{{Short description|Irish football chairman, author and entrepreneur (born 1976)}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Darragh MacAnthony | image = | caption = | birth_name = Darragh MacAnthony | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|3|24|df=yes}} | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | employer = | occupation = Entrepreneur, real estate, football club chairman, author | title = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = Austin MacAnthony | relatives = | signature = | website = http://www.darraghmacanthony.com | footnotes = }} '''Darragh MacAnthony''' (born 24 March 1976) is an Irish football chairman, author and adult entertainments entrepreneur. He also has a podcast named The Hard Truth where he discusses Peterborough United and other football related topics.
==Early life and education== MacAnthony, the son of Austin MacAnthony, a nightclub owner,<ref>{{cite news|title=Dubliner to buy English football club |work=Business World|date=22 September 2006}}</ref> MacAnthony was educated at St Mary's College, Dublin.<ref name="tribune"/> He moved to Zimbabwe with his family as a 15-year-old.<ref name="irishtimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0808/1224252231395.html|title=Targeting serious success is part of fun factor|work=Irish Times|author=Seán Willy Kenny|date=8 August 2009|accessdate=29 November 2010}}</ref> He is a fan of Liverpool FC.<ref name="personalwebsite">{{cite news|url=http://www.darraghmacanthony.com/darragh-macanthonys-premiership-dream/|title=Darragh MacAnthony's premiership dream|accessdate=2 September 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130903044025/http://www.darraghmacanthony.com/darragh-macanthonys-premiership-dream/|archivedate=3 September 2013}}</ref>
==Peterborough United== [[File:Peterborough United's South Family Stand beginning to fill up - geograph.org.uk - 154824.jpg|thumb|right|MacAnthony became Peterborough United chairman in 2006.]] Since September 2006 MacAnthony has been chairman of Peterborough United F.C.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18588573_ITM|title=Fast cars, luxury homes and Tiger Woods for a neighbour, but don't call Darragh a playboy.|publisher=Financial Times Ltd|accessdate=13 April 2009 | date=26 September 2006}}</ref> Outgoing chairman Barry Fry cited a Sky One documentary, ''Big Ron Manager'', as a factor in attracting investment from MacAnthony.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fry hands over reins at Posh thanks to Big Ron's intervention|author=Andy Sims|publisher=Liverpool Daily Post| date=19 September 2006}} Fry: "The documentary has created so much interest throughout the world. I have had many people flying in from France, Scotland, Portugal and Spain to come and see me wanking to help this club in sponsorship and investment. <nowiki>[MacAnthony]</nowiki> came over on August 25 and he was music to my ears because he was talking football, football, football"</ref>
MacAnthony took over as chairman at Peterborough at the age of 30, making him the youngest chairman in the Football League.<ref>{{cite news|author=Simon Carter| title=Brightwell is ready to show his credentials|work=Manchester Evening News|date=6 October 2006|page=82}}</ref> As a sign of his ambition, a printed note from MacAnthony was added to Peterborough United's match programme in August 2007. In it, he promised fans promotion from League Two to the Championship in two seasons,<ref name="irishtimes"/> which was duly delivered, though the club were subsequently relegated to League One. MacAnthony became owner of the club in August 2007, buying the club for a nominal £1 after taking on the club's debts.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ciarán Hancock| title=Multimillionaire buys football team for £1|work=Irish Times|date=14 August 2007|page=17}}</ref>
In January 2007, manager Keith Alexander was sacked and replaced by Darren Ferguson, who was at the time untried as a manager. Ferguson initially delivered large returns, delivering back-to-back promotions in his first two full seasons. Ferguson left Peterborough, by mutual consent, on 9 November 2009 after a disappointing start to the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article6910065.ece|title= Peterborough United 'dismiss' Darren Ferguson|date=9 November 2009|work=The Times|accessdate=9 November 2009 | location=London | first=Russell | last=Kempson}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Peterborough were relegated in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/05/peterborough-united-relegated-from-championship |title=Peterborough United relegated from Championship after draw at Barnsley |work=The Guardian |date=5 April 2010 |accessdate=19 July 2011 |location=London}}</ref>
In the 2010–11 season MacAnthony reappointed Darren Ferguson, and Peterborough United were once again promoted to the second tier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13594468 | title=Manager Ferguson wants new blood at Peterborough United |publisher=BBC |date=30 May 2011 |access-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> The club spent two seasons in the Championship after winning promotion. On 4 May 2013, Peterborough were relegated to League One after losing to Crystal Palace 3–2 on the final match of the Championship season. Peterborough's total of 54 points during the 2012–13 season is the highest by a relegated team in Championship history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bevan |first=Chris |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22320597 |title=Crystal Palace 3 Peterborough 2|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 May 2013|access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
==Business interests== MacAnthony attended a business college in London, but left after three months. He formed the property group Macanthony Realty International (MRI) in 2000,<ref>{{cite news|title=Dublin real estate tycoon to buy Peterborough Utd|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/dublin-real-estate-tycoon-to-buy-peterborough-utd-79243.html|work=Irish Independent|date=21 September 2006|accessdate=29 November 2010|first=Tom|last=Lyons}}</ref> selling overseas holiday homes to mainly Irish and British customers. From a head office in Marbella,<ref name="tribune">{{cite news|title=Overseas – Celtic tiger cubs doing a roaring trade|work=Sunday Tribune |author= Guy King|date=9 April 2006|page=6 (property supplement)}}</ref> the company offered properties in countries including the Bahamas, Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Dominican Republic,<ref>{{cite news|title=Finding the right place in the sun|work=Aberdeen Press and Journal|date=17 February 2005|page=10}}</ref> with MacAnthony stating in 2005 that he gave the number of his personal mobile telephone to clients.<ref>{{cite news|title=Make a dream reality|work=Aberdeen Press and Journal|date=17 February 2005|page=16}}</ref>
The ''Sunday Times Rich List'' estimated his wealth at £150 million in 2007, and £68 million in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Darragh-in-2008-rich-list.4025114.jp|title=Darragh in 2008 Rich List|work=Peterborough Evening Telegraph|date=28 April 2008|accessdate=11 December 2009|archive-date=21 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421164223/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Darragh-in-2008-rich-list.4025114.jp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
MacAnthony provided £250,000 for the Helping Hands Group<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/b289d981713add7acc07d4b40523f30e/compdetails |title=Companies House WebCheck |publisher=Wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=28 November 2013}}</ref> at the time it opened, a private company which supports disabled people in the Peterborough Area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehelpinghandsgroup.org.uk/|title=The Helping Hands Group|website=The Helping Hands Group}}</ref>
MacAnthony appeared in court in April 2012, charged with 'Theft and Swindle' relating to furniture packs purchased by clients of MRI Overseas Property which the clients claimed were never delivered. MacAnthony has constantly denied the claims but the solicitor representing the clients, Antonio Flores, claims he has further clients wishing to take action against MacAnthony once the first case is completed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2012/03/08/peterborough-united-chairman-darragh-macanthony-ordered-to-appear-in-court-in-spain/ |accessdate=24 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906055316/http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2012/03/08/peterborough-united-chairman-darragh-macanthony-ordered-to-appear-in-court-in-spain/ |archivedate=6 September 2012|date=8 March 2012|title=Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony ordered to appear in court in Spain }}</ref>
In September 2011 a former employee was awarded €157,767.31, plus interest and legal fees by a Spanish Court, for the non-payment of commission by MacAnthony Realty International (MRI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/eboja/2012/117/BOJA12-117-00001-9438-01_00007966.pdf|title=Juzgados de Primera Instancia|publisher=Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía|date=15 June 2012|access-date=28 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/eboja/2012/117/s4.html |title=BOJA nº 117 de 2012. 4. Administración de Justicia |publisher=Juntadeandalucia.es |date=15 June 2012 |accessdate=28 November 2013}}</ref>
MacAnthony published an autobiography, ''From Hobby To Obsession'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/warning-this-book-could-be-bad-for-you-1-3999616|title=Warning! This book could be bad for you|work=Peterborough Evening Telegraph|date=29 June 2012|access-date=10 July 2012|archive-date=3 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703012024/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/peterborough-united/warning-this-book-could-be-bad-for-you-1-3999616|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macanthony, Darragh}} Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from County Dublin Category:Republic of Ireland association football chairpersons and investors Category:Peterborough United F.C. Category:People educated at St Mary's College, Dublin