Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown has led the tributes to former CEO Colin Sexstone, who has died aged 74. A minute's applause was held before Saturday's match to honour the Bristol born and bred businessman for the part he played in the club's history.
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club also praised their former chief executive. Described as "eternally affable" he is credited with creating an international standard cricket ground.
Born in July 1948, Sexstone was educated in Luckwell, South Street and Colston School. He earned a Business Studies degree at the Bristol College of Commerce before joining the Royal Air Force.
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According to a tribute released by Bristol City today (Sunday, February 26), he never forgot his 25 years in the RAF and after retiring in 1996 as Group Captain, he often regaled friends with stories of his time on the air bases. After leaving the RAF he was named chief executive of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
During his five-year tenure he oversaw the development of the County Ground into an international standard. In 2001 he was appointed chief executive of Bristol City in 2001.
City owner Steve Lansdown said: "I shall remember Colin not just as a chief executive who was totally dedicated to the club, but as a friend who was quick to share a story which would often be related to his past career in the RAF and the game of cricket.
"We used to say he was the only CEO to plan our away trips via RAF bases so he could tell us of their history! Colin was a good friend and colleague, and he will be sadly missed."
He held the chief executive role for a decade before transitioning into the role as chairman from now owner Lansdown in 2011. He left the club a year later in May 2012 and went on to hold directorships at Plymouth Argyle and Bristol Rovers.
Gloucestershire County Cricket said everyone at the club was saddened to learn of his death on Saturday morning. When he joined he club in 1996 he was the first official 'Chief Executive' and stayed in the role until 2001. He left to join Bristol City.
He was later co-opted back onto Gloucestershire's executive board where he chaired the commercial committee. This was integral to projects such as the new Mound Stand and bids for International matches.
The club's statement added: "Colin’s tenure as chief executive was a very successful one. He brought men’s international cricket to the Bristol County Ground starting with the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, but perhaps will be remembered best for his overseeing of the hugely successful period of one-day cricket which resulted in five trophies over the turn of the millenia.
"Eternally affable and always ready to help, he was a very popular figure at the club and across the city of Bristol. Colin will be missed by all that knew him and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."
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