-torn year of 1977, when six leading first team players threatened to quit the club after contract talks broke down. Amid allegations of back-stabbing in the boardroom, when Lord Westwood, claimed himself and the then just sacked manager Richard Dinnis
were being knifed in the back, he ordered a complete ban of every Newcastle United employee, especially the players, from talking to the press. After a string of defeats, Newcastle went down 2–1 to Arsenal
at St James' Park
and hundreds of demonstrators called for the chairman's resignation with angry shouts of Westwood out. Many fans fought among themselves in the Leazes End and there were 10 arrests.
Lord Westwood died in 8 November 1991.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer, director of Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
and former chairman of Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
.
Biography
Westwood lost one of his eyes in a car accident in 1956. As a result, he wore an eye patch for the rest of his life. Upon the death of his father in 1953, he inherited his father's title and estate.Lord Westwood followed his father, seven years after the death of his father, into the Newcastle United boardroom in 1960. Three years later he became chairman and was to hold the post for the next 18 years. The colourful chairman was at the helm the last time the club captured a meaningful trophy, the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
. In that time he was voted president of the Football League in 1974, vice-chairman of the Football Association and served on the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
professional committee.
Lord Westwood was known as a man who dominated the boardroom with his razor sharp wit, a talent which made him an outstanding after dinner speaker and a captivating conversationalist.
Despite his good record as chairman he resigned from the board under controversial circumstances in 1981. Newcastle United were in dire straits and each director had been asked to put a £16,000 guarantee into the club to help finances. Lord Westwood had just been hit with a big financial loss following the stock market collapse of DCM
DCM
DCM may refer to:Technology:* Data Center Manager* Deep chlorophyll maximum, subsurface maximum in the concentration of chlorophyll* Dichloromethane, a common solvent in organic chemistry...
, Europe's leading toy company, of which he was also chairman, and he refused to dig any deeper in helping out Newcastle United.
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways
Hornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
released a model Hall Class Locomotive in 1973 and 1974 called Lord Westwood.
The lowest point in his stint as chairman was in the crisis-torn year of 1977, when six leading first team players threatened to quit the club after contract talks broke down. Amid allegations of back-stabbing in the boardroom, when Lord Westwood, claimed himself and the then just sacked manager Richard Dinnis
Richard Dinnis
Richard Dinnis is a radio football commentator who was briefly manager of Newcastle United in 1977. He currently works as a football commentator for BBC Radio Lancashire, commentating on local football games in North West England.-Background:...
were being knifed in the back, he ordered a complete ban of every Newcastle United employee, especially the players, from talking to the press. After a string of defeats, Newcastle went down 2–1 to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
and hundreds of demonstrators called for the chairman's resignation with angry shouts of Westwood out. Many fans fought among themselves in the Leazes End and there were 10 arrests.
Lord Westwood died in 8 November 1991.