Steve Parish (businessman)

Parish was born in Forest Hill, London, attending Christ Church School and later Colfe's School.{{cite news|last1=Trotter|first1=Sarah|title=Crystal Palace's Steve Parish visits his old school in Lee to inspire pupils|url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/11043072.Crystal_Palace_s_Steve_Parish_visits_his_old_school_in_Lee_to_inspire_pupils/|accessdate=14 December 2016|work=This is Local London|publisher=Newsquest|date=27 February 2014|location=London}} In November 2018, it was announced that Parish was in a relationship with Good Morning Britain presenter, Susanna Reid.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Emma |date=2018-11-05 |title=Susanna Reid CONFIRMS Steve Parish relationship live on air |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/susanna-reid-confirms-steve-parish-relationship-live-on-air-after-piers-morgan-mocking-a3980381.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413073614/https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/susanna-reid-confirms-steve-parish-relationship-live-on-air-after-piers-morgan-mocking-a3980381.html |archive-date=13 April 2023 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}} Five months later, in April 2019, Parish and Reid separated.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-14 |title=Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid and boyfriend Steve Parish split after nine months of dating {{!}} HELLO! |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2019012884195/susanna-reid-talks-marriage-boyfriend-steve-parish/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414104459/https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2019012884195/susanna-reid-talks-marriage-boyfriend-steve-parish/ |archive-date=2023-04-14 }}

Steve Parish began his career working in computer graphics. He went on to buy a stake in a company called Adplates Ltd, assuming control of the business and renaming it Tag Worldwide, transforming it from a London-based business to a global production powerhouse with 2,800 employees in 13 countries. He sold the business to Deutsche Post DHL Group's Williams Lea in 2011.{{Cite news|title=Worldwide CEO Steve Parish to stand down|work=Print Week}} In April 2017, it was announced that Parish was going to join the Dragons' Den line-up for the 15th series of the show. However, it was later announced by Parish that he had withdrawn.{{Cite web|last=Nerssessian|first=Joe|date=2017-04-27|title=Crystal Palace boss Steve Parish pulls out of Dragons' Den|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/crystal-palace-boss-steve-parish-10305173|access-date=2020-11-09|website=mirror|language=en}}

In June 2010, Parish led a consortium called 'CPFC 2010' to acquire Crystal Palace and save the club from a second spell in administration and imminent liquidation after negotiating a £3.5m deal to buy Selhurst Park from Lloyds Bank. He became chairman and leading shareholder of the Club with three fellow supporters, Stephen Browett, Jeremy Hosking and Martin Long.{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=Matt|date=2010-06-01|title=Crystal Palace saved from liquidation by CPFC 2010|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/01/crystal-palace-saved-liquidation-cpfc-2010|access-date=2020-11-09|issn=0261-3077}}

In January 2011, Parish unveiled plans to move Crystal Palace to a new 40,000-seat stadium at their original home – now the National Sports Centre. In May 2013, the South London based club was promoted to the English Premier League after beating Watford in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, and have remained there to this day.

A deal was completed in December 2015 with American investors David Blitzer and Josh Harris, in which they each took an 18% stake in the club, injecting £50m capital and becoming co-owners alongside Parish, who remained chairman.{{Cite news|title=Palace agree deal with US investors|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35138750|access-date=2020-11-09}} In 2016, Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup Final but were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.

In December 2017, Parish announced £75m to £100m plans to redevelop Selhurst Park, commissioning stadium architects KSS to build a new five-story Main Stand to increase the capacity from 26,000 to 34,000, transforming the matchday experience and providing enhanced community facilities.{{Cite web|last=Ballinger|first=Chris|date=2017-12-04|title=Crystal Palace unveil plans for brand new Selhurst Park|url=http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/crystal-palace-unveil-plans-redevelop-874349|access-date=2020-11-09|website=croydonadvertiser|language=en}} After the scheme was granted planning permission by Croydon Council in April 2018, Parish said: "This project will not only transform the stadium, which has been our home since 1924, but it will also have a positive impact on the south London community”.{{Cite web|date=2018-04-20|title=Palace granted green light over stadium redevelopment|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2018-04-20/crystal-palace-given-permission-by-local-council-over-redevelopment-of-selhurst-park|access-date=2020-11-09|website=ITV News|language=en}}

Parish revealed plans in October 2019 for a £20m redevelopment of the Club's Academy, having secured a long-term lease for the site in Beckenham in December 2018, with enhanced playing and welfare facilities for the Club's young players.{{Cite web|title=Palace unveil Academy plans as it targets Category 1 status|url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/october/crystal-palace-academy-redevelopment-plans-category-1-status/|access-date=2020-11-09|website=www.cpfc.co.uk|language=en-gb}} In July 2020, a month after Bromley Council granted planning permission, the Academy was awarded Category 1 status by the Premier League.{{Cite web|last=Cawley|first=Richard|date=2020-07-07|title=Crystal Palace academy awarded category 1 status – joining England's elite clubs in terms of junior set-up|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/crystal-palace-academy-awarded-category-1-status-joining-englands-elite-clubs-in-terms-of-junior-set-up/|access-date=2020-11-09|website=South London News|language=en-GB}}

In May 2020, Parish was credited by influential TV pundit Gary Neville with playing a key role in the return of Premier League football after the coronavirus pandemic following his support for 'Project Restart' in a Sunday Times column.{{Cite web|last=Stead|first=Matthew|date=2020-05-29|title=Neville credits surprise figure for 'big moment' in PL return|url=https://www.football365.com/news/gary-neville-steve-parish-surprise-figure-big-moment-premier-league|access-date=2020-11-09|website=Football News -|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=chairman|first=Steve Parish, Crystal Palace|title=Why I'm backing the Premier League's Project Restart|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/why-i-m-backing-the-premier-league-s-project-restart-xl3ns75hp|access-date=2020-11-09|issn=0140-0460}}

In an October 2020 Sunday Times column, Parish explained why the Premier League was right to reject 'Project Big Picture', a plan by Liverpool and Manchester United to restructure the league,{{Cite news|last=Parish|first=Steve|title=Steve Parish: Why we had to say no to Project Big Picture|newspaper=The Times |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/steve-parish-why-we-had-to-say-no-to-project-big-picture-tmj5xg36l|access-date=2020-11-09|issn=0140-0460}} and in April 2021, Parish was opposed to the proposed European Super League.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Sam|date=2021-04-19|title=Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish condemns Super League plans as a 'gilded elite that cannot be challenged'|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/crystal-palace-chief-steve-parish-condemns-super-league-plans-as-a-guild-of-elite-that-cannot-be-challenged/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=South London News|language=en-GB}}

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{{Crystal Palace F.C.}}

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Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Crystal Palace F.C. directors and chairmen

Category:People educated at Colfe's School

Category:English businesspeople

Category:English football chairmen and investors