From West Ham to Heybridge Swifts via Colchester United… how football cost entrepreneur Gary White around ￡500k - and how he wouldn’t change a thing

From West Ham to Heybridge Swifts via Colchester United… how football cost entrepreneur Gary White ￡500,000 - and how he wouldn’t change a thing??

By James Colasanti, CogitoPR

GUESTS at a popular breakfast networking meeting in Essex were treated to a fascinating insight into the running of three famous local football clubs.?

Keynote speaker and finance industry entrepreneur Gary White told those gathered at the event at The Old Siege House, Colchester about his experiences in the beautiful game during his 46-year career - and how it has all cost him about ￡500,000.

The Aspen Waite CEO revealed how he was once involved in a potential take-over of Premier League West Ham, how he played a key role as a board member at League Two Colchester United, and what it was like to be the chairman at non-league Heybridge Switfs.

Hammers-fan Gary explained how a chance conversation with legendary Irons striker Tony Cottee 20 years ago opened up the opportunity to become heavily involved with the club he has supported since he was a boy.

It followed a talented West Ham side’s relegation from the top flight in 2003, and Gary told attendees at the fortnightly Essex Networking Skills meeting: “Tony had been approached by a few wealthy fans who were prepared to come into a consortium to buy out Terry Brown, then chairman and majority owner.

“I said we had to write a business plan first, and that was a great experience for me, modelling ahead five years for the Premier League and balance sheets under various assumptions. We met a number of potential investors and created a good deal of interest and pledges of funds.

“The first assumption was us getting promoted back to the top flight, which was worth around ￡50million per year extra in those days - now it’s worth at least three times that much!”

Gary was unwittingly involved in the process leading up to the club’s sale to Icelandic group CB Holdings in 2006, which went so wrong, with them being rescued by current owners David Sullivan and the late David Gold in 2010.

It was during that time an exciting new opportunity arose when Robbie Cowling, whose firm JobServe were shirt sponsors at West Ham, made a telephone call to Gary in August 2006, after the U's had been promoted to the Championship for the first time in their history. He was thinking of buying the club and wanted Gary to look at their finances and carry out the necessary due diligence. The deal went through the next month.

Gary was then invited to take a spot on the board at Colchester United in 2008, by which time they had been relegated to League One, after going close to a crack at the Championship play-offs in 2016/17.

He said: “As soon as we moved to the new stadium, Robbie invited me on the board where I stayed for two seasons, after initially advising him on the club's purchase, via my firm at the time, Carlton Baker Clarke.

“I went on to visit stadiums like Cheltenham, Scunthorpe and my favourite EFL club Exeter City.

“But we also went to bigger clubs like Leeds, Leicester, Southampton and Norwich City, who were, amazingly, in League One by then.

"My wife Jane came to all the games with me, home and away, and we had a great time with memories too many to mention in detail.”

But for nearly a decade now, Gary has become known as one of the stalwarts at Isthmian League side Heybridge.

He started as treasurer in 2015 and became chairman a year later, a role he stepped down from in January 2023.

Under his leadership, Swifts have enjoyed a play-off win, fairy-tale FA Cup run to the first round, and now boast a 3G all-weather pitch which has become the pride of the community.

Gary is the first to admit it his football journey has not come without a cost to his health and wealth - but he has been left with no regrets.

He added: “Football has probably cost me around ￡500,000 on sponsorships, lost earnings and business opportunities over the years - please don’t tell Mrs White!

“But if asked if I had my time again would I do it all again, then the answer would be a firm yes.”?I love the game and the people around it, from players, fans and officials. It is very much the people's game and so many friendships for life have been made over the years with my interest in the game starting when England won the World Cup on July 30th 1966; my 7th birthday! I played the game regularly for around 40 year also, from 9 to 49, latterly in an over 45's veterans side created with a close friend Trevor Meredith. I now plan to visit all 92 stadia in the 4 professional divisions, having already done around 56....with Jane of course!