Paul Fletcher: From Team Sheet to Balance Sheet
- Josh Schneider-Weiler
- Oct 9, 2017
- 2 min read
Our guest today is Paul Fletcher. His CV is about as long as a summer day on the North Pole. He was a player from 1968-1981, mostly for Burnley, and made 4 appearances for the England U-23 team but his most notable accomplishments come off the field.
He was CEO of Huddersfield town, Bolton and Burnley
At Huddersfield he led the construction of the McAlpine Stadium, which won building of the year in 1995 and also constructed Bolton's Reebok Stadium
He was commercial director for the new Wembley stadium and was managing director for Coventry when they were constructing the Ricoh Stadium
He Has negotiated over £100 million in sponsorship agreements.
Has negotiated 5 major multi-million pound ‘naming rights’ contracts.
He was Awarded the MBE for services to football in 2007
He has also written the book The Seven Go£den Secrets of a Successful Stadium’
He is the owner and founder of StadiArena which I'd love to go into but this intro is already long and consults on stadiums from India to Brazil
He is also currently the managing director at the University College of Football Business
He is a self-proclaimed Stadiologist
In this episode he discusses how basketball and a clothesline helped him become a centre-forward, how he helped more than 50 players receive disability payments, why a Dale Carnegie book changed his life, being a naïve client, the secrets of a successful stadiums, his dream of "Hamburger Stadiums", road trips on the after dinner circuit, what he learned from the Coventry City stadium debacle, and one incredible story about a gift to his daughter.
He's a great storyteller and my oh my does he have a lot of stories to tell. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did recording it.
You can learn more about Paul Fletcher on his website http://www.paulfletcher.co.uk/
Timeline
How a 5'2" inch 14 year old changed his life 1:55
Being a football apprentice in the 1960's 4:58
Breaking his nose against Belgium 8:40
How he beat taller players in the air 11:20
Helping more than 50 players get industrial disability pay 15:40
Challenging his "demons" 20:50
Going from "teamsheet to balance sheet" 25:10
Being a "naïve client" 30:05, quote 30:45
Most owners are naïve clients quote 33:30
Why pitches need to be elevated 7 metres 35:56
"Hamburger stadiums" 43:20
The Coventry City Stadium debacle 49:45
Renovating stadiums vs building new ones 54:05
Why he resigned from the new Wembley stadium project 1:02:15
Differences between 70's and today 1:06:20
Why he wrote a novel about the IRA in 1974 1:16:41
Advice to footballers who are retiring 1:19:40
The £2 gift that made his daughter cry with joy 1:23:53
The best piece of advice he's ever received 1:29:05
His dream dinner guests 1:31:42
References
Dicky Rooks (played for Middlesborough)
Geoff Nulty (Ex-burnley player)
Colne Dynamoes (Non-league team)
McAlpine Stadium (Huddersfield)
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