| Thomas Youdan | |
| Birth Date: | 1816 |
| Birth Place: | Streetthorpe, Yorkshire |
| Death Place: | Filey, Yorkshire |
| Nationality: | English |
| Occupation: | Theatre proprietor |
Thomas Youdan (1816-1876) was a theatre proprietor in Sheffield, England, known for sponsoring the Youdan Football Cup, the first ever multi-club tournament in the history of football.[1]
Youdan was born in Streetthorpe near Doncaster, the son of a farm labourer. He was baptized on 19 May 1816.[2] [3] At the age of 18 he moved to Sheffield, where he was employed as a labourer and a silver stamper. He then ran a public house, and later built the Surrey Theatre on the site of a former pawn shop. The Surrey Theatre contained a ballroom, theatre, concert-hall, and even a menagerie.
In 1858, Youdan was elected to Sheffield City Council.[2] He served as a councillor for six years.
The Surrey Theatre burned down in 1865, which caused Youdan to lose nearly £30,000.[2] He then converted a storage building into the Alexandra Opera House, before retiring in 1874, and returning to the countryside. He died on 28 November 1876 at his residence of Flotmanly House, near Filey.[2]
Youdan was a prolific philanthropist. In addition to endowing the Youdan Cup, he made generous donations to charities of all kinds.