Sir Bob Murray, successful businessman, founder and chairman of British kitchen manufacturer Omega PLC and property company Sterling Capitol, is best known as the former Chairman of Sunderland AFC and the visionary behind the Stadium of Light, Academy and Beacon of Light.
Coming from humble beginnings and striving to educate himself, Sir Bob became an incredible entrepreneur who never forgot his start in life and has a true passion for helping others. Sir Bob established the Foundation of Light to support his beloved home region and today publishes his autobiography ‘I’d Do It All Again’ with 100% of the proceeds going to support the charity.
“This is his story – from the terraced and dust-choked streets of 1950’s Consett where he left school with just one ‘o’ level, took his first steps on the career ladder and then risked it all to start his own kitchen and bathroom business, through to boardroom battles at Roker Park and on to the building of the Stadium of Light, Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park.”
“It is a tale of a remarkable rise from a down-at-heel steel town. Of setbacks and challenges on and off pitch and triumphs in boardrooms and stadiums around the country at a time when football was undergoing a revolution. His ambition, drive, and passion for the Northeast and his boyhood football club is evident throughout this book and his story is one that will inspire and entertain readers, whether they support Sunderland or not.” – Extract from the foreword by Sir Tim Rice.
The book is funded by Sir Bob with every penny of the sales going to the Foundation of Light, Sunderland AFC’s official charity, supporting their ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ campaign, which aims to bring supporters together to live happier and healthier lives.
Foundation of Light works with up to 20,000 families every year with the aim of tackling health and education inequalities in the UK, encouraging them to stay both physically and mentally active and ultimately improving their lives.
Through various initiatives and programmes and links with Sunderland AFC, the Foundation gives families the opportunity to access sports and fitness sessions, mental health resources and experience the facilities at the Beacon of Light community hub.
Lance Hardy started writing ‘I’d Do It All Again’ with Sir Bob in 2019. It was completed with the help of his editor and friend Ian Preece after his untimely death in August 2021.
‘I’d Do It All Again’, will be sold exclusively online at www.sirbobmurraybook.com and available to buy in-person from 12 October at the Beacon of Light and SAFC stores. 100% of proceeds from sales of the autobiography will go to the Foundation of Light.
