Surinder Sharma

Chair of the Board

I joined the LRCFA Board in July 2020 as Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) and I was appointed as the Chair of the Board of the Association in June, 2021.

I was appointed as the first ever National Director, Equality & Human Rights for the Department of Health and the NHS. I have over 40 years of experience of leadership in achieving organisational cultural change and championing equity, fairness, diversity and inclusion. I am the Co-Director for the Unit for Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement, University of Leicester.

My career has spanned working in leadership roles for: a regulator at the Commission for Racial Equality, as a Commissioner for the Equal Opportunities Commission; in broadcasting at the BBC; in retail at Littlewoods; in manufacturing at the Ford Motor Company (Europe); in Pharma at Novartis AG, Switzerland; and in government at the Department of Health and the NHS.

I have served as an elected member on Leicester City Council, as a Justice of the Peace in Leicester, as the High Sheriff of Leicestershire, as a Trustee of UNICEF UK, and as a Member of Council Aston University. I serve on various organisations, including: Chair of Leicester Race Equality Council, the National Space Centre, Charity Link, the Phoenix Cinema & Arts Centre, Member of Council at Loughborough University and as an Independent Person for Leicestershire County Council and Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service.

Recognised for my service and appointed as the Deputy Lieutenant for Leicestershire, Honorary Alderman City of Leicester and awarded honorary doctorate degrees by Birmingham City University, De Montfort University, University of Leicester, Aston University and honorary professorships by Wolverhampton University and Manchester University Business School. 

Kelly Ellis

Chief Executive Officer

Ex-Officio Director

Senior Safeguarding Lead

Sharon Reason

Football Development Director

I joined the Board in June 2021, after joining the Council as a Club Rep. I have also been Chair of Council for two seasons.  I am a founding member at Asfordby Amateurs Ladies, Girls & Inclusive FC, having held many positions within the club, and currently club Chair. I have also helped set up the original Leicester Girls League, in the early days of the start-up of women’s and girl’s football at L&RCFA.

I currently work for a packaging company based in New York, where I oversea our sales in Asia & Europe, having worked in the footwear trade for over 35 years, in various functions, which have prepared me very well for dealing with people at all levels.

I have a passion for the female game and look to help support clubs and volunteers with growing their female sections. 

Laurence Jones

Football Services Director

I joined the LRCFA Board in June 2021. I have been involved in the game since my childhood and have over 45 years’ experience of voluntary and senior executive appointments across all levels of the game. I retired from refereeing in 2001 where I had achieved the National List of Assistant Referees and Panel List of Referees and held numerous voluntary roles in refereeing and youth football. In 2000 I was appointed as Chief Executive of the Hampshire FA, and in 2006 I became Chief Executive of AFC Bournemouth. On leaving Bournemouth in 2008 I joined the LRCFA on a three-month contract following which I was appointed as Chief Executive and then in 2011 I joined the FA as Senior CFA Business Manager, and in 2015 was appointed as the Head of the National League System, a post that I still hold at the FA.

I am an executive member of the FA National Game Board, FA Alliance Committee and FA Leagues Committee.

In 2014 I graduated with the UEFA Certificate of Advanced Studies in Football Management (Distinction)

As a volunteer I am Chief Executive and Director of Harborough Town FC, and a Trustee of the Harborough Town Community Trust, having been involved with the club since 2013. I am also a club representative on the United Counties League Management Committee.

I am delighted to be a member of the LRCFA Board and hope that my experience will assist the Association to grow participation, develop facilities and build new strategic partnerships to support the development of football in the county.

Derren Carlisle

Finance Director

I joined the Board in August 2021, with a desire to bring my experience of local grassroots football as well as my knowledge of the national game in to help develop the County FA. In my day job I am an accountant at the National FA, which has helped provide me with a breadth of knowledge of the governance of football.

In my spare time I still play in the Leicester & Charnwood Sunday Football League, and I am currently working my way through my coaching badges for Football & Futsal.

Nicola (Niki) Clemo OBE

Safeguarding Board Champion (SBC)

I am a social worker by background with over 40 years’ experience in safeguarding both children and adults. My most recent posts were as statutory Director of Children Services in Stoke on Trent and Hull. Previous to this I established the second Children’s Trust in the country as Chief Executive of Slough Children Trust. This was where I gained invaluable experience in managing a company with many similar features to LRCFA. In 2016, I was awarded the OBE for services to children's social care.

I was very excited to be appointed to the role of SBC at LRCFA as I share the vision and passion for creating an environment where as many people as possible can engage in grassroots football, something I have seen make all the difference to the lives of children and young people across the country. I am also passionate about creating this environment in the safest way possible and ensuring that safeguarding is central to everything we do.

Sam Turner

Inclusion Director and Inclusion Advisory Group Chair

Currently working as CEO / Secretary General for the International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF), I have been involved in football and in particular football for persons with disabilities as a volunteer and professionally for almost 20 years. Having worked for professional football clubs, county FAs, national disability sport organisations and international governing bodies, my experience is across different continents, countries, and communities. Over the past few year as a volunteer, I founded Para Football as the worldwide umbrella body for all football for persons with disabilities.

Locally in Leicestershire I have established disability sport networks and coach education, along with previously coaching the CFA Disability Player Development Centre and Regional Blind Football Centre. Chairing the CFA Inclusion Advisory Group, we are creating a connected network which develops a more positive and inclusive football environment for all.

Most recently I took on coaching for my son’s U10s team in at Melton Town Foxes FC.

John Harding

Human Resources Director

I was thrilled to be asked to join the Board of the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA during the Summer 2021. After working full time in HR and related areas in the Energy Sector for over 35 years I decided to look for a volunteering role within the sports arena to allow me to put something back into the community.

The key focus of my role is to contribute to the CFA’s strategic development and capabilities and in particular working with the CEO in improving the working environment for our employees and volunteers throughout the CFA. I also chair the Remuneration & Nomination sub-committee of the Board.

Outside of the CFA I am a level one qualified FA coach at Castle Donnington FC in North West Leicestershire. I have jointly managed the current u10 team for the last 4 seasons. I am also the Chair of Trustees of a medium sized pension scheme.

Michael Tolond

Legal Director

I was appointed a Director of LRCFA in January 2022 and have been the Council member representing Rutland clubs since 2021.

My involvement in grassroots football started as a player (average) with clubs on Merseyside, Nottingham Trent University, in Nottinghamshire (Wollaton FC) and in Rutland (Cottesmore AFC ). I have also acted as Committee member, Secretary and Treasurer of all my clubs and latterly have been Manager of English Veterans FC.

I am a Law graduate of London University and hold a post graduate qualification in Company Law, Business and Finance from the Chartered Governance Institute.

In my professional career I have held senior positions in the legal departments of two plcs and have acted as Company Secretary of a number of wealth management and insurance companies, a professional association of physiotherapists and a Chamber of Commerce. I was also Clerk to the Governing Body of two Leicester FE Colleges.

I spend Saturday afternoons reporting for the Non- League Paper on matches involving Leicestershire clubs playing in the FA Vase, FA Trophy and FA Cup.

Bob Stretton MBE

Facilities Director

I joined the LRCFA Board in June 2021 following my retirement as Chair of Aylestone Park Football Club after 53 years, during which time I held every conceivable position within the club and Chair for 29 years.

It was during my time as Chair I undertook many projects, engaging with Local Authorities, CFA, Football Foundation, Grant Funders, business partners, members and committee enabling the club to build a £3m facility serving the residents of South Leicester.

Following my retirement and hearing of the recruitment of new Directors for the CFA I applied for and was successful in obtaining the position of Director of Facilities with a major responsibility of assisting the staff in delivering, amongst other things, the Local Football Facilities Plan for Leicestershire and Rutland. When delivered these plans could bring £54m of investment for Clubs in the Counties, utilising my experience to help other clubs realise their ambitions and future dreams.

Craig Davis

Partnerships & Commercial Director