Simon Gerrard

Chief Executive Officer | Senior Safeguarding Lead

Simon is the visionary CEO of Lancashire Football Association, having joined the Company in June 2018, and proceeded to progressively modernise and transform its operations and governance with his energy and drive, ensuring it can succeed within both the sporting and business arenas moving forwards.

Simon is a strong and vocal advocate for creating an inclusive environment where football can be enjoyed by all, and this is reflected in the Lancashire Football Association mission, as well as within the working environment at the Association. 

With his passion and enthusiasm for football, and his keen desire to create an infrastructure for developing football for the future, Simon has a long history of rising to challenges and having a positive influence in the industry – he has worked within the Football Association Group for over 19 years.

As well as his strong impact at Lancashire Football Association, notable other achievements include transforming investment and partnerships whilst CEO at Cheshire FA from 2011-2016, and, when Team Manager for various England Disability Squads, supporting the Partially Sighted Team to win a World Cup Bronze in 2008. Simon continues to work within Team Operations, supporting the current England Futsal Squad.

Outside of football, Simon developed a third-generation climbing centre offering a unique climbing experience for all ages and abilities. He is a keen cyclist and golfer and enjoys both watching and playing football, whilst sharing his interests with his wife, Kim, son, Jake, and his extended family and close friends.

Email: Phone: 01772 346054 | info@lancashirefa.com 

Colin Greenall

Head of Education & Training and Deputy SSL

Colin, who has worked at Lancashire FA for the past 13 years, manages and oversees the delivery of our coach education courses as well as the Apprenticeship Programme. Prior to his role at Lancashire FA, Colin was a professional footballer. His former clubs include Preston North End, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic and he still checks how the clubs are faring throughout the season. Colin is also often heard on BBC Radio Lancashire giving a live summary of the match.

Phone: 01772 644269 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

 

Iain Kay

Head of Participation & Development

Iain, who has worked for the Association for a total of nine years, started his current role in October 2016. His role includes developing, maintaining and delivering the FA National Game Strategy across the whole of Lancashire. This involves line managing the Football Development team when delivering the National Game Strategy, the Whole Support Plan and the Facility Targets. Outside of work, Iain is a passionate runner, completing the Preston Half Marathon as part of the Preston Guild in 2012. Iain is also an avid season ticket holder at local club, Preston North End; his family even holds shares within the club since it formed back in 1880. 

Phone: 01772 644261 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Nick Birchall

Football Development Officer (Education)

Nick, who has been a part of Lancashire FA since 2015, works in association with Universities, Colleges and Schools across Lancashire. He leads on the Club Charter Programme and is heavily involved in the Junior Football Leaders course and Futsal Coaching courses. Additionally, Nick is the main point of contact for clubs in Blackpool, Fylde, Preston boroughs and Wyre. Outside of work, Nick, a keen Blackburn Rovers Fan, is also a FA Coach Mentor and a grassroots Football Coach

Phone: 01772 956556 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

John Treacy

Football Development Officer (Leagues)

John, a Bolton Wanderers supporter, has worked at Lancashire FA for ten years and has been heavily involved in grassroots football for the past thirty years.  His role in Lancashire FA includes implementing a variety of programmes and strategies in order to support Lancashire FA’s member leagues and the clubs that they support; this includes the FA Charter Standard League programme, the FA Youth Review and Player Registration. John is also the lead of Respect, an attribute which is extremely important to Lancashire FA. Moreover, John also oversees rules and regulations and supports participation in the adult and youth 11v11 games. Additionally, outside of work, John was an official and founder member of the Police Roll of Honour Trust in helping create the National Police Memorial Monument in London, in remembrance of Police Officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

Phone: 01772 644270 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Michael Nadal

Football Development Officer (Women and Girls)

Michael, Chairman of Lancashire Schools FA, is our lead on our Women and Girls Football programmes; a role which he has enjoyed for over ten years. Through his role he supports new projects which encourage women to become more involved within football in Lancashire and aid existing movements such as the Wildcats Clubs. Moreover, Michael is the former coach of the girls section, a role that he is very proud of. Michael is also the generic Football Development contact for clubs in Chorley, Sefton, South Ribble, St Helens and West Lancashire. For the past 25 years, Michael has been a keen season ticket holder at AFC Telford United; although he does also watch Newcastle United. Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his two children and planning his wedding which is scheduled for May 2020.

Phone: 01772 624279 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

David Chell

Head of Commercial and Operations

David, who joined Lancashire FA in May 2017, works closely with the CEO, board, staff and other stake holders to develop and instigate our new five-year strategy. David is also responsible for all commercial and operations at the Association and is always keen to speak to potential partners and sponsors. Previously, David has worked for Manchester City, Southampton, and AFC Fylde; as well as some of the UK’s leading sporting, visitor and leisure attractions. David is involved in Grassroots football through his two sons; this inspires David to be passionate about making a difference in what we deliver as a County FA. 

Phone: 01772 737160 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Lyndsay Riding

Sales Manager

Lyndsay joined Lancashire FA as Sales Executive in April 2019. Lyndsay is responsible for building all key relationships with advertisers and sponsors at the county ground. She is always keen to meet new businesses who have an interest in supporting grassroots football. Lyndsay also assists in the booking of conferences and events at Lancashire FA. Prior to joining us she has worked for Bartle Hall and Marriott Hotels, where she was instrumental in building partnerships with many football clubs. Outside of work, Lyndsay is a Liverpool supporter and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons who all support different football teams; making the football season an interesting one for this household!

Phone: 01772 644272 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Shaun Taylor

Referee Development Officer

Shaun, who has worked at the Association for eight years, has worked in a few different roles before being appointed as Referee Development Officer in 2018. Shaun is responsible for the recruitment, retention and development of all grassroots referees across Lancashire. This role ensures that all referees in the county have access to support, training and education opportunities to aid their on-field performances, whilst ensuring their experience as a match official is as enjoyable as possible. Shaun, a Preston North End FC supporter, is also a Level 2B referee himself; this means that he referees in the National League North and South, as well as acting fourth official on the National League Premier and EFL 1 / 2 Divisions.

Phone: 01772 237838 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Neil Yates

Head of Safeguarding and Well-Being

Neil, who has been at Lancashire FA for a total of eight years, and his colleagues within the safeguarding department are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of all under 18 participants in the county. His role in the FA centres on this principle of safety. Neil also delivers many of the free workshops which Lancashire FA offers, including the Adults in Junior Football workshop which he helped to create five years ago. Neil is also an FA tutor on our Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer workshops as well as our Referee courses. Previously, Neil was a Football League Assistant Referee. Outside of work, Neil is a National Leader of Governance after being a school governor for fourteen years and the Chair of a school for five.

Phone: 01772 954232 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Chris Doherty

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Chris, who has worked at the Association for seven years, assists with any discrimination and equality complaints whilst working closely with his colleagues Neil and Rachael. Chris is also a fully qualified first aid instructor and an enhanced community first responder. Chris also delivers the Association’s free CPR/AED Awareness Training workshop to the clubs across Lancashire. In addition, Chris is an affiliated FA tutor for the Safeguarding Children, Emergency First Aid and Welfare Officer Workshops as well. Outside of the FA, Chris is involved in grassroots football as a Club Welfare Officer and a goalkeeping coach. The Manchester United Supporter also works as a freelance Health and Safety, Food Safety and First Aid Tutor. 

Phone: 01772 644271 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Justyna Demuth

Head of Football Services

Justyna, who has been working at Lancashire FA for a total of ten years, is responsible for administering the FA Level 2 and FA Level 3 (UEFA B) in Coaching Football courses. Moreover, Justyna is the main point of contact for   the FA Junior Football Leaders course. She also oversee's the running of the Coach Admin department. On top of all this Justyna is the main lead on CPD events

Phone: 01772 644263 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Rachael Murphy

Football Services Officer

Rachael joined the Association in October 2018 and works alongside Neil and Chris in the safeguarding department.  Outside of the FA, Rachael is involved in grassroots football and is a U5’s coach. 

Phone: 01772 237137 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Andrea Gratton

Administrator

Andrea, who has been working at the Association for four years, is the main contact for enquiries relating to the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football course. 

Phone: 01772 644267 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Helen Summers 

Head of Marketing and Communications 

Having worked across the game for several years, Helen will work closely with CEO Simon Gerrard, the Board, Senior Leadership Team and all colleagues to help transform the way Lancashire FA communicates its messages to a wide range of stakeholders.

Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Jane Wareing

Head of Finance

Phone: 01772 644265 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

 

Andrew Watson

Apprentice Mentor

Andrew, who has worked for Lancashire FA for six years, started his current role four years ago. Andrew’s role includes planning, developing and delivering our PE and School Sport Apprenticeship Programme. Andrew, a Manchester United supporter, is also heavily involved in football outside of Lancashire FA as he is an FA Level 1 and Level 2 coach educator for grassroots coaches. Moreover, Andrew is also a semi-professional footballer who enjoyed two promotions and an FA Cup run with Curzon Ashton. 

Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Lee Boyer

Head of Facilities & Investment

Lee Joined the Lancashire FA in January 2019 and is the county contact and lead on facilities development programmes, supporting clubs, schools and Local Authority’s in particular.

He is passionate about grass roots football, having been a volunteer and an employee employed in various roles in Sports Development for over 25 years, as well as being a previous Manager and Coach of several semi-professional and amateur teams across the county. One particular highlight was winning the Lancashire FA Amateur Cup in 2012.  Consequently, he has seen first-hand the great work many of our volunteers do to ensure the game takes place, in their community and clubs.

Lee is a long standing Burnley and Accrington Stanley supporter, having first watched Stanley in their North West Counties Days and has followed the national men’s team home and away on many occasions.

Phone: 01772 237979 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com

Rachel Owen

Facilities & Investment Officer

Rachel joined Lancashire FA in 2020 where she now supports the County on facility development programmes, predominantly surrounding grass pitch improvement initiatives where she helps develop and support clubs with their grant funding applications to investment partners. The role ensures a visible support presence with Local Authority’s, funding partners, schools and our clubs across the County. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and is a keen footballer where she competes at Tier 4 of the women’s pyramid.

Phone: 01772 319474 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com