Brooks Mileson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brooks John Joseph Mileson (born Pennywell, Sunderland) is a British businessmen and the financial backer of Scottish football club Gretna as well as being a philanthropist to 70 non-league clubs. Mileson has invested in Gretna and plans for them to eventually reach the Scottish Premier League. As of April 2006, he has also taken them to the finals of the Scottish Cup, the second oldest football trophy in the world. He is also said to be a Carlisle United fan.
The Durham-based businessman was born in 1947, and has personal wealth estimated at over £75 million, according to a profile in The Sun. Mileson made his fortune in various branches of the insurance, construction and property businesses. He is a devotee of grass-roots football, and has made donations to several football trusts, including Carlisle's United Trust, Dundee United's Arab Trust, Ayr United's Honest Men Trust and Berwick Rangers' Supporters Trust. He is also the president of Whitby Town and sponsor of the Northern Football League.
Mileson broke his back at 11 and was told he would never walk again. His hips were damaged and he subsequently lost a kidney. His daily diet consists of 100 cigarettes and Lucozade, and he has had two heart attacks. He suffers from ME, and claims his determination to subdue the condition drives his many business and personal interests.
Brooks writes a column for The Sun newspaper, entitled "Puff Daddy", in which he discusses his massive cigarette habit, as well as Gretna.
[edit] References
- Halliday, Stephen. "Gretna bubbly as promotion looms", The Scotsman, 2005-03-05. Retrieved on 2006-03-28.
- Harris, Nick. "Brooks Mileson: 'This club is in my soul. I would have ended up croaking if I had not come to Gretna'", The Independent, 2006-02-04. Retrieved on 2006-03-28.
