Latest news with #ChesterCity
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Controversial businessman Stephen Vaughan dies as son hails 'best man I've ever known'
Controversial Liverpool businessman Stephen Vaughan has died, his son has announced. The former football club owner's death was announced by his son, of the same name, in a Facebook post. Stephen Vaughan Jr, a former Liverpool reserves player, posted on social media: "Absolutely devastated the best man I've ever known RIP Dad our hero." Vaughan's football legacy is controversial after her bought Chester in 2001 from American Terry Smith and oversaw the club's promotion back to the Football League in 2004. The club ran into financial difficulty and collapsed into administration with debts of £8 million following relegation in 2009 – the same year Mr Vaughan also became the first owner to fail the Football Association's 'fit and proper person' test. READ MORE: Live updates as main road shut after police incident READ MORE: Woman who collapsed in holiday hotel room given devastating news It came after he had six fraud charges involving deception and obtaining high value cars dropped at Liverpool Crown Court in March 2008 while still serving as Chester City owner. They were alleged to have occurred between March, 2005, and March, 2006. The Liverpool-born businessman was also over the years a boxing promoter, a director of rugby league club Widnes Vikings and owner and chairman of Barrow. In late 2009 Mr Vaughan was disqualified from acting as the director of any company for 11 years following his involvement in an alleged £500,000 VAT fraud while he was owner of Widnes Vikings. Posting on Facebook, Liverpool-born former boxer Derry Mathews wrote: "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. Goodnight God bless Ste." Mr Vaughan also 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. The off-duty policeman died after he was struck in Colquitt Street in the early hours of Friday, December 19. 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.'
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stephen Vaughan, controversial former football club owner, dies
A controversial Merseyside businessman, boxing promoter and owner of football and rugby league clubs has died aged 62. Stephen Vaughan's death was announced by his son and business partner Stephen Vaughan Jr, who described him as his "hero". Mr Vaughan had spells as majority stakeholder in Chester City, Barrow AFC and Widnes 2009, while in charge at Chester, Mr Vaughan became the first person to fail the Football Association's 'fit and proper person' test over his involvement in a £500,000 VAT fraud. Former professional boxer Derry Matthews, from Birkenhead, also paid tribute to his "first ever manager" - writing on Facebook: "No one could do a prep talk before a fight like you." Mr Vaughan was banned from acting as a company director for 10 years after an Insolvency Service investigation concluded he had been involved in a "carousel fraud" while a director at Widnes Vikings in 2006. Carousel frauds involve the cross-border trading of goods aimed at illegally reclaiming had entered into administration in October 2007 with liabilities of more than £ the FA struck off Mr Vaughan in 2009, he was forced to handover the reigns at Chester and sold his stake to his son. Prison sentence Mr Vaughan took over Barrow FC in 1995. But he resigned as chair in 1997 after being named in a Customs and Excise money laundering probe centred around Liverpool drugs baron Curtis Warren. The case was eventually dropped and he returned as chairman before leaving the club permanently in 1998. In 2010 Mr Vaughan was convicted of an affray and the assault of a police officer in Wirral and received a 15 month prison sentence. He was released the following year and in 2012 moved to Malta, where he purchased local club Floriana FC and appointed Stephen Vaughan Jnr as chairman. In 2016, the pair were linked to a buy-out at Bangor City FC in North Wales, and Mr Vaughan Jr was player-manager until 2019. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Wales Online
18 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Ex-Wrexham AFC bidder and Chester FC owner dies as tributes paid
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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
North Wales Live
20 hours ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
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 also 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."
