AFC Telford United are delighted to announce the exciting news that a US consortium led by Shropshire born Chris Ball has purchased a 21% share of the football club. This is a very welcome investment and helps hugely in ensuring a sustainable future for AFC Telford United. Chris Ball will join the Club Board and attend our monthly board meetings.
The US consortium comprises of 15 successful businessmen including, amongst others, the following investors:
Chris Ball was born and raised in Wellington, Shropshire. In 1994, after spending 15 years in the banking industry, Chris co-founded Newmarket Films, a film finance , production and distribution company based in Los Angeles. By the time Chris and his partner sold the company in 2009, Newmarket Films had been involved in more than 300 film projects including such award winning films as The Usual Suspects, The Prestige, Memento , Donnie Darko and The Passion of the Christ. In 2010, Chris co-founded Wrekin Hill Entertainment a niche film distribution and production company.
Mark Albert is a Managing Director of HPS Investment Partners, a privately held asset management firm focused on private and public credit investments.
John Bertram is Vice Chairman of London based Savills Inc of North America and Principal of Saber Realty Advisors, specializing in the acquisition of multi-tenant industrial parks.
George Davis is Chairman of Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management.
Steven Glick is a Principal of New York-based GPG Properties and a Director of Gipper Media, the leading social media content creation platform for school, college and youth sports. Previously Steve has, among other roles, served as the Group Legal Director of Ladbrokes plc and an EVP of Paramount Pictures.
Dan James is Co-Chairman of Prime Group, a leading real estate equity, debt, investment and operating platform.
Kenneth Karmin is a Principal at High Street Holdings, CEO of Ortho Mattress Inc, former Chair/Lead director of various California headquartered financial institutions.
Benn Konner is a Managing Director with Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Management group.
John Nendick is founder of Malaga Consulting, serves as a board member, investor and advisor to various technology, media and sports businesses including Computershare, Eved and the LA Kings. Previously John was Ernst & Young’s Global Media & Entertainment Industry Leader. John was born and raised in England.
Mick Partridge is founder of the Partridge Estates Group in Beverly Hills, a leader in the high-end real estate industry. Working with numerous celebrities and prominent clientele Mick has achieved an impressive portfolio of sales throughout his hometown of Los Angeles and London.
Mike Suby is an award winning music composer for television and film. Mike has composed music for more than 300 television episodes, shorts and film including Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, The Originals, The Butterfly Effect and The Courier.
Ian Dosser, Interim Chairman of AFC Telford United said, “This investment from the US consortium materially adds to the sustainability of AFC Telford United. I have known Chris Ball since 2016 and I am very confident that Chris and his fellow investors will prove to be excellent shareholders and partners for AFC Telford United. This US consortium will bring a broad range of skills and commercial experience from their respective fields to the football club which will enhance the experienced management board already delivering excellent results. We are very much looking forward to working with our new US shareholders as we believe that this investment represents an exciting opportunity for the club. I would like to thank Chris, all members of the US consortium, Steve Pryce, Walter Gleeson and Jo Warrilow for their part in structuring and finalising this deal and wish to acknowledge that their combined efforts, expertise and sound commercial acumen has been an invaluable asset in helping our club reach this very significant milestone’’.
Chris Ball said, ’’Being a “Shropshire Lad” and a huge football fan, I have been a lifelong supporter of AFC Telford United. I am thrilled, therefore, to have been able to put together a group of close friends, who all love football (“soccer” ) to make an investment in the club. In our minds, the football club has to be sustainable and must endeavour to operate on a breakeven or near breakeven basis. Success on and off the pitch are very much intertwined and our consortium is looking to be an active and engaged group of investors. We are very much looking forward to working with Ian Dosser, Steven Pryce, Walter Gleeson, Jo Warrilow and the rest of the team.’’
