Steve Gibson (chairman)

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Steve Gibson (born 1958) is an entrepreneur and the chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club. A self-made millionaire, Gibson was born in Middlesbrough and was raised in the tough Park End area of the town. In 1981 he founded Bulkhaul Limited, a company dedicated to the global transportation of bulk liquids, powders and gasses. He set up the company by borrowing £1,000 from his father.

He is acclaimed in Middlesbrough for being a local working-class man who made good. At the age of 26 he became the youngest ever board member of Middlesbrough F.C. He was instrumental in saving the club from liquidation in 1986, later investing in a new stadium and making money available for the purchase of big-name players. As a result of this investment the club was able to win its first trophy in 128 years, the English League Cup. His tenure as chairman has also seen the club reach the UEFA Cup final, Europe's second biggest club cup competition.

Such is his popularity in Middlesbrough, he has been given the freedom of the town. He is probably the only chairman in English football that regularly has his name chanted by the clubs fans. For many years his aim for the club was for to win its first major trophy, after doing this it is believed that his aim for the club is to see it play Champions League football.^{[citation needed]}

Gibson is widely regarded as one the best chairmen in the Premiership and is seen by many to be a fan fuelling his passion rather than a business man funding for profit.^{[citation needed]}

He has invested heavily in a Youth Academy for the club which thus far has been relatively successful with talent like Stewart Downing, James Morrison, Andrew Taylor, Stuart Parnaby, Tony McMahon, Andrew Davies, Matthew Bates, Adam Johnson, Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole becoming first team regulars. This faith in youth has also seen him appoint the youngest manger in the Premiership, Gareth Southgate. His vision is a full team of home-grown Teesside players.