Northampton Saints
News: Keith Barwell to stand down as Saints chairman
By COYSDC
March 17 2011
Northampton Saints will announce today that Keith Barwell will be standing down as the club’s chairman in September 2011.
Keith Barwell has been synonymous with the Saints for over 20 years. One of the club’s first box holders in the late-1980s, his initial million-pound investment ensured that the Saints made the transition to professional rugby union successfully and Mr Barwell has remained one of the driving forces within the English club game ever since.
During Mr Barwell’s time as chairman the Saints won the Heineken Cup, European Challenge Cup and LV= Cup, provided the coach for the successful British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1997 as well as numerous players for several international teams.
Off the field Franklin’s Gardens was turned into the pre-eminent dedicated rugby facility in Europe. The stadium was completely rebuilt between 2001 and 2002, with a further extension in 2005, and in the last 18 months Mr Barwell has worked tirelessly to ensure that the arena is completed with a new North Stand.
With Mr Barwell at the helm the Saints has also demonstrated that it is possible for a rugby club to also succeed as a viable business. After an initial public offering in 2001, Northampton Saints plc has continued to run at a surplus in every subsequent year, the only club in England to do so.
In 2009 Mr Barwell was honoured with an OBE for services to Northampton.
“I have had the fortune of being involved in club rugby during a very exciting time and it has been an honour being chairman of the Saints,” Mr Barwell said. “I have worked with a superb board of directors and some excellent directors of rugby and coaches. It has been a roller-coaster ride, with both silverware and relegation, and every minute of it will live long in the memory.
“Although I have been chairman, I am first and foremost a Saints fan and have had the privilege of watching some world class players wear the black, green and gold. It has also been an honour to serve the Saints fans, who put in considerable amounts of time and money supporting the club, and we have had an excellent relationship, as I have had with the staff at the club.
“I believe that it is the right time for me to be stepping aside as chairman. The club is on an upward trend on and off the field and will be in safe hands going forward.”
Although he is standing down as chairman, Mr Barwell will continue on the club’s board of directors for a further 12 months with the Barwell family remaining as majority shareholders.
Keith has been associated with the supporters at Saints over his tenure as chairman, and in particular, both he and Maggie his wife have supported the COYSDC "Saints with Heart" annual walks.
Mr Barwell’s son, Leon, will take over as chairman in September, following a unanimous vote of the Northampton Saints board in early March. A director of The Barwell Corporation and VSG, a nationwide security company, Leon Barwell has been on the Saints’ board since 1999 and has been involved in a wide range of projects, including the initial public offering and formation of Northampton Saints plc and the redevelopment of Franklin’s Gardens.
“It’s a huge honour for me to be able to play such an active role in a club that means so much to me,” said Leon Barwell. “As a family we’re very proud of what’s been achieved at the Saints over the past 15 years, and one thing you know for sure is that we have to go as far again in the next 15 if we want to stay at the top of the game.
“I feel very lucky to be coming into the role with a very strong board around me, a very good executive management team on and off the field and the best supporters in the country. I’m certainly looking forward to working with all of them, especially Tony Hewitt as vice-chairman, and with the current squad of players we’ve got and the players that are joining us I’m looking forward to leading the club to consistent levels of success through the coming years. Throughout the club there is that burning ambition which is a great driver for us.
“Keith is obviously a hard act to follow, not just within the environment in Northampton but the impact and presence he has on the national scene. He has put Northampton well and truly on the international sporting map. But I am no less passionate or determined than he is and it’s a challenge I’m relishing.”
Saints chief executive Allan Robson also paid tribute to Mr Barwell.
“Keith will live on forever in the history of the Saints, and deservedly so,” he said. “The club would not be where it is without his time, effort and commitment. He has constantly striven for success both on and off the field, and has shown that you can achieve both in professional club rugby.
“As one of the original chairmen whose money helped club rugby turn professional in the first place, Keith has also been one of the driving forces behind the development of the club game as whole and Premiership Rugby will not be the same without him.”
In addition to Leon Barwell taking over as chairman, September 2011 will also see the appointment of Tony Hewitt in the brand new role of vice-chairman. Mr Hewitt has been on Saints’ board of directors since 1995 and played a leading role in the redevelopment of Franklin’s Gardens as well as the share offer for Northampton Saints plc.
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Seriously, thanks Uncle Keith, you've been great. That picture of the cardiac club sent me wobbly too.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
This would be a seriously good time to get him photographed with a new pot!
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Gordon Terrace C Block
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Bridesmaids no more.
Best of luck for the future and thanks for all your hard efforts.
He's not going away, just stopping having to be nice to sponsors on matchdays. Make room in C Block!
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Only seems five minutes ago that some chap pretty much none of knew stood up at a meeting at the old Saxon Inn and wrote a cheque for one million quid.
Far to say Saints wouldn't be where they are without him and good luck to Comrade Leon going forward.
Thank you very much, Mr Barwell.
Maybe we the fans should do something at his last home game as Chairman - after all we owe him a debt of gratitude.
And good luck Leon!
Together with all the other true Saintsmen and women I have been thrilled and delighted by your leadership and commitment.
Thank you.
Without people like you and Maggie I wouldn't be so slim.
Thank you Uncle Keith and good luck to Leon.
FHS.
Uncle Keith, at the next match, take time to look around you at the wonderful stadium that's been created under your tenureship, look at the magnificent squad of players in front of you and look at the full stands of supporters of this great club. That's what you've done and by God, we don't half appreciate it.
I'm sure Rev. Wigg would have approved with all that you have done with his club these last 15 years.
Thank you.
Thankyou Mr Barwell, enjoy your incredibly well deserved retirement.
Lesley
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
thankyou uncle keith, god bless.
slb
Ten percent luck, twenty percent skill, fifteen percent concentrated power of will, five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain, and a hundred percent reason to remember my name.
Saint til I die
To you UK,
and THANK YOU To you UK,
and THANK YOU I hope that if the North Stand is eventually built, it will be named after Keith, as it will have come about entirely because of his commitment and vision.
PS the picture of Mark brought a tear to my eye but who on earth is that dodgy looking geezer with the cap on?
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
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Funny that the guy that is heading the prevention of this happening, shares his name with one of the other stands at FG. And no, I don't sit in the "Bar Steward" stand.
A fellow Old Cytriganian (me) also thanks you.
Tarzan, Jock, Bumble,Reggie, Weekey, Chip and Troll would be proud of you.
18/03/2011 18:09
And so many memories-bars in deepest France, coffee on the seafront In Biarritz, pints in Div 1 clubhouses.
You generosity, commitment and vision have taken us to places we could only have dreamed of, and a club and stadium that I for one am proud to show off to friends and clients alike.
You have also put in place a board and a structure to ensure we continue to progress whilst you enjoy your well earned rest.
A true saintsman
Sincere gratitude for total support and commitment.
Thank you for your time and energy in making our club truly a great club.
Bless you!
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Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]
Thank you UK.
alive and well in Shrubbery Terrace
Thank you Uncle Keith for everything you've done and everything you've given us all over the years.
A true Saintsman, keeping the Saints tradition alive and building us such a base, and for all of your support and hard work behind the scenes and in front of them.
Enjoy your retirement and Good Luck.
A Warm Farewell
From Liz & Family
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