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Thomas Youdan was a theatre proprietor in
Thomas Youdan was a theatre proprietor in Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire a ...
, England, known for sponsoring the Youdan Football Cup, the first ever multi-club tournament in the history of football.
Youdan was born in Streetthorpe near Doncaster
Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...
, the son of a farm labourer. He was baptized on 19 May 1816. At the age of 18 he moved to Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire a ...
, where he was employed as a labourer and a silver stamper. He then ran a public house, and later built the Surrey Theatre on the site of a former pawn shop. The Surrey Theatre contained a ballroom, theatre, concert-hall, and even a menagerie.
In 1858, Youdan was elected to Sheffield City Council. He served as a councillor for six years.
The Surrey Theatre burned down in 1865, which caused Youdan to lose nearly £30,000. He then converted a storage building into the Alexandra Opera House, before retiring in 1874, and returning to the countryside. He died on 28 November 1876 at his residence of Flotmanly House, near Filey
Filey () is a seaside town and civil parish in the Borough of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, England. Historically part of the East Riding of Yorkshire, it is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on Filey Bay. Although it was a fishing ...
.
Youdan was a prolific philanthropist. In addition to endowing the Youdan Cup, he made generous donations to charities of all kinds.
References
People from the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster Founders of association football institutions Councillors in Sheffield 1816 births 1876 deaths {{england-bio-stub