Who was the owner of JJB Sports?
James Olson
Updated on March 04, 2026
Dave Whelan
Orrell Rugby Union Club Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club Chairman Maurice Lindsay and business tycoon Dave Whelan, the then owner of the JJB Sports empire, had already been making noises about forming a rugby union side.
Did Sports Direct buy JJB?
Sports Direct has acquired the JJB Sports brand, website and 20 stores, saving 550 jobs, but the 133 remaining stores will be closed today (1 October) with 2,200 redundancies.
What happened to the shop all sports?
Allsports went into administration last month with the loss of more than 1,300 jobs after a significant decline in sales and a price war among sportswear retailers. Since then administrators have closed 92 under-performing stores and John David Group today said it had acquired the rest of the company.
What does DW Fitness stand for?
DW Sports Fitness is a British retailing and fitness business. Founded in March 2009 when Dave Whelan purchased the 50 JJB Sports Fitness Clubs and the attached retail stores for £83.4 million.
Who was the original owner of JJB Sports?
The original JJB sports store was established by John Jarvis Broughton in the beginning of the 1900s, and later was purchased by John Joseph Bradburn. As these initials were all the same, the business was known locally as JJB’s.
How many JJB Sports stores are there in the UK?
As these initials were all the same, the business was known locally as JJB’s. When Whelan bought the store from Bradburn, he kept the JJB name. During the beginning of the 1990s, the store portfolio grew to stores totalling 120 by 1994, at which point the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange.
When did Sports Direct take over JJB Sports?
On 24 September 2012, shares in JJB Sports were suspended, and the firm called in administrators. On 1 October 2012, it was announced that Sports Direct had purchased part of the business, including 20 stores, the brand, and its website for £28.3 million. The original JJB sportshop was founded in the beginning of the 1900s.
What was Chris Ronnies stake in JJB Sports?
His 29% stake was bought for £190m by Chris Ronnie, who had previously worked for rival store chain Sports Direct, backed by Icelandic financial group Exista.
