Lancashire FA Staff
Got a question? Find out who you need to contact
Meet the Lancashire FA team!
Here you can learn more about our hard-working staff and find out who to contact for a particular query.
If you would like to speak to someone directly, please call us on 01772 624000.
Click to access the Lancashire FA organogram containing each staff member’s direct dial number, along with their main responsibilities. You will be able to leave a message if they are not available to take your call.
If you are still unsure about who would be best-placed to answer your question, drop us an email at info@lancashirefa.com and we will ensure that it is forwarded onto the right person.
chief executive
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
football delivery team
Jo Ashworth
Head of Football Delivery
Jo arrived from Westmorland FA, where she held the position of CEO, and has taken up the role of Head of Football Delivery with us. Jo has a wealth of experience in the football development arena, and has been instrumental in driving change and modernising systems throughout the business in her previous roles. Jo knows the value of building collaborative partnership development and drove investment into Westmorland, working with key funders, such as the Football Foundation & Sport England, and accessing grant funding on behalf of clubs, leagues and participants.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Iain Kay
Head of Participation & Development
Iain, who has worked for the Association for a total of fifteen years, started his current role in October 2016. The role includes developing, maintaining and delivering the FA National Game Strategy across Lancashire FA’s nineteen local authorities. This involves managing the Participation & Development team delivering against the FA’s National Game Strategy focusing on the Male, Female, PAN Disability & Workforce targets. Outside of work, Iain is keen on health & fitness and completed 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 held shares within the club since it formed back in 1882.
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 Schoolsacross Lancashire. He leads on the Club Charter Programme and is heavilyinvolved in the Junior Football Leaders course and Futsal Coaching courses. Additionally,Nick is the main point of contact for clubs in Blackpool, Fylde, Prestonboroughs and Wyre. Outside of work, Nick, a keen Blackburn Rovers Fan, is alsoa 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 yearsand has been heavily involved in grassroots football for the past thirty years. His role in Lancashire FA includesimplementing a variety of programmes and strategies in order to supportLancashire FA’s member leagues and the clubs that they support; this includesthe FA Charter Standard League programme, the FA Youth Review and PlayerRegistration. John is also the lead of Respect, an attribute which is extremelyimportant to Lancashire FA. Moreover, John also oversees rules and regulationsand supports participation in the adult and youth 11v11 games. Additionally, outsideof work, John was an official and founder member of the Police Roll of HonourTrust in helping create the National Police Memorial Monument in London, inremembrance 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 is our lead on Women and Girls Football programmes; a role which he has carried out for over 15 years. Through his role he supports new projects which encourage women to become more involved within football in Lancashire and grow 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 wife.
Phone: 01772 624279 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Leigh Jeffrey
Football Development Officer (Recreational)
Leigh joined Lancashire FA in October 2022 from Burnley FC in the Community where she was a Premier League Primary Stars coordinator. Leigh has worked with us in Leyland previously as an apprentice and supporting our Coach Education delivery. Outside of work, Leigh is a keen volunteer at Gillibrand Warriors and Chorley Women FC, supporting a number of teams at youth and adult age bands.
Phone: 01772 237960 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Katie Wells
Recreational Football Development Officer (Women and Girls)
Katie joined us in January 2023 as a Recreational Football Development Officer with a focus on women and girls football. She joins us in a repositioned role from the Wigan Community Trust.
Phone: 01772 644264 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
commercial and operations department
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
Vikkie Bamber
Sales Coordinator
Phone: 01772 644268
Lucy Stanworth
Food & Beverage Team Member
Referees department
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 has worked here for over twelve years, assists with any safeguarding complaints or complex DBS issues, whilst working closely with his colleague Neil Yates (Head of Safeguarding). Chris is also a fully qualified First Aid Instructor and an Enhanced Community First Responder with NWAS. Chris also delivers the Association’s free CPR/AED Awareness Training workshop to clubs across Lancashire. In addition, Chris is an affiliated FA tutor for the Welfare Officer Course. Outside of the FA, Chris is involved in grassroots football as a Club Welfare Officer. The Manchester United Supporter also works as a freelance Health and Safety, Food Safety, First Aid and Mental Health First Aid Tutor.
Phone: 01772 644271 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Football SErvices department
Justyna Demuth
Head of Football Services
Justyna has been working at the Association since 2008, and is the main contact for enquiries relating to Discipline.
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
Football Services Officer
Andrea, who has been working at the Association since 2014, is the main contact for enquiries relating to Competitions, which include County Cups and Tournaments.
Phone: 01772 644267 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Samantha Murphy
Administrator
Phone: 01772 644274
Jamie Turkish
Administrator
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Marketing and Communications Department
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
office staff
Jane Wareing
Head of Finance
Phone: 01772 644265 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Eleanor Smith
Finance Officer
Phone: 01772 953979
CoacH EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIPS
Colin Greenall
Head of Education & Training and Deputy SSL
Colin, whohas worked at Lancashire FA for the past 13 years, manages and overseesthe delivery of our coach education courses as well as the ApprenticeshipProgramme. Prior to his role at Lancashire FA, Colin was a professionalfootballer. His former clubs include Preston North End, Blackpool and WiganAthletic and he still checks how the clubs are faring throughout the season.Colin is also often heard on BBC RadioLancashire giving a live summary of the match.
Phone: 01772 644269 | 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 Murphy
Apprentice Mentor
Lee has been working for the Lancashire FA as a Coach Educator since 1998 in a part time role. Lee has also worked on the Football Education program run in partnership with Hopwood Hall College for 7 years from 2002. Lee then went on to run a successful business in FE (Further Education) in partnership with various colleges across the county. He has recently returned from abroad where he was working on various projects with the National FA and has joined the team as an Apprentice Mentor. Lee has also coached across the football pyramid from grassroots to professional clubs.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Avril Palmer-Fye
Apprentice Mentor
Avril has a wealth of experience in the education setting, with a significant skill set in coaching, mentoring and leadership, and has coached and mentored apprentices from Level 2 through to Level 7. Avril is also an End Point Assessor (EPA) for the’ L3 Business Administrative’ standard with Pearson Qualifications, as well as working up at Lancaster University in the ‘Management School’ where she has been employed since 2020. Outside of Education Avril is also a successful business women, and the founder of a successful nail company.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
facilities and investment
Lee Boyer
Head of Facilities & Investment
Lee joined 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 grassroots sport, 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 football 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 and employed workforce do, to ensure the game takes place, improving their community and facilities.
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 teams home and away on many occasions.
Siddique Ahmed
Club and Community Facility Development Officer
Sidd joined Lancashire FA in December 2022 in a hybrid role with Westmorland FA as a Club and Community Facility Development Officer. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a first-class honour’s degree in Sports Management. In his previous role, Sidd worked primarily on playing pitch and indoor & built sports facilities; this supports him in understanding the needs to support the community and clubs in his current role. He has also played football at a semi-professional level meaning he has a first-hand understanding of the massive importance of facilities to clubs. Further to this, Sidd has also acquired contemporary coaching and fitness instruction and personal training qualifications.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Keith Pownall
Site Officer/Groundsman
Email: keith.pownall@lancashirefa.com
