July 22, 1968
Liverpool Football Club’s senior director and former chairman, Mr. Richard Lawson Martindale died yesterday. He had been on the board for 37 years after being co-opted in 1931.
When he was appointed he was one of football’s youngest directors and when 10 years later he was elected chairman, he was again one of the youngest men to hold such a post.
His death followed an illness after he collapsed with pneumonia on Liverpool’s close season tour of Portugal and the Canary Islands.
Head of a Liverpool coal firm, he had held senior positions in both Liverpool and Lancashire coal merchants’ associations and in 1946 was awarded the M.B.E. for his services as Liverpool’s district house coal officer during the war.
He was also a J.P. and had been connected with the Liverpool Sportsmen’s Association.
A tribute came from club chairman, Harold Cartwright: “He was one of nature’s gentlemen and we on the board are going to miss his kindliness and wisdom.
“He was our senior director and gave great service to the club especially during these last few years as chairman of the ground committee.”
(Liverpool Echo: July 23, 1968)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 