Tributes paid to former Leicester City chairman Terry Shipman
A celebration of the life of former Leicester City chairman Terry Shipman is to be held following his death last Friday.
Mr Shipman , who was 81, had been battling a rare degenerative muscle disease called IBM.
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Terry Shipman
He spent 32 years on the board of directors at City between 1966 and 1998, and followed in the footsteps of his father Len by acting as chairman between 1981 and 1991.
After 14 years as a director, he took over as chairman from Dennis Sharp and worked with managers Jock Wallace, Gordon Milne, Bryan Hamilton, David Pleat and Gordon Lee.
The club was promoted to Division One in 1983 during his chairmanship. He stood down in 1991, but continued his work as a City director.
As a director, he also worked with Matt Gillies, Frank O'Farrell, Jimmy Bloomfield, Frank McLintock, Brian Little, Mark McGhee and Martin O'Neill.
"City was his life," said his widow, Renee. "He was going down to Filbert Street since he was a boy and he was still going down when he was ill. "He was a fun man and had a great sense of humour. He was a wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather."
Martin George, who served as vice-chairman with Mr Shipman for three years before succeeding him as chairman, said he always put the club first. "His family made an enormous contribution to City, but particularly Terry," he said.
"He was chairman during a very challenging time when football was changing from the days when clubs were owned by families to the new era, and he kept a good balance between the two. He was direct but very personable, and he was a good listener around the table during meetings. He was very highly respected."
Club ambassador and former player Alan Birchenall will pay tribute to Mr Shipman at a celebratory service at St Leonard's Church in Swithland on Monday from 2.30pm.
"I owe El Tel, as he was known, a great debt of gratitude," said Birchenall. When I finished playing he asked me if I would do some work on matchdays at the club. Thirty years later I am still here and I doubt I would have gone on to get the accolades I have had if he not invited me down."
Football was in Mr Shipman's blood. He played amateur football, but also represented Bundesliga giants Hamburg as a centre-half for three months while stationed in Germany after the war.
As well as his passion for football, he was chairman of Shipman Haulage. He leaves widow Renee, daughters Beverley and Maxine and their husbands, and grandchildren Jackie and Chris.
6 Comments
by Peter Kerr, Leicester
Friday, July 09 2010, 3:21PM
“I am Terry's son in law and as I had a few moments to spare and was thinking about him, I browsed the internet and found these comments - which I have to say I deeply appreciate.
Martin - I'd be happy to buy you that beer Terry owes you anytime, I live in Somerby so you don't have to far to travel.
Keith - You were right, Birch did a super job, he and I covered off different elements of Terry's life and as you would imagine he made it personal, heartwarming and very funny (exactly what Terry would have wanted)
Mick - thank you for your comments
Nigel - I have printed these notes off to show Terry's wife and daughters and I know they will adore this as it captures Terry perfectly and it was very kind of you to pen this.
It's difficult for fans to understand the real person rather than the Chairman / Director / Bloke in the paper, but Terry has been part of my life for the last 20 years and has meant the world to me from the first day to the last. A very funny man who liked to laugh at himself and enjoy the company of others whoever they where. It's easy for those who knew the man to love him, but to see these comments from others who knew him from afar but still wanted to pay their respects is very comforting. Thank You”
by martin wade, oakham
Friday, April 23 2010, 2:16PM
“meet terry a few times at the club and drinks at wembley very nice man old school till owes me a pint good bless”
by Keith, New Zealand
Thursday, April 22 2010, 8:45PM
“I'm sure Alan Birchenall will do a great job in speaking on behalf of us supporters. RIP Terry Shipman you were a great man. Gone now but never forgotten at LCFC. My condolences to the family also”
by Keith, NZ
Thursday, April 22 2010, 8:43PM
“I'm sure Alan Birchenall will do a great job in speaking on behalf of us supporters. RIP Terry Shipman you were a great man. Gone now but never forgotten at LCFC. My condolences to the family also.”
by Nigel.T.Foster, Germany
Thursday, April 22 2010, 3:26PM
“Its a different era and times
today,but in my own youth,was the Times of the Family-Shipmans deep connections with LCFC plus interest in other
leicester Sports.When I went to my first match with my dad. The TV was there for I believe for the first time,and my dad before the game,put me up on a wall near the dugouts.A very officious steward and a tv-rep
told me to get down.Has I was helped down,another man came along,and took me and put me back on the wall,and said "you stay there until after the match son." and his younger companion ruffled my hair,gave me a pad and said
You try and get some autographs,when the lads come out.My father told me in the half time break,that that was the Shipmans ,Dad and son,just like us.A few years later I was working at Bentleys
on late-shift as an apprentice.
I was running to get to a night match,I then accidently bumped into a guy in his suit
and tripped over.This guy helped me up, looked at me,
looked a bit quizical,thzen said,
not forgetting it was 9 years later, I am not helping you back onto the wall this time,it took me a while before it clicked...
Like I said another era another Class. Goodnight godbless
Terry Shipman”
by mick, syston
Thursday, April 22 2010, 11:43AM
“my sincere condolences to all the family.
Mick”