Steve Borley - The council house kid who made an £85m company from £250 in his bank account

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...rdiff-23906677

Steve Borley made his millions from nothing and has ploughed his money back into the places he loved as a boy.

All credit to him for his success and various projects but the first impression of Cardiff when coming out of the railway station is quite soulless.

Every chairman of a football club should be someone like steve Borley. Football would be much better if it was.

Nice to see a write up on a positive subject

Looks like he deserves every penny

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

All credit to him for his success and various projects but the first impression of Cardiff when coming out of the railway station is quite soulless.

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His company didn’t design the buildings. They’re a mechanical & electrical engineering business.
However, that area is bland, mind.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

All credit to him for his success and various projects but the first impression of Cardiff when coming out of the railway station is quite soulless.

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It's an improvement on the outdated, piss-smelling bus station though

All credit to Borley for what he’s achieved so far. Very impressive.
Curly Humphreys story is just as interesting and impressive.
2 local lads who did well.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

All credit to him for his success and various projects but the first impression of Cardiff when coming out of the railway station is quite soulless.

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Probably an improvement on the horrible buildings that were there before though, all 50/60’s nightmares weren’t they? I quite like the mix of modern and Victorian.

Steve Borley is a throwback to the days when football clubs in the top two divisions tended to be run by local businessmen and the weird thing is that plenty of the clubs with overseas owners who throw money about like it is going out of fashion are no better off now than they were then - in fact, they’re worse off in lots of cases.

Steve Borley is a good Cardiffian who has put a lot into both his home city and its football club - chwarae teg to him.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

It's an improvement on the outdated, piss-smelling bus station though

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Exactly

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

It's an improvement on the outdated, piss-smelling bus station though

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I was mortified when Astey's closed, along with the Kiosk attached to it. Excellently situated for buying a couple of 'single' fags for the bus journey back to Llanedeyrn.

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

I was mortified when Astey's closed, along with the Kiosk attached to it. Excellently situated for buying a couple of 'single' fags for the bus journey back to Llanedeyrn.

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Remember a poster on here called Astey’s rent boy 😂

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Remember a poster on here called Astey’s rent boy ��

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Yeah, i remember that one. Also, Markylicksthais or something similar, 'Kin' ell :hehe: All of that area was rank, especially around the public Toilets.

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Remember a poster on here called Astey’s rent boy 😂

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:hehe:

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Steve Borley is a throwback to the days when football clubs in the top two divisions tended to be run by local businessmen and the weird thing is that plenty of the clubs with overseas owners who throw money about like it is going out of fashion are no better off now than they were then - in fact, they’re worse off in lots of cases.

Steve Borley is a good Cardiffian who has put a lot into both his home city and its football club - chwarae teg to him.

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Interesting quote from Steve Borley

Then in 2000, Sam Hammam came in as new Cardiff City owner. Steve offers his take on the next six years that would follow: "When a club is for sale you're always going to attract weirdos," he said. "We ended up forced to do a deal with Hammam. I assumed I would be gone but he kept me on as chair for a bit. Hamman had run out of money by 2006."

The Lebanese businessman was best known for making one of football's most rakish financial killings from Wimbledon. He walked away with around £36m, first by selling the Plough Lane ground to Safeway for £8m, then the club itself to two Norwegian investors. He promised much for Cardiff but by the time they reached the First Division in 2003 the wage bill exceeded the club's entire earnings. The debts, £1.5m when Hammam arrived, had ballooned to almost £23m

Always Liked Steve, I will never forget the messages we exchanged prior to Scam joining, Steve always had the clubs best interests at heart with whatever that meant to him

the guy deserves nothing but respect from us city fans

I’ve my beef with him for some of his actions during the rebrand, but overall can’t fault him.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

It's an improvement on the outdated, piss-smelling bus station though

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:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

It's an improvement on the outdated, piss-smelling bus station though

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indeed, the new look might be soulless and bland ( Ive not seen it in person ) But lets be honest, the old lot was ugly and quite frankly a eyesore

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

All credit to Borley for what he’s achieved so far. Very impressive.
Curly Humphreys story is just as interesting and impressive.
2 local lads who did well.

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Bronco Lane another one

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Remember a poster on here called Astey’s rent boy 😂

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:hehe:

anyone remember 'Supermarket Bumsniffer'..?

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

All credit to him for his success and various projects but the first impression of Cardiff when coming out of the railway station is quite soulless.

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At the moment perhaps, with the offices quiet, and the array of chain stores, but when the bus station is finished and hopefully people get back into work more and back on the trains more, it could become very vibrant.

Personally I think Central Square is looking the best it ever has - maybe it had something when the old bus station was new, but I think for most of the last 20 years or so the welcome to the city was dreadful

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

At the moment perhaps, with the offices quiet, and the array of chain stores, but when the bus station is finished and hopefully people get back into work more and back on the trains more, it could become very vibrant.

Personally I think Central Square is looking the best it ever has - maybe it had something when the old bus station was new, but I think for most of the last 20 years or so the welcome to the city was dreadful

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Staff at HMRC are due to start returning in the next couple of weeks. There should be about an extra 2000 people per day in the area when everyone is back.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

At the moment perhaps, with the offices quiet, and the array of chain stores, but when the bus station is finished and hopefully people get back into work more and back on the trains more, it could become very vibrant.

Personally I think Central Square is looking the best it ever has - maybe it had something when the old bus station was new, but I think for most of the last 20 years or so the welcome to the city was dreadful

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Where will the new bus station be?

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Originally Posted by LeningradCowboy

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...rdiff-23906677

Steve Borley made his millions from nothing and has ploughed his money back into the places he loved as a boy.

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Thanks for posting this: very interesting 👍

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Originally Posted by Lither_1927

Where will the new bus station be?

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Just along from the Prince of Wales pub

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Originally Posted by Lither_1927

Where will the new bus station be?

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As you come out of the station and look to your left, it will be there. It was Marland House (with the Burger King etc). Will now be bus station on ground floor, with offices and flats above.

Unfortunately I gather that inter-city buses won't use it, which is a drawback.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

As you come out of the station and look to your left, it will be there. It was Marland House (with the Burger King etc). Will now be bus station on ground floor, with offices and flats above.

Unfortunately I gather that inter-city buses won't use it, which is a drawback.

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Shirley, it’s look to your RIGHT !!!!

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Shirley, it’s look to your RIGHT !!!!

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Of course! I meant right! I'm so used to arguing with mad lefties on here, that I got confused :hehe:

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Of course! I meant right! I'm so used to arguing with mad lefties on here, that I got confused :hehe:

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I thought you’d have said ‘far right’:hehe:

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Originally Posted by splott parker

I thought you’d have said ‘far right’:hehe:

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it doesn't take much to be labelled far-right on here, but I would argue that in this context the Sleeperz Hotel is the far-right.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

it doesn't take much to be labelled far-right on here, but I would argue that in this context the Sleeperz Hotel is the far-right.

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Heil stand corrected :hehe:

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Originally Posted by splott parker

Heil stand corrected :hehe:

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I am surprised I got confused tbf - it's clearly the other side of the square to Marx and Spencer..

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

At the moment perhaps, with the offices quiet, and the array of chain stores, but when the bus station is finished and hopefully people get back into work more and back on the trains more, it could become very vibrant.

Personally I think Central Square is looking the best it ever has - maybe it had something when the old bus station was new, but I think for most of the last 20 years or so the welcome to the city was dreadful

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Agreed. Half the area is still a construction site so I can forgive it for feeling a bit soulless and I expect it to be better when it’s finished. Although I do think some minor additions would help. A few trees, flower planters, some benches would definitely be a cheap way to add a bit of life and colour.

Settling up a couple semi permanent stalls with hot food and drink like on the Hayes would be great but I can imagine the shops in the station and central square might kick up a fuss about that.

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Originally Posted by goats

Probably an improvement on the horrible buildings that were there before though, all 50/60’s nightmares weren’t they? I quite like the mix of modern and Victorian.

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Really , Asteys , football echo stand toilets,newsagents . ,great access to the ground from bus station , Red Dragon Bar , Bus Shelters , waiting place for away fans ????????????

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

I am surprised I got confused tbf - it's clearly the other side of the square to Marx and Spencer..

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Things have really changed since it was Cardiff Generalissimo.

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Originally Posted by TWGL1

Interesting quote from Steve Borley: "When a club is for sale you're always going to attract weirdos," he said. "We ended up forced to do a deal with Hammam."

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That is interesting and it's somewhat at odds with what Steve was saying at the time. In July 2000, when it was reported that Sam Hammam's interest in buying the club had cooled due to alleged boardroom wrangling at Ninian Park, Steve told BBC Wales: "If he sat down and met the board, I think he would change his mind. We're easy people to deal with. We've made it as easy as possible to accommodate any possible deal going forward because we only have the interests of the football club at heart."

Within a couple of months of Hammam taking control, Steve told the local press: "Sam has incredible energy. If the dust ever settles, he will see there's a huge job ahead, but who else would you want steering the ship?"

In January 2002, in the wake of the FA Cup victory over Leeds United, journalist David Conn attempted to do a hatchet job on Hammam in the Independent, but Steve was fierce in his defence. He told Conn: "Sam is the best thing to happen to this club in 50 years."

While Steve's a good man who has no doubt always had the club's best interests at heart, I think it's fair to say he's occasionally run with the hare and hunted with the hounds during his time in Cardiff City's boardroom, whether that be alongside Samesh Kumar, Sam Hammam, Peter Ridsdale or Vincent Tan.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

That is interesting and it's somewhat at odds with what Steve was saying at the time. In July 2000, when it was reported that Sam Hammam's interest in buying the club had cooled due to alleged boardroom wrangling at Ninian Park, Steve told BBC Wales: "If he sat down and met the board, I think he would change his mind. We're easy people to deal with. We've made it as easy as possible to accommodate any possible deal going forward because we only have the interests of the football club at heart."

Within a couple of months of Hammam taking control, Steve told the local press: "Sam has incredible energy. If the dust ever settles, he will see there's a huge job ahead, but who else would you want steering the ship?"

In January 2002, in the wake of the FA Cup victory over Leeds United, journalist David Conn attempted to do a hatchet job on Hammam in the Independent, but Steve was fierce in his defence. He told Conn: "Sam is the best thing to happen to this club in 50 years."

While Steve's a good man who has no doubt always had the club's best interests at heart, I think it's fair to say he's occasionally run with the hare and hunted with the hounds during his time in Cardiff City's boardroom, whether that be alongside Samesh Kumar, Sam Hammam, Peter Ridsdale or Vincent Tan.

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I think most fans had the same opinion of Sam at the time though didn’t they ?

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Originally Posted by TWGL1

I think most fans had the same opinion of Sam at the time though didn’t they?

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I'm sure they did, although you won't find many who'll admit it now.

It was the "forced to do a deal with a weirdo" claim that tickled me. Not quite how I remember things, that's for sure.....

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I'm sure they did, although you won't find many who'll admit it now.

It was the "forced to do a deal with a weirdo" claim that tickled me. Not quite how I remember things, that's for sure.....

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I loved it when he would come on here pissed, usually a Friday. :hehe: