Calvin Ford, great-great grandson of Henry, completes Livingston takeover

Livingston supporters attending Friday night’s Premiership play-off semi-final against Partick Thistle were buoyed by the pre-match news that American investor Calvin Ford has become the club’s majority shareholder and chairman.

Ford, the great-great grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, has purchased 100% of Baycup Ltd’s controlling stake in the West Lothian side. The American also replaces John Ward as chairman of Livingston Football Club.

Livingston presented Ford to fans at Almondvale Stadium during their 2-0 play-off victory over Partick Thistle on Friday evening.

He told the club’s website: “I am overjoyed and honoured to be part of Livingston Football Club.

“What drew me to wanting to be involved with LFC was the incredible leadership that people like Davie Martindale and John Ward portray. They have a passion for this club and community that is contagious, and I look forward to being part of something special here.”

Baycup Ltd founder John McIlvogue first acquired a ‘significant shareholding’ in Livingston at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.

McIlvogue said that Ford’s takeover ensured he had left Livingston in “a better place than when I arrived”.

He said: “When I chose to invest in the football club I did so to be of help whether short, medium or long term.

“It has been a great pleasure to support the club through its difficulties and see it bounce back with the first silverware in over a decade and a real fight for Premiership promotion.”

McIlvogue added that “the time is now right” to sell his shares in the Scottish Championship club.

Outgoing ‘Livi’ chairman Ward, who will retain his position as a club director, said that Ford’s “integrity and enthusiasm for football will bring a sea change to Livingston and the wider West Lothian community”.

He said: “I feel that for the first time in the history of Livingston Football Club we will have an owner who is working in the best interests of the club and fans.”

Ford, an investor and philanthropist, is vice-president for sales and marketing at Detroit-based Pentastar Aviation. Forbes data from 2015 estimated the living members of the Ford family to be collectively worth almost £2bn.

The American spoke to BBC Scotland before Friday’s play-off match: “It’s become kind of an in vogue thing to become involved in European football and Scottish football. To me, it’s not about that.

“It’s about being with the fans, being with the people, celebrating victories, crying in the losses, feeling the pain. It’s not about the financial or the ownership part of it. That’s a way to get involved.”

Ford joins fellow Americans Adam Webb (St Johnstone), Tim Keyes (Dundee), Mark Ogren (Dundee United) and the Gordon family (Hibernian) at the top of Scottish football.

Livingston manager David Martindale said the investment will take the club “out of the dark ages”.

Livingston’s men’s team will play Ross County for a place in next season’s top flight, while Livingston WFC are fifth in the SWPL 2.