David Bernstein’s services to the world of football have been recognized by her Majesty the Queen in her New Year’s honours list.
David Bernstein CBE, former chairman of the Football Association, has taken on some of the toughest challenges in football during his twenty year career at the top.
He began his career as an administrator in the world of football in 1994 when he was initially appointed to become a member of the board at Manchester City, being appointed to replace the outgoing chairman Francis Lee in 1998. Under Bernstein’s stewardship, City (the club he supported since his youth) succeeded in restoring much of their previous credibility and with the return to financial stability, their results began to improve on the football field. When he left Manchester City in 2003 they were back again firmly established as one of England’s top football clubs.
During his time as chairman of the Wembley Stadium, Bernstein’s excellent administrative abilities saw him oversee the major construction of the hundred-year-old stadium and he was there to see the stadium evolve to becoming one of the most modern and impressive sporting stadiums in the world. Bernstein was selected to replace the outgoing Lord Triesman in December 2010, taking up the position of FA chairman on January 2011.
Summing up his time as chairman of the FA Bernstein recalled that his greatest satisfaction was being involved with development at the grassroots and in disabled football, and then tackling the growing problem of discrimination, particularly against BME players. Despite no longer being involved in football at an administrative level, Bernstein has remained active in the field of anti-discrimination as a member of FIFA’s task force and as Chair of our sister charity, the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE).
Alongside his twenty-year stint in the world of football, Bernstein has enjoyed an active career in the world of business, acting as a chairman of the French Connection fashion retail chain in the UK. Bernstein is chairman of fashion label Ted Baker, and took over the role of Chairman of the British Red Cross on the 1st of January this year.
LPF Chair, Joyce Cook OBE said: “We are all delighted for David and his family for this very well-deserved recognition of his years of service to football. It also gives us the chance to warmly thank him for his unwavering support and friendship for Level Playing Field and our works. It is such great news and a lovely start to 2014 for us all.”
With many congratulations to David from everyone at LPF on being awarded a CBE in the 2014 New Year Honours.