Bob's Board - Chesterfield FC: Norton Lea Passes Away - Bob's Board - Chesterfield FC

Jump to content

  • (8 Pages)
  • +
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Last »
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

Norton Lea Passes Away

#1 User is online   philtooleycfss 

  • First Team Player
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 1,720
  • Joined: 13-June 05

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:14 PM

I heard tonight that Norton Lea had passed away yesterday. I'd not seen him for a long time but heard he'd been frail.

When we played Colchester the other week I was talking to Peter Heard, President of CUFC (ex Chairman) and a great help to us when the League threatened to expel us back in 2001. He was a friend of Norton's and I asked him if he'd been to see him ahead of the game and was told no; he'd contacted Norton to see if he could visit but was told that he couldn't, so I expect Norton died quite lonely - his lovely wife Barbara died a couple of years ago and they had no children. He'd been living at Belmont at Holymoorside since leaving Chander Hill.

Phil
0

#2 User is offline   calvin plummers socks 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 18,079
  • Joined: 29-April 10

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:16 PM

Ah that's sad:-(
RIP Norton
0

#3 User is offline   Westbars Spireite 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 63,286
  • Joined: 18-September 06
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Chesterfield, Derbyshire
  • Interests:Chesterfield FC, cricket, beer

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:19 PM

Sad news, particularly if he died alone.

I hope there can be a minute's appreciation of all he did for CFC ahead of Saturday's game.
3

#4 User is offline   Johnnyspireite7 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 15,351
  • Joined: 20-August 10
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Halfway from the Gutter to the Stars
  • Interests:Town, Formula 1, England & Yorkshire Cricket.

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM

Guessing we'll be having a minutes silence on Saturday then? RIP
"Do you think I'm here for your amusement" & good riddance to bad rubbish
0

#5 User is offline   Bankrobber 

  • 83 goals
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 5,753
  • Joined: 06-June 05
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Rawcliffe, East Yorkshire
  • Interests:Arctic Sheets and Fields of Wheat

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM

RIP Norton.
The greatest miscarriage of justice since my case against the producers of the Never Ending Story
0

#6 User is offline   trickytrevsfanclub 

  • Key Player
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 6,770
  • Joined: 20-February 06
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Newbold

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM

Sad news. He might not have been our favourite ex chairman but he did have his moments. RIP Norts.

This post has been edited by trickytrevsfanclub: 12 October 2011 - 09:23 PM

0

#7 User is offline   BlueRover52 

  • If it aint broke don't fix it!
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 14,245
  • Joined: 31-December 06
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Major Oak

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:25 PM

:closedeyes: RIP,not evertbody's cup of tea as a club chairman but kept a tight grip of the purse strings and kept us in the black throughout his tenure.
Many a good tune
3

#8 User is online   60s 70s Spireite 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 13,363
  • Joined: 03-November 09

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:31 PM

RIP Norton Lea. He ran a tight, but ultimately profitable and (just about) sustainable ship. He was one of those football business men who certainly looked after the pennies rather than look to maximise what was possible.

As an example, apparently he would send the apprentices on errands to the Spar shop, say for 6 stamps. Five minutes later said youth would be shuffling back into the shop- 'Mr Lea says he needs a receipt'.
0

#9 Guest_djs_*

  • Group: Guests

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:45 PM

RIP Mr Norton Lea.
0

#10 User is offline   Wooden Spoon 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 42,638
  • Joined: 07-June 05
  • Gender:Male

Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:58 PM

View Posttrickytrevsfanclub, on 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM, said:

Sad news. He might not have been our favourite ex chairman but he did have his moments. RIP Norts.



I guess I will be in a minority here, but IMO old Norts was a good man to have running the club.

He didnt spend what the club could afford, and oversaw the clubs most successful period in my time as a fan (bar Anglo scottish cup)

If he had his way over WM in the late 80`s CFC would have been streets ahead of where we were/are and probably a regular in the championship.

Sad he died alone, and I think he deserved better than his last days as CFC chairman.
A new hope.
0

#11 User is offline   marlons curtains 

  • Key Player
  • Group: Moderators
  • Posts: 10,597
  • Joined: 06-June 05
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Stockton on Tees

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:03 PM

chairman during our greatest ever achievement...perhaps only truly appreciated after his sucessor.. RIP Norton.
Posted Image

0

#12 User is offline   Guest_freelander2_* 

  • *Deleted*
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: *Deleted*
  • Posts: 11,866
  • Joined: 24-December 09
  • Gender:Not Telling

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM

Sad news indeed.

I've been supporting Town since 86 & we had some good years under JNL's stewardship.

I remember when Norton bought the Steelers & my wife's name had been recommended to him for a role in their commercial department. Norton called my wife & the conversation soon turned to money, my wife told him what she was earning at the time and Norton replied, I don't pay my Office Manager that much!

It goes without saying that there was no job offer, typical of Norton really!

I last saw him on Chatsworth Road a few months ago with a younger lady.

I understand that Barrie & Norton had fallen out some years ago, I hope the Club & Barrie ensure there is a CFC presence at Norton's funeral. Sometimes, it's important to show a bit of class.

RIP.
2

#13 User is offline   marlons curtains 

  • Key Player
  • Group: Moderators
  • Posts: 10,597
  • Joined: 06-June 05
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Stockton on Tees

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:07 PM

View Postfreelander2, on 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:

Sad news indeed.

I've been supporting Town since 86 & we had some good years under JNL's stewardship.

I remember when Norton bought the Steelers & my wife's name had been recommended to him for a role in their commercial department. Norton called my wife & the conversation soon turned to money, my wife told him what she was earning at the time and Norton replied, I don't pay my Office Manager that much!

It goes without saying that there was no job offer, typical of Norton really!

I last saw him on Chatsworth Road a few months ago with a younger lady.

I understand that Barrie & Norton had fallen out some years ago, I hope the Club & Barrie ensure there is a CFC presence at Norton's funeral. Sometimes, it's important to show a bit of class.

RIP.




well said
Posted Image

0

#14 User is offline   Wooden Spoon 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 42,638
  • Joined: 07-June 05
  • Gender:Male

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:08 PM

View Postfreelander2, on 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:

Sad news indeed.

I've been supporting Town since 86 & we had some good years under JNL's stewardship.

I remember when Norton bought the Steelers & my wife's name had been recommended to him for a role in their commercial department. Norton called my wife & the conversation soon turned to money, my wife told him what she was earning at the time and Norton replied, I don't pay my Office Manager that much!

It goes without saying that there was no job offer, typical of Norton really!

I last saw him on Chatsworth Road a few months ago with a younger lady.

I understand that Barrie & Norton had fallen out some years ago, I hope the Club & Barrie ensure there is a CFC presence at Norton's funeral. Sometimes, it's important to show a bit of class.

RIP.


Agreed.
A new hope.
0

#15 User is offline   Paul Fisher 

  • First Team Player
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 4,376
  • Joined: 08-June 05
  • Gender:Not Telling

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:19 PM

I hope their is class show by our supporters at the weekend, mind you I don't have any doubts about that, at times our supporters are first class

RIP JNL
0

#16 User is offline   BigBlue 

  • First Team Player
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 2,823
  • Joined: 23-June 05
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Spireite Land

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:20 PM

Aye Rip Norton......

Did some work up at His flat in Belmont a couple of years ago, he tried to pay us in old Football club memrobalia! Did him some joinery work.....he was worth 60 million he said.....and guess who painted our work for him? yes himself. Says it all.

Never had a kind word to say about Barrie Hubbard, slated him something rotten. Also he hated dragons den's Theo Phapitis he said, when he was at Millwall, he had some run ins with him, think he banned him from Saltergate once he said.

Hated Town fans after there "red card protest" hehe... didnt tell him i had held one up!

Decent bloke, just the tighest person on the planet....

See Ya Norts..

View Postphiltooleycfss, on 12 October 2011 - 09:14 PM, said:

I heard tonight that Norton Lea had passed away yesterday. I'd not seen him for a long time but heard he'd been frail.

When we played Colchester the other week I was talking to Peter Heard, President of CUFC (ex Chairman) and a great help to us when the League threatened to expel us back in 2001. He was a friend of Norton's and I asked him if he'd been to see him ahead of the game and was told no; he'd contacted Norton to see if he could visit but was told that he couldn't, so I expect Norton died quite lonely - his lovely wife Barbara died a couple of years ago and they had no children. He'd been living at Belmont at Holymoorside since leaving Chander Hill.

Phil

0

#17 User is offline   dalekpete 

  • CFC & Trust Officer
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 8,568
  • Joined: 06-June 05
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Citizen of the Universe- and a Gentleman to boot!
  • Interests:Cricket, Doctor Who and criminal justice.

Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:30 PM

I entered into correspondence with JNL in the late nineties when I felt there were issues with the Club and its supporters. I got the impression that at the time he was well intentioned but had misjudged both the fans and the potential revenues. Our exchanges ended when he came under pressure from the fans and looked to "sell".

One has to suspect that he saw the Darren Brown thing as a no lose situation. There was no way Brown could continue to balance the books and Lea seemed to have the perfect contract to come back in. However I don't think he recognised the nature of the serial fraudster Darren Brown ©, as most of us didn't. I certainly don't think he ever considered that he would end up in the custody suite being interviewed under caution.

I think the period before he sold and his attitude at the creditor's meeting proved he had misread the fans and where the potential of the game was going. However I consider him a well meaning businessman who carefully guided us through one of our finest hours. I hope the Directors and the Club have the class to recognise this.
Peter Whiteley
0

#18 User is offline   Elmer Fudd's Thick Lip 

  • The Ayatollah
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 7,701
  • Joined: 09-May 11
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Dave's top lip
  • Interests:Big fan of Terry Thomas and Fu Manchu.

    Partial to the odd beerd!!

Posted 12 October 2011 - 11:41 PM

Very sad news indeed. Was there at the helm in our finest hour.
Hope he's shown the respect and appreciation that he deserves.
Very sad if he was alone when he died.

Thanks Old man, RIP.
Mug?? Being wrong never gets boring!
0

#19 User is offline   Spireite1969 

  • First Team Player
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 1,920
  • Joined: 16-April 10
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:Chesterfield-FC.

Posted 13 October 2011 - 06:35 AM

All Spireites over a certain age will be familiar with the name Norton Lea. I very much agree that the club and the fans should show some recognition and appreciation of his involvement with the club at Saturday's game. Thanks Phil for informing us!
www.cmdrivingschool.co.uk
0

#20 User is offline   azul 

  • Legend
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • Group: Members
  • Posts: 33,887
  • Joined: 15-June 05
  • Gender:Male

Posted 13 October 2011 - 07:16 AM

View Postdalekpete, on 12 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:

I entered into correspondence with JNL in the late nineties when I felt there were issues with the Club and its supporters. I got the impression that at the time he was well intentioned but had misjudged both the fans and the potential revenues. Our exchanges ended when he came under pressure from the fans and looked to "sell".

One has to suspect that he saw the Darren Brown thing as a no lose situation. There was no way Brown could continue to balance the books and Lea seemed to have the perfect contract to come back in. However I don't think he recognised the nature of the serial fraudster Darren Brown ©, as most of us didn't. I certainly don't think he ever considered that he would end up in the custody suite being interviewed under caution.

I think the period before he sold and attitude at the creditor's meeting proved he had misread the fans and where the potential of the game was going. However I consider him a well meaning businessman who carefully guided us through one of our finest hours. I hope the Directors and the Club have the class to recognise this.

that and the nature of the sale to Darren Brown has soiled his reputation I would've thought

This post has been edited by azul: 13 October 2011 - 07:17 AM

Accentuate th Positive, eliminate the negative
1

Share this topic:


  • (8 Pages)
  • +
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Last »
  • You cannot start a new topic
  • You cannot reply to this topic

1 User(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users