Norton Lea Passes Away
#1
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:14 PM
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
#3
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:19 PM
I hope there can be a minute's appreciation of all he did for CFC ahead of Saturday's game.
#4
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM
#5
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM
#6
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM
This post has been edited by trickytrevsfanclub: 12 October 2011 - 09:23 PM
#7
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:25 PM
#8
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:31 PM
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'.
#10
Posted 12 October 2011 - 09:58 PM
trickytrevsfanclub, on 12 October 2011 - 09:22 PM, said:
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.
#11
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:03 PM
#12
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM
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.
#13
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:07 PM
freelander2, on 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:
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
#14
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:08 PM
freelander2, on 12 October 2011 - 10:05 PM, said:
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.
#15
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:19 PM
RIP JNL
#16
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:20 PM
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..
philtooleycfss, on 12 October 2011 - 09:14 PM, said:
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
#17
Posted 12 October 2011 - 10:30 PM
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.
#18
Posted 12 October 2011 - 11:41 PM
Hope he's shown the respect and appreciation that he deserves.
Very sad if he was alone when he died.
Thanks Old man, RIP.
#19
Posted 13 October 2011 - 06:35 AM
#20
Posted 13 October 2011 - 07:16 AM
dalekpete, on 12 October 2011 - 10:30 PM, said:
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