Hannah Simpson

Chief Executive

Hannah joined West Riding FA as CEO in 2012 and brings a wealth of experience from East Riding FA, Liverpool FA and UEFA where she is a Participation Consultant providing consultancy services to other National Associations across Europe on strategic development and operational planning. In this role, she works on the company’s long-term strategy and manages all contractual opportunities and obligations and focusses on our key priorities including stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships and overall business sustainability, growth and development. Born and bred in Nottingham, Hannah played as a youngster before progressing to represent Notts County Ladies in the National League Division 1. Hannah then went on to have stints for Hull City and Scunthorpe United before calling time on her playing days, with the odd moonlighting in the West Riding Women’s Beginners League.

0113 282 1222
hannah.simpson@westridingfa.com

Andrew Shuttleworth

Facilities and Investment Manager

Having joined West Riding FA in 2003, Andrew works as the Facility Development & Investment lead, working with applicants, partners and communities to support project identification and delivery throughout the end-to-end process. The role includes supporting all types of priority projects, including 3G Artificial Turf Pitches, Changing & Club Facilities, Grass Pitches, Small-Sided facilities and Hub sites.  Andrew’s role supports The FA’s and Football Foundation’s aims to deliver a positive impact within communities and to help transform lives and communities through great places to play! Andrew played for a number of clubs in the area including Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue, Liversedge, Harrogate Railway, Thackley and Ossett Albion.

0113 282 1222
andrew.shuttleworth@westridingfa.com

Jo de Tute

Head of Football Development

Jo has been with West Riding FA since 2006. As Head of Football Development, she is responsible for management of the Football Development Team, the Football Services Team, the Designated Safeguarding Officer and Safeguarding Shared Services Officer, ensuring that West Riding FA delivers against FA targets and at the same time ensuring that all staff provide a professional and customer led service to our customers.  She also holds the role of Deputy Senior Safeguarding Lead.  Sport has always been a high part of Jo’s life and she was fortunate to represent Yorkshire at Cricket for a number of years.

0113 282 1222
Joanne.deTute@westridingfa.com

Ashraf Wallace

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead

Ashraf joined West Riding in December 2023. He is responsible for driving forward our commitment to embedding EDI across the football landscape, internally at West Riding FA and supporting the communities that we serve. Embracing Islam at 21, he's been a dedicated Muslim for 25+ years and with 21 years in banking, experience in grassroots football, including his role as Club Secretary of Eccleshill United where he has introduced innovative ideas, including a prayer space at the club and 8 years volunteering for Penny Appeal, he's set to enhance inclusivity and bring his expertise to our football community at West Riding.

0113 282 1222
ashraf.wallace@westridingfa.com

Lee Ashforth

Senior Football Development Officer

Lee is a football enthusiast who has spent the majority of his professional life pursuing his passion for the sport. Joining West Riding in August 2019, he is responsible for managing the Football Development Officers, leading on Coach Education, alongside Club & League development and is part of the Senior Management Team. In his capacity as a coach education developer, Lee has worked with several football organisations in training and upskilling coaches. An extensive CPD Programme is available to Clubs and their coaches and Lee leads this programme and is passionate about the development available to all volunteers across the game. He has been involved at semi-professional level as a player and also a manager for many years and has a wealth of experience at Steps 5 and 6 of the Football pyramid. He is currently joint manager of North East Counties club, Campion FC. 

Victoria Johnson

Finance Officer

Victoria is our longest serving staff member here at West Riding FA after joining the organisation in 1991 as an admin. In her current role now as Finance Office she covers all aspects of finance throughout the company from managing the day-to-day discipline fines, referee’s fees, course fees, pitch bookings, bar takings, paying the company utility bills as well as daily banking reconciliation, invoicing, receipting and chasing up of unpaid debts. In her time at West Riding FA Victoria has met the likes of David Beckham, Michael Owen, John Barnes to name a few as well as the England and Spain national teams who have trained at our facility Fleet Lane.

Reece Sockett

Football Development Officer

Reece joined West Riding County FA in 2018, he spent 4 years within the Football Services Department and has now made the transition to Football Development Officer for all clubs within the central Leeds area.

0113 282 1222
reece.sockett@westridingfa.com

Steve Conboy

Football Development Officer

Joined in 2014, Steve’s role is to support all areas of grassroots football with the aim of increasing the number of people playing the game and also leads on everything Women and Girls. He is a Level 3 Coach with 10 years’ experience volunteering in grassroots clubs as both a coach and committee member. Steve has also spent 5 years coaching in the Leeds United Girls Academy and is now working for The FA on the England Lioness Talent Pathway as an Events Manager and also as a Talent Reporter.

0113 282 1222
steve.conboy@westridingfa.com

Tom Dent

Football Development Officer

Tom re-joined West Riding FA in 2021 having previously been part of the development team for 4 years up to July 2016. As a Football Development Officer, he provides support to clubs and leagues within affiliated football and also support other groups and organisations in recreational football across the county. His role incorporates all formats, however, he leads on inclusion work supporting disability football and other underrepresented groups. Tom has played football from a young age in Hull & the East Riding and continued to play in the Central Midlands League and NCEL for Westella & Willerby. He has also coached in grassroots football as well as a couple of stints in the USA.

0113 282 1222
tom.dent@westridingfa.com

Daniel Wiseman

Facility & Investment Officer

Dan joined the West Riding FA team in July 2022 and works closely with clubs, leagues and other local organisations to improve the quality of their football facilities for the benefit of grassroots football. He supports organisations in using PitchPower and accessing Football Foundation funding to improve the quality of their grass pitches and ancillary facilities. Working closely with the Grounds Management Association (GMA), Dan offers comprehensive post-award support to ensure that investment into grass pitches is sustainable and having a positive impact. He also manages the West Riding FA Groundskeeping Community and schedules regular training and workshops to upskill the local groundskeeping workforce.

0113 282 1222
daniel.wiseman@westridingfa.com

Mark Haywood

Referee Development Officer

Mark's primary responsibility is for the recruitment, retention, conversion and progression of referees within West Riding. He joined the organisation in 2015 and served in the professional game as a Level 1 Referee with 15 years on the PGMOL list as a Referee, now operating as a PGMOL Match Observer outside of his role here. Mark also holds a National CORE Coaching Role for Referees as well as being a coach in the Women's Game in the emerging talent pathway. Mark is a qualified  FA Tutor who helps deliver the Basic Referees Course. He is also there to support all grassroots referees throughout the county and strives to ensure that all referees, regardless of the demographic, can referee in a safe and enjoyable environment whenever possible. 

Jack Mason

Discipline Lead

Jack joined West Riding FA in 2020 after graduating from University. His main responsibilities are to ensure that The FA’s Regulations within Step 5 and below are adhered to. This includes investigating complaints of misconduct, applying charges to any breaches of regulation, and offering support and guidance to Participants on a range of enquires. Jack’s role as Discipline Lead is to oversee the disciplinary process within the department. He also sits as Secretary for The FA on the National Serious Case Panel and for The FA's Judicial Services as an FA National Secretary for Appeal Board Hearings.

Anna Knee

Football Services Officer 

Anna joined the Football Services department in July 2022 following a 15-year teaching career in Special Educational Needs. Her main duties are to ensure all FA rules and regulations are adhered to.  This involves following disciplinary procedures including investigating alleged breaches, raising charges for rule/regulation breaches, arranging both non-personal and personal hearings, and acting as Secretary for these.  Anna is also responsible for many administrative duties including processing red and yellow cards, wrongful dismissals and mistaken identity claims as well as offering support to clubs throughout the disciplinary process. Anna has played football since a young age, and currently plays for a local grassroots club, where she has been involved in developing the growth of girls football for the last 4 years.

Bethany Osborne

Football Services Officer 

Beth joined West Riding County FA in 2023 as a Football Services Officer. Her main duties are running small-sided leagues across the county. Her main duties are to ensure that The FA's grassroots rules and regulations within Step 5 and below are adhered to. She is responsible for investigating possible rules & regulations breaches that may result in disciplinary charges being raised. Beth's role entails processing red cards and cautions, providing guidance to clubs on a wide range of enquiries and conducting investigations into alleged breaches of FA ruling. In addition to this, she is also responsible for acting as secretary for both non-personal and personal hearings. With a playbook that spans the vast field of grassroots football, she has worn many hats—from coaching to identifying female talent, steering committees, and laying down pathways for the stars of tomorrow. Her love for the beautiful game extends beyond the pitch, with a particular focus on the empowerment and development of women in sport. When not immersed in the world of rules and regulations, you'll find Beth supporting Arsenal Women. 

0113 282 1222
bethany.osborne@westridingfa.com

Paul Ratcliffe

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Paul is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for West Riding FA. He is the point of contact for anyone within football for players, coaches, officials, parents who have any safeguarding and welfare concerns. Paul works closely with our network of club and league Welfare Officers, The FA’s Safeguarding Team and external statutory safeguarding bodies such as LADO’s and Police and Social Care. Prior to his role here he worked for Leeds City Council, Sure Start, NSPCC, Barnado’s and Wilf Ward Trust all in safeguarding & welfare related roles. Paul is a veteran of the game who has played 5-a-side football for many years.

0113 282 1222
paul.ratcliffe@westridingfa.com

Gemma Webster

National Safeguarding Officer

Gemma joined West Riding FA as the National Safeguarding Officer in July 2021. She is responsible for managing a team of National Safeguarding Administrators to ensure the effective implementation and embedding of safeguarding best practices and compliance measures across 30 County FAs nationwide.  Alongside the national safeguarding team Gemma works with the FA and NSPCC to develop national policies and procedures to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in grassroots football.  Gemma is also Deputy DSO at West Riding FA and works closely with the lead DSO to support our network of club and league Welfare Officers.

Emma Davies

National Safeguarding Administrator 

Emma joined the West Riding National safeguarding team, part of the Shared Services in October 2022. Emma’s Role in the National Safeguarding team is to support her 9 County Football Associations across the UK to embed safeguarding best practices and compliance. Emma supports with DBS renewal applications and specialises in monitoring compliance for Youth Team Officials. 

Shannon Burdett

National Safeguarding Administrator

Shannon joined the West Riding National safeguarding team, part of the Shared Services in April 2023. Shannon’s Role in the National Safeguarding team is to support her 9 County Football Associations across the UK to embed safeguarding best practices and compliance. Shannon supports with DBS renewal applications and specialises in monitoring compliance for Referee’s and the Referee Workforce. Within her role Shannon also roles out the National Non-compliance reports for The FA Analysing Safeguarding 365 data across all 50 County Football associations and compiling the data into PDF format for a monthly County Report. 

Beth Vickers 

Business Support Administrator

Beth is responsible for all ‘business as usual’ administration relating to membership services, health and safety and facility management. She is provide administrative support to the Board and wider executive operational team, ensuring adherence with the company’s policies, processes, and compliance standards. 

She also ensures that we provide outstanding customer service to all of our members through various communication channels, with a focus on email and telephone support, ensuring an efficient, positive experience for all stakeholders involved in grassroots football. 

beth.vickers@westridingfa.com