On This Day – 24th December
It was on this day in 1999 that Bill Kenwright became the owner of Everton Football Club.
Kenwright had been the Vice-Chairman but decided to step up and buy Peter Johnson’s 68% shares in the club for £20 million. It was a dream come true for Kenwright who had supported Everton as a young boy.
Everton had won the FA Cup four years earlier but had struggled more recently, and were almost relegated from the Premier League in the 1997/98 season. They went on to finish 13th in the league and went on to reach the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup before losing 2-1 to eventual finalists Aston Villa.
Bill Kenwright became the Chairman of Everton on 1st June 2004. In his first season as Chairman, the club qualified for the Champions League.
Kenwright is now 75 years old and is still going strong as Chairman of Everton Football Club.
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