Bob Lord

Who is Bob Lord?

Bob Lord was an English businessman best known as the chairman of Burnley F.C.

Born in 1908 in Burnley, Lancashire, Lord was the son of a barber. As a boy he worked for a local butcher, until at the age of 19 he started his own business. Lord's butchery business eventually grew into 14 shops.

Lord was an avid follower of his local football club, Burnley F.C., and in 1950 attempted to join the board. This approach was blocked, but another position became available a year later. Lord was the sole candidate, and thus became a board member. He became chairman in 1955.

The early years of Lord's chairmanship were the most successful in the club's history. Following the appointment of Harry Potts as manager in 1958, Burnley were league champions in 1960, and reached the FA Cup Final in 1962. The club became renowned for their youth policy, which yielded players such as Jimmy McIlroy, Willie Morgan and Martin Dobson, and investment in a new training ground gave Burnley some of the most advanced facilities in the country. Lord oversaw major redevelopment of Turf Moor, including a new stand at the Cricket Field end, and a replacement for the Main Stand that Lord named after himself. Both stands were opened by Conservative Party leader Edward Heath, who was a friend of Lord's. As of 2011 both the Cricket Field Stand and Bob Lord stand are still in use.