1959-1961 George Gillin
Birthplace
Stockport 1892
Biographical Text
George Gillin was a Torquay hotelier who had been on the boards of both Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle before serving as chairman of Exeter City between 1959 and 1961.
George Hugh Gillin was born in Stockport in 1892 and, making a living in the hotel business, lived in various parts of the country until arriving in Torquay in the mid-1920s. Running several hotels in the town over the years, including the Belgrave, he immediately became interested in the fortunes of Torquay United and eventually joined the board in 1945 as vice-chairman.
Taking the Plainmoor helm in 1951, his business and personal associations enabled the club to build close connections with Queens Park Rangers and, in particular, Birmingham City from where a string of players eventually joined Torquay. George, for his part, stepped down from the board in 1954 but remained influential until becoming a director of Plymouth Argyle during the 1956/57 season.
Regarded as a key man in Devon football circles, Exeter City soon made overtures towards George and he became a director of the club after a relatively brief involvement at Home Park. He was subsequently elected chairman in 1959 when he took over from Albert Lines who had fallen ill and was to die shortly afterwards.
Aged sixty-seven at the time of his appointment, George Gillin oversaw two Fourth Division seasons during which the Grecians finished 9th and 21st with a change of management in 1960 from Frank Broome to Glen Wilson. With money always reported to be in short supply at St James' Park, City announced a number of cost-cutting exercises on Mr Gillin's watch and he duly stepped down as chairman when Reg Rose put in an injection of cash in 1961.
He remained on the board, initially as vice-chairman again (and for a time as one of only two directors with Reg Rose), until resigning on grounds of ill-health at the age of seventy-three in 1965. Reported as having been invited to return to the board at Plymouth during his time at Exeter, he served as president of Plymouth Argyle in the years ahead of his death in Torquay in 1988.
George Gillin was also invoved in amateur and semi-professional football in Devon and Cornwall and was instrumental in the setting up of the South Western League in 1951 of which he was chairman until 1957. There was also a cup competition named in his honour.
George Hugh Gillin was born in Stockport in 1892 and, making a living in the hotel business, lived in various parts of the country until arriving in Torquay in the mid-1920s. Running several hotels in the town over the years, including the Belgrave, he immediately became interested in the fortunes of Torquay United and eventually joined the board in 1945 as vice-chairman.
Taking the Plainmoor helm in 1951, his business and personal associations enabled the club to build close connections with Queens Park Rangers and, in particular, Birmingham City from where a string of players eventually joined Torquay. George, for his part, stepped down from the board in 1954 but remained influential until becoming a director of Plymouth Argyle during the 1956/57 season.
Regarded as a key man in Devon football circles, Exeter City soon made overtures towards George and he became a director of the club after a relatively brief involvement at Home Park. He was subsequently elected chairman in 1959 when he took over from Albert Lines who had fallen ill and was to die shortly afterwards.
Aged sixty-seven at the time of his appointment, George Gillin oversaw two Fourth Division seasons during which the Grecians finished 9th and 21st with a change of management in 1960 from Frank Broome to Glen Wilson. With money always reported to be in short supply at St James' Park, City announced a number of cost-cutting exercises on Mr Gillin's watch and he duly stepped down as chairman when Reg Rose put in an injection of cash in 1961.
He remained on the board, initially as vice-chairman again (and for a time as one of only two directors with Reg Rose), until resigning on grounds of ill-health at the age of seventy-three in 1965. Reported as having been invited to return to the board at Plymouth during his time at Exeter, he served as president of Plymouth Argyle in the years ahead of his death in Torquay in 1988.
George Gillin was also invoved in amateur and semi-professional football in Devon and Cornwall and was instrumental in the setting up of the South Western League in 1951 of which he was chairman until 1957. There was also a cup competition named in his honour.
Collection
Files
Comments