Bill Hunter (businessman)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bill Hunter
| birth_name = William Hunter
| birth_date = 1938
| death_date = 1 March 2023
| death_place = Perth, Scotland
| occupation = Businessman
}}
Bill Hunter (1938 - 1 March 2023) was a Scottish businessman and the previous owner of professional football club Livingston.
Career
Hunter was a self-made businessman who ran several businesses, including building companies, restaurants and public houses.
Whilst chairman of Meadowbank Thistle in the mid 90's, Hunter claimed the club had run into severe financial difficulties and were facing the possibility of going out of business. Despite opposition from many Meadowbank fans who objected to changing the club name and relocating from Edinburgh,{{cite web | url=http://www.livingstonalive.co.uk/livilions.shtml | title=Livingston FC – The Livi Lions | publisher=Livingston Alive | access-date=1 October 2011 | archive-date=25 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925123358/http://www.livingstonalive.co.uk/livilions.shtml | url-status=live }} in 1995 Meadowbank Thistle relocated to a new stadium in the new town of Livingston and changed name to Livingston Football Club.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SOCCER+HATE+MAN+HITS+NET.-a061163318|title=SOCCER HATE MAN HITS NET|publisher=Sunday Mail|date=15 December 1996}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/livingston-return-meadowbank-where-it-all-began-1471873|title=Livingston return to Meadowbank where it all began|publisher=The Scotsman|date=19 July 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/apr/14/newsstory.sport4|title=Livingston carry a torch for the age of enlightenment|publisher=The Guardian|date=13 April 2001}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Blobby+no+joke+now!%3B+BILL+HAS+LAST+LAUGH+ON+MEADOWBANK+MORONS.-a061175735|title=BILL HAS LAST LAUGH ON MEADOWBANK MORONS|publisher=Daily Record|date=14 November 1996}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/book-reviews/the-high-and-low-road/|title=The high and low road|publisher=When Saturday Comes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12139984.league-after-the-old-firm-livingston-fc-lead-the-field-in-football-development/|title=League after the Old Firm Livingston FC lead the field in football development|publisher=The Herald|date=27 October 2001}}{{cite web|url=https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/features/long-reads/fans-guide-livingston-football-club-15568371|title=A fan's guide to Livingston Football Club|publisher=Football Scotland|date=2 January 2019}}
He remained in his role as chairman of the club for three years following the relocation to Livingston, before selling to Glasgow businessman and ex Celtic director Dominic Keane in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/04/newsstory.sport2|title=Keane vows to return to Livingston|publisher=The Guardian|date=4 February 2004}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/8124040.stm|title=Livingston face final curtain|publisher=BBC|date=29 June 2009}}
Personal life and death
Hunter was married to wife Barbara and had one daughter, Catherine.{{cite web|url=https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/hunter/5110315|title=William HUNTER|website=www.funeral-notices.co.uk|date=13 March 2023}}
He died on 1 March 2023 in Perth after a long illness.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/david-martindale-pays-tribute-former-29416721|title=David Martindale pays tribute to former club chairman Bill Hunter and recalls first meeting|publisher=Daily Record|date=9 March 2023}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Bill}}
Category:Chairmen and investors of football clubs in Scotland