Jim Rodwell
Jim Rodwell is the former chairman of Boston United and also a former professional footballer who played centre-half for the club.
Rodwell began his career playing junior football for Lincoln City and was offered apprentice forms prior to Lincoln being the first team relegated from the football league into the conference in 1987. With uncertainty surrounding the status of Lincoln's players, Rodwell instead undertook his apprenticeship with Darlington. From Darlington, Rodwell went to play football in Malaysia for the Sabah State team. After spells at Leeds United and Sheffield United, he moved to the non-league pyramid, joining the likes of, Hednesford Town, Bedworth United, Nuneaton Borough and Halesowen Town. In 1995, Rodwell captained the Great Britain University side at the World Student Games in Fukuoka, Japan. In August 1996, he became Halesowen's record sale when Rushden & Diamonds paid £40,000 for his services. An integral part in Rushden's rise up the pyramid into the football league, he was named as the club's player of the year on two occasions.
In 2002, Rodwell also came third on ITV's Britain's Brainiest Footballer quiz.
Rodwell moved to Boston United in February 2002, helping the Pilgrims into the football league. From Boston, Jim played for Farnborough Town then Aldershot Town and finally Tamworth. In January 2004, he returned to Boston United, initially as Caretaker manager, before taking up a role as Director of football and eventually becoming Chairman in June 2006. In July 2007, after a turbulent time Rodwell resigned as chairman in the wake of the club being sold to Chestnut Homes.
On 11 February 2010 Rodwell became chief executive of Notts County after a buy out of County by Ray Trew. Rodwell left Notts County in March 2015 to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer at Scunthorpe United Football Club, and then on 22 April 2020 he was announced at chief executive of Sunderland.
Rodwell has sat on the board of both the EFL and the FA Council.
