Yeovil Town are delighted to announce the appointment of life-long supporter and businessman Stuart Robins to the Club’s board.
With a strong background in business, specifically Telecommunications, Robins arrives as the first appointment of a new board of directors at Huish Park.
Born in Yeovil, Robins was educated at Bucklers Mead Secondary Modern School and worked for Post Office Telecommunications (now BT) after leaving school.
Following this, he worked for various Telecom Companies in Australia from 1980 through to 1992. His final role in Australia was as Managing Director of a joint venture between a UK company called Systems Reliability and Telecom Australia, and following a merger, returned to the UK in 1992 with Systems Reliability.
Systems Reliability was then acquired by a publicly listed Canadian company, TSB International in 1995 and was transferred to Toronto, Canada, this was where Robins was appointed President & CEO. In 1999, Robins returned to the UK and two years later executed a management buyout with his business partner of what was the European arm of TSB International.
This business was rebranded to the Nu Holdings Group, and soon became the largest European Distributor of IT products from a major US Technology Corporation. In 2019, Nu Holdings was successfully divested to a Texas based competitor.
A true Glovers fan at heart, our new Director started watching Yeovil at the age of 10 when taken by his parents to the old Huish. He comes from a long line family of Yeovil fans, and these include Gerry Lock, the former Yeovil Town chairman who was Robins’ uncle.
At age 16, Robins trained with Yeovil Town for 12 months, to try and develop a football career under the late Stan Harland; unfortunately, unable to make the playing grade at the club, he continued to play on semi-professionally for Ilminster Town and then for various clubs in Australia, but never lost passion for Yeovil Town.
While in Australia, his mother would send press cuttings from the Western Gazette every week so that he never lost touch with the Glovers.
Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, Robins said; “I am incredibly proud and honoured to be given this opportunity to help further develop Yeovil Town for all our supporters.
“I have been a regular attendee of games both home and away since returning from Canada in 1999 and season ticket holder over the last 15 years.
“I have significant experience in growing and developing successful businesses in both the private and public sector, both at home and overseas and I want to use that experience to help provide the resources necessary for Chris Hargreaves to return us to the Football League as soon as we can, and in a sustainable way.
“I have a lot to learn about the football business and I’m really looking forward to doing that and working with everyone at Huish Park.”
Chairman Scott Priestnall added, “Bringing Stuart into the club can only be a positive move for us. Not only is he a lifelong supporter of the club, but he brings with him a wealth of business experience.
“When I said I wanted to formulate a board that could bring about a shared vision for the club’s future, I could not have wished for any one more passionate and dedicated to see the club succeed as Stuart.
“Stuart becomes both a director and shareholder of the football club”.
Welcome to the club, Stuart.
