Millwall supporter Gianluca Sardi presented James Berylson, Mark Fairbrother and Sean Daly with rare, framed prints of Dr. William Murray Leslie, the founder and first Chairman of Millwall Rovers FC, on Boxing Day.
In addition to being the founder and first chairman on the Isle of Dogs in 1885, Dr. William was also a very important surgeon and physician who supported the local community and kept on following his beloved Millwall until his death in 1952, at the age of 93.
With the help of the Archives of the National Portrait Gallery (where the original photo of William Murray Leslie is situated), Gianluca was able to gain a non-commercial licence to use the picture for his lectures, and on Millwall Football Club's 140th birthday - and Millwall Community Trust's 40th - has donated three framed prints of Leslie's portrait to Lions Chairman Berylson, Managing Director Fairbrother and MCT CEO Daly.
"I first came across the photo of Dr William Murray Leslie during my academic research about the impact of football clubs on communities along the decades," Gianluca told millwallfc.co.uk.
"As Director of the Institute for Research on Anglo-Italian Comparative Law and Bioethics, I have always supported and pursued conferences, lectures and events on the aforementioned topic, especially as far as Millwall Football Club and Millwall Community Trust are concerned. Together with our scientific committee, we have also promoted research on the connections between arts, culture and football, and while I was examing the amazing collections of the National Portrait Gallery, I bumped into the photo of our first Chairman.
"It was such an amazing honour for me to . To present three copies on the pitch on Boxing Day to such important and amazing people was one of the most emotional moments of my career and of my personal life. Explaining to the Chairman and the Managing Director of Millwall and to the CEO of the Trust the role of the founder and first Chairman of the club, his commendable career in science and law (William Murray Leslie was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a physician and, in the first half of the 20th century, he became a barrister-at-law) and his impact on the life of local communities (especially during his years as a GP in Glengall Road, Isle of Dogs - in the same street where the first Millwall ground was situated - was absolutely gorgeous.
"Finally, saying to our current Chairman that I was giving him the frame of his colleague of 140 years ago and seeing his great interest and appreciation for that was the icing on the cake. I would really like to thank James Berylson, Mark Fairbrother, Sean Daly, Max McLellan, Mark Litchfield and Kai Bennett for what they organised on the pitch of The Den on Boxing Day."
Fans can view the original portrait by appointment, which can take place on Tuesday-Thursday from 10am-5pm, by calling 020 7321 6617.
