As we look forward to the resumption of football following 18 months of interruption from COVID-19, Northamptonshire Football Association is delighted to confirm details of a new Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.

Northampton-based Construction Contracts Manager Jim Wilkinson takes up his role as the new NFA Chairman having enjoyed a previous spell as Vice Chairman of the Association. Jim is a long-standing supporter of grassroots football in the county.

Tony Major retains his seat on the Board as Director, now in his 18th year of service to the Association, ensuring continuity to the management process.

Jim and Tony are joined by 5 new Directors:

Lawrence Kay, Director of Health & Wellbeing Development Operations at Trilogy Leisure, brings a wealth of experience in the leisure sector within Northamptonshire and will work closely with the NFA staff in the development of grassroots facilities.

Melanie Blackmore, PE teacher at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy in Wellingborough and Secretary of the Northants Women & Girls Football League, is charged with supporting the NFA Team with football development across all formats of the game.

Salim Bhaiji joins the Board as an independent Finance Director. A Senior Manager for Finance Transformation at KPMG in London, Salim brings a wealth of financial experience combined with a passion for playing and coaching at grassroots level.

Alex Brooks, also joining as an Independent Director, is a Sports Lawyer with Onside Law and offers the Association many years’ experience working within football for governing bodies, intermediaries and players on HR and compliance matters.

Christian Smith joins the Board as Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis. Christian has been with the NFA for just over two years following a successful 13-year spell as Commercial Director of the Professional Footballers’ Association and has 30-years’ experience in football.

This exciting new era for the Association starts in tandem with a new 3-year strategy for the development of the game on both a local and national level.

Jim Wilkinson commented: “We are extremely excited to be leading the County FA into this new period of its long and illustrious history. Our focus will be to provide everyone in Northamptonshire the opportunity to play football in a safe environment in the best possible venues. The new Board, along with the Chief Executive and the NFA team, will strive to ensure that all our objectives and compliance matters are met and that every individual in the county enjoys the fun that our beautiful game provides.”

Further information about our new board members will be uploaded to our website soon, so please check back for updates.