Pete Winkelman
Pete Winkelman | |
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| Born | 9 November 1957 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupations |
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Peter John Winkelman is the former chairman and owner of English association football club Milton Keynes Dons and former managing director of holding company Inter MK Ltd, which was involved in the development of the Denbigh North district of Milton Keynes.[2]
He is most widely known as having facilitated the controversial relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes and being responsible for their subsequent rebranding as 'Milton Keynes Dons F.C.'[3]
Early career
[edit]His earlier career was in pop music production, as a CBS executive.[4]
Involvement in football
[edit]Winkelman grew up as a supporter of his home town club, Wolverhampton Wanderers before his eventual involvement with Wimbledon and ultimately Milton Keynes Dons.[1]
In 2001, in a deal facilitated by Winkelman, the Wimbledon FC board of directors decided to relocate the club to Milton Keynes, around 60 miles from its south London home base.[5] The club, which went into administration in 2003,[6] played their first match in Milton Keynes in September, controlled by an administrator.[7] At the end of the season, the club was bought out by a consortium led by Winkelman, who became the club's chairman.[8] The new board relaunched the club as "Milton Keynes Dons FC", also giving the side a new all-white strip and a new club crest.[9]
In August 2024, Winkelman sold the club to a Kuwait-based consortium, with Fahad Al Ghamin replacing him as chairman.[10] This ended his 21 year association with the club as owner.
Personal life
[edit]He is married to wife Berni.[11] Winkelman moved to Milton Keynes in 1993,[12] establishing Great Linford Manor (a 17th-century mansion) as a recording studio complex.[4] The house was originally the manor house of Great Linford, a village and district of Milton Keynes.[13]
Honours
[edit]In June 2013, Winkelman was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Milton Keynes-based Open University "to mark his contribution to education through the world of professional football".[14] On 12 November 2015, Milton Keynes Council awarded him the council's highest ceremonial honour, the Freedom of the Borough of Milton Keynes.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "MK Dons Pete Winkelman supremo wants Wolves in Championship too". www.expressandstar.com. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
Multi-millionaire Winkelman, who hails from Penn...
- ^ "New stadium underpins soccer strategy" (PDF). SteelConstruction.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007.
- ^ "MK Dons sold by Pete Winkelman to Kuwait businessman in takeover". BBC. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b From Wimbledon to Winkelman, a crazy new journey - The Observer Sunday 30 March 2008
- ^ Parker, Raj; Stride, Steve; Turvey, Alan (28 May 2002). Report of the Independent Commission on Wimbledon F.C.'s wish to relocate to Milton Keynes (PDF). The Football Association. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ "Wimbledon go into administration". The Daily Telegraph. London. 6 June 2003. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ Pryce, Robert (29 September 2003). "Wimbledon's happy ending is pure Hollywood". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- ^ "Wimbledon to change name". BBC. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
- ^ "Wimbledon become MK Dons FC". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
- ^ "Consortium led by Fahad Al Ghanim completes acquisition of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and the Stadium MK group from Pete Winkelman". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
- ^ "Pete Winkelman speaks to Pulse Magazine". Pulse Magazine. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Pete Winkelman". SEMLEP. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "About Great Linford Manor Park". Milton Keynes Parks Trust.
- ^ MK Dons chairman receives Honorary Doctorate from The Open University The Open University June 6th, 2013.
- ^ VIDEO: Pete Winkelman - ‘the man who made MK a world-renowned name’ - given Freedom of the Borough Milton Keynes Citizen, 12 November 2015
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