Geoffrey Watling (2 April 1913 – 16 November 2004) was a president and chairman of

Norwich City Norwich City Football Club (also known as The Canaries or The Yellows) is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. The club competes in the EFL Championship following their relegation from the Premier League in the 2 ...

(1957–1973 and 1996).

Life

Watling was born in Norwich on 2 April 1913, and educated locally at the King Edward VI School and the Paston Grammar School at

North Walsham North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England, within the North Norfolk district. Demography The civil parish has an area of and in the 2011 census had a population of 12,634. For the purposes of local government, the pa ...

. He joined his father Charles in the family business C Watling carriers, eventually taking it over and converting it from horse transport to motor vehicles. Meanwhile, the family had become part of the Norwich establishment: Charles served as Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Norwich. Geoffrey diversified into over 200 businesses, including ballrooms, taxi services, funeral homes and a chalet park. In 1941 he married his wife Pearl: their daughter Carol was born in 1947. He was a keen amateur footballer, tennis player and boatman. Watling became Chairman of Norwich City Football Club in 1957, and President for life in 1986. In 1963 Geoffrey bought Felthorpe Hall the former home of Sir Basil and Lady Mayhew, and lived there until his death in 2004.

Legacy

A charity in his name was founded in 1993. A

stand Stand or The Stand may refer to: * To assume the upright position of standing * Forest stand, a group of trees * Area of seating in a stadium, such as bleachers * Stand (cricket), a relationship between two players * Stand (drill pipe), 2 or 3 jo ...

at Norwich's stadium,

Carrow Road Carrow Road is an association football stadium located in Norwich, Norfolk, England, and is the home of EFL Championship side Norwich City. The stadium is located toward the east of the city, near Norwich railway station and the River Wensum. ...

is named after Watling. He was awarded this honour because of his instrumental role in saving the club from bankruptcy, both in the 1950s and 1990s; his father had played a similar role in 1919. He has a road named in honour outside

called "Geoffrey Watling Way".

References

1913 births 2004 deaths Norwich City F.C. {{UK-business-bio-1910s-stub