Nationality English Years active Circa 1930–1981 | Name Arthur Wait Died June 27, 1981 | |
Full Name Arthur John Wait Occupation Builder and football club executive Known for Construction industry
Chairman and Life President of Crystal Palace F.C. Notable work Arthur Wait stand at Selhurst Park, London SE25 | ||
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Arthur John Wait (c. 1910 — 27 June 1981) was an English builder and life president and former chairman of Crystal Palace F.C..
Arthur Wait was a local builder who joined the board of Crystal Palace as a director sometime between 1948 and 1950. In 1958 he became the Chairman, before being replaced by Raymond Bloye in 1972, and becoming Life President, a position he held until 1981. The Arthur Wait Stand at Selhurst Park is named in his honour. Wait was a lifelong Palace supporter who used to sneak into the ground as a schoolboy.
As chairman of the club, he was instrumental in Palace hosting Real Madrid's first game in London. To celebrate the installation of new floodlights at the club, Wait and the board wanted to invite a famous club from the north of England to play a friendly. After discovering the fee demanded, Wait declared: "If that's what they are going to do to us, we might as well try to get Real Madrid." Wait secured the services of Madrid for a fee of £10,000 and expenses. On the evening of 18 April 1962, the Spanish Ambassador switched on the floodlights and Madrid secured a first half lead of 3-1 and then held on to win 4-3.