Board and Staff
Meet the team at North Riding FA
PROFESSION: Retired Civil Engineering Project Manager now working part time as a Project Management and Planning Consultant.
BACKGROUND: Civil Engineering Project and Planning Manager, worked within the Rail Industry for 45 years and 30 years within football administration. Football Coach, Referee, Welfare Officer, Discipline Panel member and holder of a Diploma in Sports Psychology.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN FOOTBALL: North Riding FA – Director and Chair.
FA Council Member, FA Regional Discipline Panel Chair, member of The FA Referees Committee, FA Refereeing Equality Group and FA Referees Mental Health Champion.
PROFESSION: Chief Executive Officer of North Riding FA
BACKGROUND: Worked at North Riding FA since 2005 initially joining as a Football Development Officer before spending 7+ years as the County Development Manager. Previously worked in the Sports Development Team at the City of Sunderland Council. Steven is an FA Safeguarding Children Tutor and FA Level 2 qualified coach.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN FOOTBALL: Working 24/7 to support football in North Riding.
BACKGROUND: Coached football to boys / girls and adults for 35 years.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN FOOTBALL: Senior Independent Director at North Riding FA. Currently manager of Bedale Town FC and Trustee of Bedale Junior Football Club.
BACKGROUND: Spent 11 years working at Chipchase Manners & Co, Middlesbrough before leaving to set up own firm. Broom Sturman & Co was formed in 1992 with Allan Sturman and has operated from an office in Acklam since then.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN FOOTBALL: Association with North Riding FA goes back over 30 years, initially as honorary auditor. Lifelong Middlesbrough FC fan and season ticket holder.
Profession
Background
Worked in the NHS and within the public health field since 2003, with roles including clinical care, health care service redesign, commissioning in primary and secondary care, as well as system leadership. This experience spans many different health and social care organisations including cardiothoracic surgery, Primary Care Trusts, Local Authority, Public Health England and more recently the Academic Health Science Network. Key topics led on within public health include cardiovascular disease, sexual health, health protection, mental health and suicide prevention. Passionate about public health, passionate about reducing health inequalities and the power that football and physical activity presents to improve people’s physical as well as emotional health and wellbeing.
Current involvement in football
Currently manager / coach for Darlington Young Bulls U18s within the Teesside Junior Football Alliance.
BACKGROUND: Formerly served in the Armed Forces and spent 40 years working in the Oil Industry.
CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN FOOTBALL: Chair of the North Riding FA Football Development Working Group, Level 5 Referee, FA Referee Tutor.
Profession
Currently covering Safeguarding as Lead/Named Nurse for Adults at Risk and Children throughout North Yorkshire.
Background
Previously worked within NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services throughout York and North Yorkshire as a team leader. Specialist in family therapy, ADHD, Autism, Bereavement, and also working with children with hearing impairments.
Recently worked as a Safeguarding Lead/Named Nurse for NHS Children's Safeguarding throughout all of North Yorkshire and South Teesside.
Current involvement in football
Past football club Welfare Officer. Currently League Welfare Officer for City of York Girls League, York Youth League and York District FA. League Safeguarding Advocate for York FA U19’s, York Minster Engineering and North Riding Football Leagues. FA Regional Discipline Panel Member and Board Safeguarding Champion.
north riding fa staff members
Find out more about the team at North Riding FA!
Steven Wade (Chief Executive)
E: steven.wade@northridingfa.com
My role is...
To spearhead the strategic direction and culture of North Riding FA. I lead delivery of The FA Grassroots Football Strategy and the North Riding FA Business Strategy, whilst being responsible for the for the day-to-day running of the Association. I also perform the role of Senior Safeguarding Lead, overseeing effective safeguarding delivery across the Association and grassroots football
The most enjoyable part of my role is...
Working with the Board and Staff to drive positive change across the business and in grassroots football. Football can bring huge health and social benefits and it’s really rewarding to be able to play a small part in making decisions that can make a fundamental difference to people’s lives.
The team I support is...
Newcastle United
Ross Joyce (Referee Development Manager)
E: ross.joyce@northridingfa.com
My role is to...
I am responsible for all aspects of Referee Recruitment, Retention and Development within local grassroots football. Within my role, I am fortunate to be responsible for over 400 referees and a fantastic volunteer referee development workforce, who are committed to ensuring all our referees are fully supported and valued.
The most enjoyable part of my role is...
Leading and developing refereeing within North Riding County FA, as well as helping to play a small part in referees who wish to progress through the refereeing pyramid. Over the past few years, we have made great progress in ensuring our referee workforce is fully diverse and is fully representative of our local communities.
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough FC
John Fothergill (Head of Football Development & Operations)
E: john.fothergill@northridingfa.com
My role is...
I provide an overarching management structure to the Football Development, Operations and Shape the Play departments. I strive to ensure North Riding FA deliver against FA targets and customer led services with professionalism and efficiency. I also lead on Facility Development, working with clubs and key partners to identify and support the process of 3G pitches and improved club facility infrastructure.
I most enjoy...
Supporting the amazing staff and club volunteers to make a real difference to grassroots football. From witnessing new developments for players to access the game at all pathways to providing safe and high-level environments to play, there are many rewarding elements to the role.
The team I support is...
Newcastle (but I have a soft spot for Sunderland and Middlesbrough due to past connections to both clubs)
Lesley Clark (Football Operations Officer - Discipline Lead)
E: lesley.clark@northridingfa.com
My role is...
Processing of all discipline reported to the County FA, including investigating more serious cases. Supporting Clubs & Leagues with discipline & suspension queries. Also provide support for Affiliation & County Cup queries.
I most enjoy...
Providing support & advice to volunteers at Clubs & Leagues. Satisfaction in resolving any issues that they may have.
The team I support is...
Leeds United - MOT
Aimee Leonard (Football Operations Officer – Finance Lead)
E: aimee.leonard@northridingfa.com
My role involves...
Finance, Affiliations and County Cup admin.
I most enjoy...
Being involved in football and working with friendly and supportive colleagues.
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough
Donna Crowthers (Football Development Officer)
E: donna.crowthers@northridingfa.com
My role is...
To support our network of clubs and leagues to be the best place to play football. I can offer support around Club Structures, England Accreditation, Digital Platforms (Club Portal, Matchday App, Full Time, WGS), Coach Education & CPD and Player Pathways.
I most enjoy...
Seeing our leagues and clubs growing across the 3 player pathways and embracing new projects to support their local community.
The team I support is...
Man United
Jasmine Morris (Football Development Officer - Women and Girls and Disability, and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
E: jasmine.morris@northridingfa.com
My role...
Mainly consists of developing the female and disability game but additionally I also oversee our Youth Voice programmes and Futsal. I also provide support and develop FA programmes such as; FA Snickers Protein Just Play Centres, Weetabix Wildcats, England Recreational Disability and Squad Girls all working towards the National Game Strategy and Women and Girls Strategy Inspiring Positive Change.
I most enjoy...
I absolutely love my role at North Riding. I love making a difference through the power of football and giving equal opportunities for people to be involved in the game. I also enjoy working with a diverse range of people and within various programmes and pathways.
The team I support is...
Nottingham Forest
Clair Shield (Designated Safeguarding Officer)
E: clair.shield@northridingfa.com
My role involves...
Raising awareness of all things safeguarding within the county, from advocating safeguarding messages to clubs, players and parents to training welfare officers, monitoring DBS compliance, dealing with poor practice concerns and supporting referees. I also investigate discipline and misconduct cases.
I most enjoy...
Helping people, if I can help I will! My job brings together my two loves – football and children. From accompanying my Dad when he coached a team when I was a kid to watching my children play now and my background as an early years educator, I have the best of both worlds!
The team I support is...
I like to stay neutral and just enjoy a good game – from kids on a Sunday morning to the Premier League! But if I had to pick a team, I would have to go with Newcastle.
James Hadman (Shape the Play/Active Through Football Programme Manager)
My role is to...
Manage the Shape the Play project in Central Stockton and Thornaby, which is a 5 year programme to encourage communities to become more physically active, using football as the key tool for engagement. It is not about organised formal football, but just getting people off the sofa and moving more.
I most enjoy...
My role is hugely varied and involves engaging a wide range of individuals into getting more active and is always fun and challenging, trying to think of new creative ways to get communities involved. I also enjoy seeing how our work in Stockton links back into the more strategic objectives of North Riding County FA.
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough, but with a soft spot for Crystal Palace too.
Jordan Cotterill (Game Changer – Shape the Play)
My role is...
I work on the ‘Shape the Play’ project, which is an exciting new Programme from Sport England, funded by the National Lottery and delivered by the Football Foundation. Working specifically in the Central Stockton and Thornaby areas. I am responsible for the practical delivery aspect of the project, helping to create welcoming and inclusive environment for each group we work with!
I most enjoy...
Working with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, hearing about their interests and passions, whilst sharing with them my own!
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough FC. Always have since I was a boy; me and my Dad went to the cup final back in 2004 when we beat Bolton 2-1 in Cardiff!
Shamaela Khan (Game Changer – Shape The Play)
My role is...
To support the delivery of Shape the Play in Stockton and Thornaby, supporting communities to become physical active using football as the main tool to engage people. I run various sessions including a football focused multisport session with a group of adults with learning disabilities and a football themed dance session with some ladies from the local BAME community.
I most enjoy...
My role involved working with lots of different community groups and charities and the people they support, which I love! I also love coming up with new creative ways to engage people in a ‘football inspired’ way, which is both fun for the community and myself.
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough
Callum Guy (Football Administration Assistant)
My role is...
Provide admin support for the Football Operations and Football Development teams. Involved in supporting coach development, county cups, discipline and England Football Accreditation.
I most enjoy...
The variety of work is a massive plus point for me, every day there is something new and interesting to get involved in.
The team I support is...
Newcastle United.
Courtney Jones (Events & Partnerships Manager)
My role is...
I am responsible for leading the delivery of all North Riding FA events, in addition to identifying new, and managing existing, corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities within the county.
I most enjoy...
I absolutely love that the role allows me to travel up and down the county, visiting individuals, teams and clubs that really make a difference. Being involved in football from a young age, I have witnessed the countless hours that goes into operating a club and our volunteers certainly optimise the ‘good’ in human beings.
The team I support is...
Middlesbrough.
