Mark Goldberg

Mark Goldberg is an English football club chairman and manager.

Business

Goldberg originally made his fortune in the IT recruitment industry, becoming a multi millionaire. He sold his company in 1997.^[1]

Football

Playing career

As a player, Goldberg played for non-League clubs Bromley and Beckenham Town, where he had a stint as player-manager whilst still in his 20s.^[2][3]

He had also had two seasons of football in the United States at the College of William and Mary (1982–1983) after being recruited by William and Mary head coach Al Albert. Goldberg's teammate at William and Mary was world-famous political comedian Jon Stewart.^[4]

Crystal Palace

Goldberg was a co-founder and CEO of MSB International Plc, which floated in 1996 at a Market Cap of £36m and exited in 1998 at a Market Cap of £200m.

This was followed by his purchase of Crystal Palace Football Club in 1996, whereby Mark was installed as Chairman and employed Terry Venables as First Team Manager and Steve Coppell as Director of football. Unfortunately his backers didn't mirror his own investment which left him and the club underfunded and having been relegated to the Championship just before his takeover he inherited Premiership wages while club turnover in the Championship fell dramatically resulting in instant losses leading to CPFC having to enter into administration and a personal loss for Mark of more than £40m.

Bromley

Goldberg's brother-in-law, Jerry Dolke, had become chairman of non-league Bromley and during the 2005-06 season the pair announced the controversial decision that Goldberg would replace the highly successful and highly popular George Wakeling and his management team, who had led to the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, and then secured survival by a long distance.^[1]

Goldberg's start in management was successful, leading Bromley to promotion into the Conference South division via the play-offs. His first pre-season included a tie against the youth team of Crystal Palace and his competitive start was good, with Bromley topping the Premier Division after his first eleven games and reaching the First Round of the FA Cup before losing 4-1 to League One side Gillingham.^[2]

Goldberg left Bromley during the 2007-08 season, to be succeeded by Simon Osborn, but returned to the club at the end of the season. In April 2009, Goldberg suffered serious damage to his knee ligament while playing for Bromley Veterans in an Isthmian Veterans Cup semi-final. This injury caused him to be absent from the dugout for at least the remainder of the 2008-09 season. In January 2011 he again left the club due to an internal disagreement.^[5]

On 18 June 2011 Goldberg returned to Bromley after the appointment of a new club chairman, Ashley Reading.^[6] Goldberg agreed to step down as manager on 4 February 2016.^[7]

Welling United

Goldberg became manager of Welling United in April 2016. He left the position in November 2016.^[8]

Personal life

Goldberg's son, Bradley, is a semi-professional footballer. He is currently playing for Bromley.

His daughter, Lauren-Rose, is a singer and songwriter. She has appeared on shows such as The X Factor, The Jonathan Ross Show and ITV daytime programme This Morning, performing alongside Leona Lewis.

Honours

Club

Bromley

• Conference South; 2014–15
• Isthmian League playoff winners; 2006–07
• Kent Senior Cup (2); 2005–06,2006–07
• London Senior Cup; 2012–13

References