BROOKS MILESONwas a successful construction and insurance entrepreneur who used his millions to fund Scottish football club Gretna's impressive ascent up the league hierarchy.
But his illness at the start of 2008 saw his financial support withdrawn and the club plunged into bankruptcy. By the time of his death on 3 November, 2008, Gretna had ceased to be an ongoing concern.
Born in Sunderland in 1947, Mr Mileson went into business after being made redundant from a construction firm. He set up his own company in 1982 and was worth as much as £75m when he sold his interests years later.
In 2002 he became managing director of Gretna, a club from that border town previously best known for its wedding services, who had just been promoted into the Scottish Football League, and began sponsoring their dramatic rise through the divisions.
As well as Gretna, his footballing philanthropy extended to donations to the supporters' trusts of Carlisle (whom he had tried to buy), Dundee United, Dundee, Ayr United, Berwick Rangers and Stockport County, as well as more than 70 non-league sides. Outside football he also gave to charities for orphans, the disabled and animals.
Between 2005 and 2007 Gretna's new-found financial clout allowed them to storm their way up the league with three successive promotions, breaking scoring records as they went. They also reached the 2006 Scottish Cup Final, taking Hearts to a penalty shoot-out.
However, having reached the Scottish Premier League for the 2007/08 season, the fairytale soon turned into a nightmare. Mr Mileson's generosity had seen him fall into debt and when he was admitted to hospital with a serious brain infection in February, Gretna's lifeline was cut.
Already struggling in the SPL, Gretna quickly slipped into administration, thus incurring a 10 point penalty, condemning them to relegation. Attempts to find a buyer were fruitless and having made their entire playing and coaching staff redundant and losing their Raydale Park ground, they relinquished their league status in June 2008 and went into liquidation two months later. Gretna's supporters have since founded Gretna 2008 FC who play in the East of Scotland Football League.
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