Board Of Directors
Meet Lancashire FA's Board Of Directors
DAVID FLORY - Chairperson
David Flory has 22 years of board level experience as Chief Executive and Executive Director of NHS organisations in England and healthcare organisations internationally, including six years working as Deputy Chief Executive-Director General in the Department of Health for England. David was awarded a CBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List.
On his appointment on 1 July 2022, David Flory said: “I am passionate about football. It has always been a big part of my life since childhood as a participant, a fan and a parent. Participation in sport has a positive impact on health, fitness and wellbeing. It teaches teamwork, leadership, social confidence and emotional resilience as well as skill development and personal growth.
“Organisations such as Lancashire Football Association must be well led and well governed in order to enjoy the confidence of the public and secure the engagement and involvement of multiple stakeholders. I am looking forward to working with the Board of Directors and the Executive Team to further build on the strong foundations in place to continue to make a difference across Lancashire’s football landscape.”
Arshia Hashmi
Arshia is a Non-Executive Director at Lancashire Football Association, having joined the Board in 2017. She is the youngest, first female and first Asian board member in its 130+ year history.
Arshia has significant experience in football governance; she has been appointed by the FA as Chair to its National Anti-Discrimination Panel and the FA General Appeal Board Panel, and on these appointments became the country’s youngest female panel member and the UK’s youngest Asian female member. Arshia is also a member of the FA’s Regulatory Commission, adjudicating on discipline matters at the highest level of English football.
For a number of years, Arshia has coached and managed youth boys’ teams at grassroots level and, during this time, the club achieve FA Charter Standard status.
Outside of football, Arshia is a specialist immigration solicitor, advising businesses and individuals across a range of industries including engineering, manufacturing, digital technology and sports.
Arshia aims to encourage and promote diversity within the game, and put her expertise in equality, diversity and anti-discrimination to good use helping effect a positive change in both society, and sport.
Arshia is an independently appointed Director.
Craig Howard
Craig has been a Non-Executive Director at Lancashire Football Association since 2018. He has had vast involvement with football, with his early football career beginning with refereeing at the age of 14. He progressed to Level 4, aged 18, and officiated at Contributory and Supply League level within the football pyramid.
Craig is currently the Secretary of Croston Sports Club, who play in the West Lancashire League which operates at Step 7 of the National League System. He is also a member of the West Lancashire League Management Committee, holding the role of League Development Officer and having responsibility for the League’s development plan and funding initiatives.
Craig has a degree in Mathematics from The University of York, and is currently the Commercial Director at Ipsum Utilities ltd. He is a Liverpool FC supporter and, outside of football, enjoys watching most sports and has a particular passion for darts, visiting Alexandra Palace whenever he can.
Craig is a membership appointed Director.
Jackie Day-Garner
Jackie has been a Non-Executive Director at Lancashire Football Association since May 2020. She has coached both football and hockey in the UK and USA and worked for England Hockey as a Coach Education Tutor and Junior High-Performance Coach.
Professionally, Jackie is the Director of Business Development within the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), having started as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Studies in 2001. She is responsible for the strategic implementation of business development activities in the areas of health and sport working with Health Education England, NHS Trusts, and sports organisations. Her role includes developing international and UK partnerships, partner colleges activities, leading the apprenticeship agenda and developing new business for the faculty. Jackie has extensive experience developing UK and international partnerships in countries such as China, Mauritius, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Jackie holds a BA(Hons) in Human Movement Studies from Carnegie School of Physical Education (Leeds Beckett University). She also holds a PGCE in Physical Education and an MSc in Physical Activity, Exercise and Health from Leeds Beckett University, and a PhD from Liverpool John Moores University, during which she investigated critical transition phases within elite women’s football from a European perspective.
Jackie is a lifelong Liverpool fan and is an active researcher in women’s football. Her article, ‘Women’s World Cup: why career options need to improve for these sporting superstars’, discussing women’s football careers and options when they retire from the game, was well-received when published in The Conversation in June 2019 during the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup.
Jackie is an independently appointed Director.
JOANNE CARLIN
Jo is the Lancashire FA Board Safeguarding Champion and Board Safety Champion and her role involves ensuring that the safety and welfare of staff and our community are considered during Board discussions and factored into decision making.
Any welfare or safety concerns can be raised directly with Jo by contacting her at joanne.carlin@lancashirefa.com
Mark Wild
Mark has been a Non-Executive Director at Lancashire Football Association since May 2020. He is a keen amateur footballer and is the current U8’s Coach at Gillibrand Warriors in Chorley. Passionate about finding new ways of supporting football in Lancashire, Mark is determined that the County is recognised as the world’s best at ensuring every young person enjoys their game in a safe and welcoming environment, and has the best opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Professionally, Mark is the MD for Wild5 Enterprises, providing business consultancy for the full spectrum of businesses from start-up through to preparation and business sale. He is passionate about Business Management and has significant experience in helping companies grow through strategic planning, people development, investment in IT and operations, all founded on secure financial disciplines. His background includes many years’ experience in the Construction and Pharmaceutical Industries.
Mark holds a degree in Mathematics with Business Management from Manchester University and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in HRM before qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2006.
As an Everton season ticket holder of almost twenty years, and England fan, Mark has a long-standing enthusiasm for football and, having experienced many highs and lows over the years, remains optimistic about having many more highs ahead.
Mark is an independently appointed Director.
PAUL NEWMAN
Paul joined the Lancashire FA Board in June 2021. He is an experienced communications professional and currently Associate Director of Communications and Engagement at the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe. His previous PR roles include 12 years as Director of Communications at MediaCityUK and The Peel Group.
Paul was Communications and Public Affairs Director for Liverpool’s stint as European Capital of Culture in 2008, following three years as Director of Communications at The Football Association.
Prior to The FA, Paul spent 20 years as a television news correspondent for BBC News, ITV and Sky News. He trained as a reporter with the Warrington Guardian newspaper group before moving into broadcasting with Piccadilly Radio in Manchester.
Paul also served as a non-executive director with the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group in Salford and as a member of the general assembly at the University of Manchester.
Paul is an independently appointed Director.
PRIYA KOHLI
Priya joined the Lancashire FA Board in June 2021. Currently living in Amsterdam, she was born and raised in London where she first developed her interest in the digital field.
Priya has a passion for football and women’s sports generally and her career has followed her interests in the sports sector. She has worked for Chelsea FC’s Digital Marketing department, leading the Club’s CRM team and establishing their first loyalty & rewards programme, and is now at adidas, where she has spent time at their Global Headquarters in Germany, to work on the launch of their sponsorship of Manchester United FC and managing adidas’ first ever football club CRM programme, before settling in Amsterdam. Priya has also worked on periodic campaigns for multiple adidas sponsored football clubs, including FC Bayern, Juventus FC and Real Madrid CF, and for major tournaments, including the Euros.
In the last 4 years, Priya’s main focus has been digital analytics, incorporating analysis of data and the associated insights to strengthen a brand. She now brings this considerable digital expertise to support Lancashire FA’s journey of digitalisation, football growth and outreach to the entire football community in Lancashire.
Priya is an independently appointed Director.
Stewart Kellett
Stewart has been a Non-Executive Director at Lancashire Football Association since May 2020. He has a wide-ranging background in sport in public, private and voluntary sectors, and a keen desire to create sustainable growth and development of football in Lancashire.
Professionally, Stewart is the CEO of Basketball England, the National Governing Body for Basketball, leading major changes at community and performance levels, and he is immensely proud of England Basketball’s silver medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Previously, Stewart was with British Cycling for 8 years as Director of Recreation & Partnerships, managing the BSkyB partnership changing cycling policy and culture in Britain and leading the Sky Ride campaign ‘Inspiration to Participation’. He was instrumental in reaching a new female audience and a leading spokesperson for cycling during the 2012 Olympics. Stewart has also worked at Sport England as a Regional Director and is the former CEO of Lancashire Sport.
Stewart is a keen sportsman, having competitively played badminton for Lancashire and Devon first teams. He has coached and run community clubs, as well as playing schoolboy and Preston & District youth football. Currently, Stewart is a keen cyclist, riding endurance events to keep fit. He is also a Team Manager and Match Analyst for Didsbury Hockey Ladies 1s. As a proud Lancastrian, Stewart has always followed local clubs, including Accrington, Preston, Burnley, Blackpool, Morecombe, Fleetwood and Chorley, as well as being a life-long supporter of Blackburn Rovers. He shares his interests in sports with his wife, Nicky, and three daughters.
Stewart is an independently appointed Director.
Jenny Rigby – Board Observer
Within Jenny’s remit as Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Football Advisory Board, she provides an important role as a Lancashire FA Board Observer, providing observations from an inclusion perspective both ahead of Board meetings on the agenda, and directly afterwards on the content and discussion, directly to the CEO and Lancashire FA Chair.
Jenny has career-long experience of Equality and Diversity campaigns in the public sector, challenging and tackling discrimination in all forms. She has also been involved in Clubs within the County for the past 10 years, helping to ensure that young players have an equal opportunity to develop and fully participate in the game. She previously coached and managed junior teams and is currently enjoying the role of Club Welfare Officer and has involvement in campaigns within football to promote player care and positive mental health.