Ex-Wrexham AFC bidder and Chester FC owner dies as tributes paid
Stephen Vaughan, an ex-bidder for Wrexham AFC and the former owner of Chester City, has passed away. His son, also named Stephen Vaughan, confirmed the news of his father's death in a post on Facebook.
In a heartfelt tribute, Vaughan Jr, who himself had a stint as a player and later as an owner at Chester City as well as a director and manager at Bangor City, stated: "Absolutely devastated, the best man I've ever known. RIP Dad our hero". Vaughan Sr's tenure in football was marked by controversy, having acquired Chester in 2001 from American Terry Smith and subsequently guiding the club to promotion back into the Football League in 2004.
However, his ownership took a turn for the worse when the Blues plunged into financial turmoil, entering administration with debts amounting to £8 million following their relegation in 2009 – the same year Vaughan became the first owner to fail the Football Association's 'fit and proper person' test.
The Vaughan family, led by his son, bought the club out of administration, but issues persisted both on and off the field, culminating in Chester's expulsion from the Football Conference in February 2010 and subsequent dissolution in the High Court a month later, reports the Daily Star.
Vaughan was also jailed for 15 months for fracturing a police officer's cheek in a drunken rage, during a disturbance outside his home.
His career also spanned boxing promotion, directorship at rugby league club Widnes Vikings, and chairmanship at Barrow. His family was also involved with Bangor FC.
He was also part of a consortium that tried to take over Wrexham football club back in 2011.
He bought Maltese club Floriana in April 2012 with his son, who captained Chester during his father's ownership and was appointed president soon after.
The Vaughan family ended its association with Floriana in February 2014 but continued to have an involvement in Maltese football as sponsors of Mosta and Hibernians.
His son's Facebook post was filled with tributes from friends and family, with many simply posting "RIP" and broken heart emojis, while another said: "So sorry to hear this sad news Ste, condolences to you and the family".
A second added: "Condolences to the family Ste! What a gent your dad was!" And a third said: "So sorry to hear this awful news about your Dad RIP. Sending my deepest sympathy and condolences and prayers to you and all your beautiful family."
Boxer Derry Matthews also paid tribute to him, and said: "They say he only takes the best and he's taking one of the greatest men ever, my first ever manager who got George out of retirement to train me, thank you for everything Ste.
"People in the boxing world are going miss you, no one could do a prep talk before a fight like you, you would have me wanting to walk through walls and with you by my side in changing rooms we could beat anyone.
"Gutted for my mate @stephen_vaughan_85, Pat and all the family on the loss."
Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Find out what's happening near you
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Carlos Alcaraz comes through ‘stressful' Jan-Lennard Struff test
The defending champion looked to be cruising to a 21st consecutive match win when he breezed through the opening set. But 6ft 4in Struff strutted his stuff in the second, firing down 139mph missiles before shocking second seed Alcaraz when he clinched the crucial break for 5-3 before levelling the match. Alcaraz won his 21st straight match (Adam Davy/PA) However Alcaraz, who needed five sets to overcome veteran Fabio Fognini in the first round, gathered himself to win 6-1 3-6 6-3 in two hours and 25 minutes. 'I knew it was going to be really difficult and I had to be focused on every shot,' said the 22-year-old Spaniard. 'His game suits the grass, big serves, coming to the net, so I'm pleased with everything I did today. Proud to get the win in four sets. Jan-Lennard Struff took the second set (Adam Davy/PA) 'To be honest I was suffering in every service game I did. Lots of break points down. It was stressful.' Next up for the five-time grand slam champion is Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev. Taylor Fritz has been on court for so long this week he could soon be eligible for squatter's rights. The American fifth seed came through two marathon five-setters spread over three days to reach the third round, while a three-hour 12-minute win over Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four has also taken its toll. 'I wouldn't be surprised if I'm a bit sore after this match, because even though it was four, it was much more physical than my other two matches,' he said. 'I did a lot more side-to-side running in the heat as well. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm a bit sore. But overall I'm feeling good.' Fritz will face Australian Jordan Thompson, who beat Luciano Darderi, also in four sets. Taylor Fritz is grinding his way through the draw (Adam Davy/PA) Thompson, who is hindered by back problems, is in the last 16 for the first time. Fiery Italian Darderi was angered when Thompson's cap came off during a rally with the 31-year-old catching it and going on to win the point – had it hit the ground he would have lost it. Brazil's rising teenage star Joao Fonseca disappointed his legion of noisy fans after he lost the all-South American showdown with Nicolas Jarry. Chilean qualifier Jarry secured a fourth-round meeting with Britain's Cameron Norrie after a 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6 (4) victory on a raucous Court Two.
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys knocked out of Wimbledon
Former world number one Osaka – a two-time champion at both the US Open and Australian Open – surrendered a one-set lead to lose 3-6 6-4 6-4 to 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. American sixth seed Keys was then on the receiving end of a major shock in the next women's match on Court Two, losing 6-3 6-3 to 37-year-old German Laura Siegemund. The 30-year-old became the sixth top-10 player to be dumped out of the competition and did not speak to the media post-match due to illness. Seeded trio Amanda Anisimova, Linda Noskova and Elise Mertens did progress on day five, in addition to Argentinian lucky loser Solana Sierra. Unseeded Osaka – playing in the third round of the Championships for the first time in seven years – looked set to claim a small piece of personal history before failing to capitalise on two break points at 4-4 in set two. She missed the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the tournament due to mental health issues, injury and pregnancy respectively. The 27-year-old Japanese player has struggled to make an impact at grand slams since the birth of her daughter Shai two years ago and was knocked out of the recent French Open in the first round by Paula Badosa. 'In Paris, I was very emotional,' she said. 'Now I don't feel anything, so I guess I'd prefer to feel nothing than everything. 'It's not like I can really even be mad at myself. I was thinking about the break points that I had. She hit some really good serves. Then she hit a backhand. I can't really do that much about it. 'Obviously I'm still going to beat myself up a little bit. "Siegemund stuns Keys." 🤯 The 37-year-old takes down the No.6 seed 6-3, 6-3 to reach a Grand Slam singles fourth round for the first time 👏#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2025 'I'm just going to be a negative human being today. I'm so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I'm working on.' Sierra – conqueror of Britain's Katie Boulter in round two – continued her impressive Wimbledon debut by beating Cristina Bucsa 7-5 1-6 6-1 and will face Siegemund, who is 16 years her senior, next. American 13th seed Anisimova defeated Hungary's Dalma Galfi 6-3 5-7 6-3. Czech 20-year-old Noskova, seeded 30th, awaits her after she beat Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6 (6) 7-5. Belgian 24th seed Mertens overcame two-time semi-finalist Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-6 (4).
NBC News
4 hours ago
- NBC News
Inside Iran: Exclusive access to notorious Evin Prison
Iran's notorious Evin Prison was hit by Israeli airstrikes in June, and destroyed its gates, administrative buildings, and health clinic. Iranian officials say nearly 80 people were killed including civilians. NBC's Richard Engel was given extraordinary access to the destruction, and also visited the former U.S. embassy compound covered with anti-American murals and 4, 2025
