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.
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 CEO of Lancashire Football Association. On joining the Company in June 2018, he progressively modernised and transformed its operations and governance, ensuring it can succeed within sport and business, which led to Lancashire FA achieving compliance with the latest version of the FA’s Code of Governance for County FAs (v. 2.1) in May 2024.
As a staunch advocate for inclusion within business, football and sport generally, Simon has created a thriving, diverse and inclusive organisation, with a positive working culture, strong corporate values and a focus on health and wellbeing. He leads the team to build inclusion into all projects with the intention that all members of the Lancashire footballing community can equally access and benefit from the opportunities that arise from participating in football.
As well as his impact at Lancashire FA, other notable achievements include transforming investment and partnerships whilst CEO at Cheshire FA and supporting the England Para Football set up for 20 years. Simon is also a Governor at Myerscough College, where his career began.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Jo Ashworth
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Jo arrived from Westmorland FA, where she held the position of CEO. Jo has a wealth of experience in football development and has been instrumental in driving change and modernising systems throughout the business in her previous roles.
In her role as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Safeguarding Lead, Jo oversees the day to day running of the Football Development team, the Football Services & Safeguarding department and the Facilities and Investment team.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Football Services & Safeguarding
Neil Yates
Head of Safeguarding and Football Services (DSO)
Neil and his colleagues within the safeguarding department are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of our stakeholders across the county. He created our Adults in Junior Football workshop, a free of charge one of kind session delivered to clubs at their request to teach parents the importance of letting their children have fun in football.
Previously, Neil was a Football League Assistant Referee. Outside of work he holds the role of school governor.
Phone: 01772 954232 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Chris Doherty
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Chris assists with any safeguarding complaints or complex DBS issues, whilst working closely with his colleague Neil Yates (Head of Safeguarding). 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.
Away from Lancashire FA, Chris is a fully qualified First Aid Instructor and an Enhanced Community First Responder with NWAS.
Phone: 01772 644271 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Justyna Demuth
Football Services Manager
Justyna has been working at Lancashire FA since 2008 and is the main contact for enquiries relating to discipline. She also manages the Football Services team.
Phone: 01772 644263 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Rachael Murphy
Football Services Officer and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer
Rachael joined Lancashire FA in October 2018 and works in the Football Services team, as well as assisting Neil and Chris in the Safeguarding department. If that wasn’t enough, she also coaches her son’s team.
Phone: 01772 237137 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Andrea Gratton
Football Services Officer
Andrea, who has been working at Lancashire FA 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
Football Services Officer
Sam started working at Lancashire FA in 2022 as an apprentice but is now a full-time member of staff, assisting Justyna with discipline matters and supporting the wider Football Services team.
Phone: 01772 644274
FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT & PARTICIPATION
Iain Kay
Head of Football Development
Iain started at Lancashire FA in June 2008. His role as Head of Development includes developing, maintaining and delivering the FA National Game Strategy across the county.
He is the main point of contact for clubs in Lancaster, Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde.
Phone: 01772 644261 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Katie Makinson
Women's Recreational Football Officer
Katie joined us in January 2023 as a Women’s Recreational Football 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
Michael Nadal
Football Development Officer
Michael is our lead on Women and Girls Football programmes. Through his role he supports new projects which encourage women to become more involved within football in Lancashire and grow existing movements such as Wildcats & Squad Girls. Michael is the Football Development contact for clubs in Wigan, West Lancashire, Hyndburn, Burnley & Pendle.
Phone: 01772 644279 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Leigh Jeffrey
Football Development Officer
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 previously as an apprentice and supporting our Coach Education delivery.
She is now the lead on PAN Disability and Recreational football and is the key contact for clubs in Preston, South Ribble, Chorley, Blackburn & Darwen and Ribble Valley.
Phone: 01772 237960 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Poppy Haslam
Football Development Officer
Poppy joined the organisation in 2023 from Bolton Wanderers Community Trust in the role of Community Engagement Officer. However, she is now part of the Football Development Team where she is the lead on clubs and leagues accreditation and in the contact for clubs in Barrow, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale & Rossendale.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
WORKFORCE - REFEREES & COACHES
Colin Greenall
Workforce Manager
Former professional footballer Colin sits within the Football Development team as Workforce Manager where he leads our Refereeing Department, as well as coordinating with coaches across the county and organising CPD sessions.
Previously he oversaw the delivery of our coach education courses before it was centralised by the FA, and our Apprentice Programme.
Phone: 01772 644269 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Jacob Lehane
Referee Development Officer
Jacob joined Lancashire FA in 2024 from Leicestershire FA where he served in the same role. He’s also an assistant referee in League 1 and League 2.
Phone: 01772 644000 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com
FACILITIES & 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 Authorities.
He also leads the wider facilities team, including the Lancashire FA Facilities Manager Sarah Berry and her hospitality team, as well as our groundskeeping staff.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Ian Hunt
Club and Community Facility Development Officer & Health and Safety CoordinatorIan started at Lancashire FA in October 2023 in the role of Club and Community Facilities Officer, working with both ourselves and Westmorland FA.
Ian focuses on the work we have developed to support the many wide and varied projects targeted across both counties to improve and grow their facilities.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Dominic Foley
Football Facilities Activator
Dominic joined Lancashire FA in October 2023 after graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sports Science.
In his free time he coaches at grassroots club AFC Burnden Park in Bolton.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Sarah Berry
Lancashire FA Facilities Manager
Sarah took up the role of Facilities Manager in October 2023 following detailed and strong experience from leisure facility management, events and operations on large multi-sport community facilities along with experience having been a serving police officer.
She leads and supports the operation and functions here at the County Ground, and heads up our hospitality team.
Chris Metcalfe
Facilities & Events Team Leader
Chris started at Lancashire FA in April 2024 bringing his vast experience working in the hospitality industry with him. He supports Facilities Manager Sarah with the day to day running of operations, including hosting conferences and events, and running point on match days.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Sophia Ambrose
Facilities & Events Team Member
Sophia joined the team full-time in September 2024 after working within our operations department as a causal member of staff for a number of years. She supports with running our events and matches here at the County Ground.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Keith Pownall
Grounds Manager
Keith has been our Grounds Manager for a number of years at the County Ground, making sure the pitch is of excellent quality for both pro-clubs as well as our County Cup Finals.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Phil Rolls
Chef
Phil is our sole chef here at Lancashire FA and his food is appreciated by everyone we cater to, whether it’s a conference in the day or hospitality food for a match. His pies are the stuff of dreams.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
Andrew Little
Groundsperson
Andrew started at Lancashire FA in 2022 and he assists Keith with the maintenance of the site, including the pitch, the 3Gs and the building.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Lucy Roberts
Digital Media Officer
Lucy joined Lancashire FA in November 2022 and is a graduate in Sports Journalism from UCLan. Lucy brings experience as a freelance digital content creator and reporter and creates engaging content for all Lancashire FA communication and marketing channels and events.
Email: info@lancashirefa.com
FINANCE
Jane Wareing
Head of Finance
Jane has been a key member of staff at Lancashire FA for a number of years and she leads on the financial side of the business. Ensuring our revenue and funding is put back into the game and working closely with each department is a fundamental part of her job.
Phone: 01772 644265 | Email: info@lancashirefa.com