‘Britain’s richest gypsy’ owns football club – yet multi-millionaire hates footy
"Britain's richest gypsy" Alfie Best bought a non-league club – but has admitted that he doesn't even like football.
The millionaire owner of eighth tier East Thurrock United has his own fleet of supercars and a personalised Aston Martin helicopter worth £4.5million on it's own. Overall, Best has a net worth of £740million and is predicted to become the world's first gypsy billionaire next year. He has also invested millions into East Thurrock, despite preferring boxing to football.
Speaking to The Sun, he explained: "I'm not a football fan at all – I'm a boxing fan. The club was in difficulty – as a lot of clubs are. And it's important to give back to the community."
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The club, who are currently 10th in the Isthmian League North Division, are awaiting planning permission to build a new ground and relocate from their Rookery Hill home.
If the permission is approved, the building of the new stadium would take Best's total investment past the £15million mark. He added: "We invested in the club, and now it supports itself."
Best made his fortune with his empire of residential homes, with his business Wyldecrest Parks generating £32million and £29million in profit in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
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His mammoth wealth is a long way from his humble upbringing, having been raised living in a caravan on a lay-by. On the keys to his success, he revealed: "Persistence and hard work has allowed me to conquer each step of success.
"Am I successful? Absolutely not. Success is a journey. My top tips. Start, start, start. Be consistent and persistent and believe in what you're doing.
"Make sure that you are your best customer. Because if you're not, how can you expect any other customer to be. Never give up. I'm still working like I'm bankrupt. I'm working like it all ends tomorrow."
East Thurrock currently find themselves in mid-table in the Isthmian League North Division following relegation from the Premier Division last season.
A 1-1 draw away to Brentwood Town on Tuesday night leaves the Rocks 11 points adrift of the play-offs after 26 matches, with 12 league matches remaining this season.
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