Reynolds, George

Reynolds was born into poverty in Sunderland, England, went into an orphanage-workhouse when he was eight and came out at 16, illiterate and unskilled. He became a common criminal and was sent to prison for four years, during which he made a small fortune selling contraband and learned to read and write. On his release he decided to go straight and went into business.

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In 1999 he estimated his personal worth at £300 million, mainly from his kitchen cabinet business.

He bought Darlington football club with the promise to build a new grandstand and keep ticket prices stable for the next 20 years.

References

Walker, Michael. "How Darlington Joined the Jet Set," The Guardian [London], 31 July 1999. Available at: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,69973,00.html