William Healey

{{Short description|English businessman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} ''' William Joseph Healey''' (31 March 1853 – 29 May 1909) was an English businessman and president of [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath Football Club]] in the 1890s, when he served as one of the club's principal creditors.

Healey was born in [[Salford]] to William Healey, a builder from [[Wicklow]], Ireland, and Ann Connaughton Healy.<ref name="bapt">''England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936''</ref><ref name="1871census">''1871 England Census''</ref> He had one son, William Joseph Healy Jr., and founded William Healy and Son, a successful construction firm in Salford.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title=Death of Mr. William Healy |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000272/19090531/126/0008 |access-date=16 October 2023 |work=Manchester Evening News - Monday |date=31 May 1909 |page=8 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1897, a friendly tournament was inaugurated for clubs in the Manchester and Salford area.<ref name="altrincham_atoz">{{cite web |url=http://www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/altyhtol.htm |title=A to Z of Altrincham Football Club - Part Two - H to L |accessdate=2008-10-29 |last=Rowley |first=Terry |work=altrinchamfc.co.uk |publisher=Altrincham F.C. }}</ref> Healey provided a trophy for the tournament the following year,<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=John D. T. |title=The Official Manchester United Almanac |year=2008 |publisher=Orion Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7528-9192-7 |pages=11 }}</ref> and the competition became known as the Healey Charity Cup.<ref name="altrincham_atoz"/>

Around the turn of the 20th century, Newton Heath's fortunes began to diminish, both on the pitch and in their bank balance, and they found themselves more than [[Pound sterling|£]]2,500 in debt. Eventually, Healey took the club to court in order to claim back the £242 17[[Shilling (British coin)|s]] 10[[Penny (British pre-decimal coin)|d]] that he was owed. Due to their large debts, the club was unable to repay Healey and was declared bankrupt.<ref>{{cite book |last=Barnes |first=Justyn |author2=Bostock, Adam |author3=Butler, Cliff |author4=Ferguson, Jim |author5=Meek, David |author6=Mitten, Andy |author7=Pilger, Sam |author8=Taylor, Frank |author9=Tyrell, Tom |title=The Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia |publisher=Manchester United Books |year=2001 |location=London |isbn=0-233-99964-7 |pages=9 }}</ref> They were soon rescued by local businessman [[John Henry Davies]] and renamed "Manchester United". Davies took over as club chairman, thus ending Healey's association with the club.<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=John D. T. |title=The Official Manchester United Almanac |year=2008 |publisher=Orion Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7528-9192-7 |pages=121 }}</ref>

==Personal life==

Healy was a devout Roman Catholic. In his retirement, he became a supporter of the [[Pantasaph#Friary|Franciscan Capuchin Monastic Church]] at [[Pantasaph]], Flintshire, and donated generously to the friars' cause. Prior to his death he was received in private audience by [[Pope Pius X]] in Rome. He died at his residence in Pantasaph in 1909.<ref name="obit"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Healey, William}} [[Category:1853 births]] [[Category:1909 deaths]] [[Category:English football chairmen and investors]] [[Category:Manchester United F.C. directors and chairmen]] [[Category:English Roman Catholics]]