Matthew Harding

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For the American world traveler of the same name, see Matt Harding.

Matthew Harding
Born
Matthew Charles Harding

(1953-12-26)26 December 1953
Haywards Heath, Sussex, England
Died22 October 1996(1996-10-22) (aged 42)
Middlewich, Cheshire, England
Spouse(s)Ruth Harding
Children3

Matthew Charles Harding (26 December 1953 – 22 October 1996) was a British businessman, vice-chairman of Chelsea Football Club and a major financial supporter of New Labour.

Early years and education[]

Harding was born in Haywards Heath, Sussex, the son of Paul Harding, an insurance executive. He attended Abingdon School in Abingdon-on-Thames from 1964 until 1971.[1] He was a member of the badminton first team, for which he was awarded half-colours, in addition to being a cricket first XI player, captain of the colts cricket team and a member of the hockey second XI.[2] Although he enjoyed the sport, he did not enjoy the school ethos, earning a single 'A' Level in Latin.

In June 1995, he was appointed a "Steward" of Abingdon School and presented the awards at "Leavers' Day". He also donated £500,000 towards the school's "Mercers Court", a new IT centre where one of the rooms was named ”The Matthew Harding Careers Room" in his honour after his particular interest in offering career's advice to the students.[3] He returned to the school just weeks before his death to speak to a small group of sixth formers about his road to success.

Career[]

He left school and went to London. Through his father's friendship with Ted Benfield, he joined the insurance brokers Benfield, Lovick & Rees and it was in the insurance industry that he made his fortune, starting out by making the tea and going on to be a director. By 1980, he had acquired a 32% stake in the company, becoming one of Britain's 100 richest men.

Chelsea FC[]

A banner at Stamford Bridge in 2014, in tribute to Harding. It reads "Matthew Harding's Blue & White Army"

A lifelong fan of Chelsea Football Club, Harding responded to Chelsea chairman Ken Bates' call for new investment in the club in 1993. In October 1993, he was appointed as a Chelsea Football Club director. He invested £26.5 million in the club, including £7.5m towards construction of the North Stand (now the Matthew Harding Stand), £16.5m to buy the Stamford Bridge freehold and transfer funds.[4] However, his time there was marked by frequent clashes with Bates, club chairman and majority shareholder, over the direction to be taken by the club. Bates eventually banned Harding from the Chelsea boardroom and effectively limited his input and influence over the club.[5] The dispute between Bates and Harding was continual and was only stopped after Harding's death in 1996. Bates caused more controversy and upset many Chelsea fans, as well as friends and family of Harding, by calling him "an evil man" just a year after his death.[6]

Death and legacy[]

Harding died at the age of 42 in a helicopter accident in October 1996, while flying back from a Chelsea match at Bolton Wanderers, along with the pilot and three passengers, including journalist John Bauldie. The crash of the Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2 aircraft took place at night and in poor weather, near Middlewich, Cheshire. An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that the pilot did not have the experience or qualifications necessary to safely pilot by instruments in such conditions.[7]

Personal life[]

His son Patrick Harding is now a semi-professional footballer who plays for Burgess Hill Town F.C.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Valete et Salvete" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
  2. ^ "Badminton" (PDF). The Abingdonian.
  3. ^ Rudd, Alyson (1997). Matthew Harding: Pursuing the Dream. Mainstream Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 1-85158-957-0.
  4. ^ Rudd, Alyson (1997). Matthew Harding: Pursuing the Dream. Mainstream Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 1-85158-957-0.
  5. ^ Hendrick, David (22 October 2011). "Matthew Harding: 15 Years On, Remembering a True Chelsea Icon". Bleacher Report.
  6. ^ Harris, Harry (20 October 1997). "Bates: Harding Was Evil". Daily Record. Glasgow.
  7. ^ "Pilot 'unable to control' Harding helicopter". BBC News. 27 November 1997. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Cuckfield Cosmos crowned winners of Matthew Harding Cup final". West Sussex Gazette. 4 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2021.

Sources[]

  • Matthew Harding: Pursuing the Dream by Alyson Rudd Mainstream Publishing (16 October 1997) ISBN 1-85158-957-0
  • A Question of Honour by Lord Michael Levy Simon & Schuster (12 May 2008) ISBN 1-84737-315-1
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