Former Everton Boss Robert Elstone Has Joined Truro City

The man who once led Everton and helped shape the early plans for the club’s new stadium is turning his attention to Cornwall.

Truro City has confirmed that Robert Elstone MBE will provide strategic advice and support to the club’s senior leadership team going forward. His engagement forms part of continued improvements to all aspects of Truro City’s off-field operations, alongside significant sporting developments planned for the future.

The club says his involvement will help strengthen its profile locally while raising Truro City’s reputation across the wider football community, enabling long-term growth for the Tinners and the newly established Community Trust.

A career at the top of English sport

Robert’s CV reads like a tour of elite-level sport. After working for Deloitte’s Sports Business Group and Sky, he joined Everton Football Club as chief operating officer in 2005.

In early 2009, following a spell as acting CEO, he was appointed permanent chief executive officer at Goodison Park. He oversaw a successful period in the club’s history, including leading the initial design and development phases of the Premier League side’s new home, the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In 2018 he switched codes entirely, moving into rugby league as Super League’s executive chairman. That tenure ended in 2021, when he joined PwC as a subject matter expert advising on a range of sports industry projects.

He also spent a season at Stockport County in a non-executive role, helping to lay the foundations for the Hatters’ return to the English Football League.

What Elstone says about the Cornish club

Robert told trurocity.co.uk that the club’s leadership made an impression on him straight away.

“Having met the club’s senior management, I could not help but be impressed with the clarity of vision and determination for both the club and football charity to succeed,” he said.

“I have been fortunate to have worked at the highest level in English football but find the uniqueness of this Cornish club compelling, and I see huge potential for success. Working at all levels of the club, I hope to help them in achieving their ambitions.”

Truro City’s chief executive officer Robin Karkeek did not hold back on the significance of the appointment.

“I am thoroughly delighted that Robert has agreed to work with Truro City and we are very excited,” Robin said.

“The opportunity for the club to work with someone of his calibre and national recognition within sport, is a step change for the club, but is also recognition of the club’s growth potential, to become a beacon of sporting excellence for Cornwall and beyond. Game on!”