Chelsea Director 1905-26

It was John Maltby’s hand, literally, that set in motion the formation of
Chelsea FC. As clerk to the solicitors acting on their behalf, he launched
the first 5,000 share issue at the Rising Sun on March 10 1905, and
handed out half the bills of sale that first evening.

The club retained Maltby he became a founding director. The position was proof to John
that he really had made it, despite a potentially disastrous start in life. His
father, unusually, left home soon after he was born. He was raised by his
single mother Catherine and her supportive family, the Sewells,
greengrocers in affluent South Kensington.

On the Chelsea board Maltby was very much a rubber-stamper and the
Mearses’ man. In common with many Chelsea directors then,
over-indulgence in alcohol was a failing and his family life was troubled.

Son Edgar used to try and steer him past the Conservative Club in
Shorrolds Road and the Red Lion in Fulham Broadway, two of his
favourite drinking haunts. The story went that Maltby knew it was time
to go home when the Red Lion’s tail was wagging. His wife Marion once
threw his dinner at him when he came home the worse for drink again.
Edgar eventually had a great falling out with his father, who evidently
favoured his daughter Kathleen – he often took her out with him in
preference to his own wife! He died in 1941 aged 75.
Buried with him are his wife, Marion, and mother Catherine.

Bio by Rick Glanvill

Chelsea Director 1905-26

It was John Maltby’s hand, literally, that set in motion the formation of
Chelsea FC. As clerk to the solicitors acting on their behalf, he launched
the first 5,000 share issue at the Rising Sun on March 10 1905, and
handed out half the bills of sale that first evening.

The club retained Maltby he became a founding director. The position was proof to John
that he really had made it, despite a potentially disastrous start in life. His
father, unusually, left home soon after he was born. He was raised by his
single mother Catherine and her supportive family, the Sewells,
greengrocers in affluent South Kensington.

On the Chelsea board Maltby was very much a rubber-stamper and the
Mearses’ man. In common with many Chelsea directors then,
over-indulgence in alcohol was a failing and his family life was troubled.

Son Edgar used to try and steer him past the Conservative Club in
Shorrolds Road and the Red Lion in Fulham Broadway, two of his
favourite drinking haunts. The story went that Maltby knew it was time
to go home when the Red Lion’s tail was wagging. His wife Marion once
threw his dinner at him when he came home the worse for drink again.
Edgar eventually had a great falling out with his father, who evidently
favoured his daughter Kathleen – he often took her out with him in
preference to his own wife! He died in 1941 aged 75.
Buried with him are his wife, Marion, and mother Catherine.

Bio by Rick Glanvill