Leon Crouch

{{Short description|English businessman (1949–2019)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Leon Crouch

| image = File:L Crouch.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Leon Crouch

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|8|16|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|9|13|1949|8|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Oakhaven Hospice, Lymington

| nationality = English

| occupation = Businessman

| known_for = Chairman of Southampton

}}

Leon Crouch (16 August 1949 – 13 September 2019) was an English businessman, who was formerly chairman of Southampton Football Club.

Crouch was the founder and chairman of the "Fullers Group" of companies which specialise in the manufacture, inspection and supply of precision engineered products, including machined components, fabrications, assemblies, kit sets and cold formed products for the telecommunications, medical, oil, defence, space, and marine industries.{{cite web | title= The Fullers Group| work= www.fullers-group.com| url= http://www.fullers-group.com/ |date= | accessdate=15 October 2008}}

Crouch was a lifelong Southampton fan and paid more than £1.6 million to purchase a significant stake in the club in 2006.{{Cite web |last=Yandell |first=Chris |date=14 September 2019 |title=Tributes to former Saints chairman Leon Crouch |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17902888.tributes-former-saints-chairman-leon-crouch/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Bournemouth Daily Echo}} He was acting chairman of Southampton until he was removed by the board in July 2007, but was re-appointed in December 2007, following Michael Wilde’s departure.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} Crouch was again forced to resign his position on 15 May 2008, when major shareholders, including Wilde and Rupert Lowe called an EGM requiring his removal.{{Cite web |date=15 May 2008 |title=Lowe on verge of Southampton return |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3134732.amp/ |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=The Argus}} Whilst chairman of the club, Crouch paid personally for the replacement bronze statue of Saints legend Ted Bates which is now sited outside Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7309651.stm|title= Second Ted Bates statue unveiled |accessdate=13 August 2008| work=BBC News | date=22 March 2008}}

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It was claimed by a representative of a Southampton Supporter's Club on Sky Sports News in late May 2009, that the only reason for Southampton's continued existence as a business was due to Leon Crouch putting money into the club "out of the goodness of his own heart".{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

He died on 13 September 2019 following a battle with cancer.{{cite news |last1=Yandell |first1=Christopher |title=Former Saints chairman Leon Crouch dies aged 70 after battling cancer |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17902633.former-saints-chairman-leon-crouch-dies-aged-70-battling-cancer/ |accessdate=22 September 2019 |work=Daily Echo |date=14 September 2019 |location=Southampton}} Following his death, in November 2019 Crouch was awarded the Forever Saint Award, with his daughter collecting the accolade.{{Cite web |date=6 November 2021 |title=Forever Saint Award: Leon Crouch |url=https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/forever-saint-award-leon-crouch |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Southampton FC}}