Thomas Youdan (1816-1876) was a theatre proprietor in Sheffield, England, known for sponsoring the Youdan Football Cup, the first ever multi-club tournament in the history of football.[1]
Thomas Youdan | |
|---|---|
 Youdan (centre, in stovepipe hat) with the Surrey Theatre company outside the shell of the building after the fire on 25 March 1865 | |
| Born | 1816 Streetthorpe, Yorkshire |
| Died | November 18, 1876 (aged 60) Filey, Yorkshire |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Theatre proprietor |
Youdan was born in Streetthorpe near Doncaster, the son of a farm labourer. He was baptized on 19 May 1816.[2][3] At the age of 18 he moved to Sheffield, where he was employed as a labourer and a silver stamper. He then ran a public house, and later built the Surrey Theatre on the site of a former pawn shop. The Surrey Theatre contained a ballroom, theatre, concert-hall, and even a menagerie.
In 1858, Youdan was elected to Sheffield City Council.[2] He served as a councillor for six years.
The Surrey Theatre burned down in 1865, which caused Youdan to lose nearly £30,000.[2] He then converted a storage building into the Alexandra Opera House, before retiring in 1874, and returning to the countryside. He died on 28 November 1876 at his residence of Flotmanly House, near Filey.[2]
Youdan was a prolific philanthropist. In addition to endowing the Youdan Cup, he made generous donations to charities of all kinds.
References
edit- ^ Murphy, Brendan (2007). From Sheffield with Love. Sports Book Limited. pp. 77–78, 117. ISBN 978-1-899807-56-7.
- ^ a b c d "Death of Mr. Thomas Youdan". Sheffield Daily Telegraph: 3. 29 November 1876.
- ^ "Baptism record" (1816-05-19). Yorkshire Baptisms, Series: Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Sandall Parva, in the County of York, File: P13-1-A3, p. 4. Doncaster: Doncaster Archives.
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