I have been CEO of Berks & Bucks FA since 2013 and involved in roles in the county FA environment since 2000. 

I also bring experience from a variety of volunteer roles over several sports; ranging from playing and coaching to Club Welfare Officer and Chairperson of a grassroots club.

My ambition is to be realise the potential that football has in every community, to realise the value that sport can bring to individuals and communities and to instrumental in the development of a workforce that is diverse in thought, voice and action both internally but also within our member clubs and leagues. Only then can we ensure that EVERYONE can benefit from football.

As an organisation, we continue to change lives and connect people and strive to reduce the gap between the decision makers and those that are affected by the decisions we make.

As CEO, Liz is responsible for leading and managing the overall operations and resources of the organisation, responsible for the overall success of the company vision and aspirations for grassroots football across Berks & Bucks.

Contact Liz on 01235 558457 or via Liz.Verrall@Berks-BucksFA.com

Born in Brackley Northamptonshire, married in 1976 with two grown up children, one boy and one girl, and live in Bicester, Oxfordshire. At the age of five the family moved three miles up the road from Brackley to the small village of Westbury in Buckinghamshire where my father’s Coach Travel and Garage Business was located. Attended the small village junior school until the age of eleven and then transferred to the Secondary School that was in Buckingham until the age of sixteen, gaining several GCE’S on the way to help me for my apprenticeship application.

During the latter years at the secondary school I worked on the local farm in the village during weekends and the holidays obtaining a good knowledge of the land and farming in general. After school was finished for a small period of time, whilst waiting for my apprenticeship to commence I became involved in the family business learning about the maintenance of the vehicles and the general duties of the garage and coach travel in particular, of which I continued to do whilst doing my apprenticeship.  

My apprenticeship was within the Ministry of Defence but was a Civilian apprenticeship for the trade of tool maker and was served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers [R.E.ME.] at the 32 Central Workshops based at the Central Ordnance Depot near Bicester. After the completion of my apprenticeship I continued to work with the organisation until 1978 before leaving to join a local family engineering company, Hutton Engineering Precision also based in Bicester to ply my trade. In 1998 I received promotion within the company to become the Stores and Purchasing Manager and then following the change of ownership the duties of Supply Chain and Logistics were added to my role.  At the present time I still work part time in this capacity having been with the company for more than forty years.        

My first adventure in the football family started in the season 1967- 68 where I joined the local village team Westbury and agreed to act as their Club Linesman. At that time I was not really interested in playing football and felt that I was involved along with all the other young boys and my mates in the village team. 

In the early part of 1968 my playing career took off when the goalkeeper broke his leg playing on the Saturday afternoon which saw me replace him the following week as there was nobody else willing to do so. I then continued to play in goal for the Club until the end of the season 1975 – 1976.

In 1972 for my sins I became the Chair of the Club a position I still hold today, as in many other Clubs there were not to many of us willing to hold any office and in 2008 I also took on the role of Secretary of the Club. During my fifty two years of being involved with the village Club I also have acted in numerous capacities including groundsman, a role I still continue to do today. 

In 1973 I qualified as a Referee and joined the Buckingham Referees Society, officiating in the then local South Northants Sunday Football League. After retiring from playing I then officiated as a Referee on the North Bucks and District Football League and the Lord Jersey Football League. Later on I was fortunate to get on the list of Match Officials for the Hellenic Football League where I acted as an Assistant Referee and then as a Referee in the Reserve Section. I retired from Refereeing at the conclusion of season 1995- 1996.

In 1977 I joined the local Buckingham Charity Cup Competition Council as a Member and then took on the Role of Referee’s Appointment Officer the following season. Having relinquished this post in the late eighties I then became the Vice Chair of the Competition which was swiftly followed by becoming the Chair of the Competition in season 1995- 1996, a position I still value and hold today.

In October 1987 I was elected to the Council of the Berks and Bucks Football Association as a Council Member for Division One { Aylesbury Vale }. It was in the September of the 1992 – 1993 Season when a vacancy arose on the Council for its Honorary Youth Secretary and I was elected to this position by the Council. I continued in this post until the end of season 2008, I did continue as Acting Honorary Youth Secretary for a further two years to June 2010 whilst the Association were trying to find a suitable replacement for the post. In June 2008 I was elected Deputy Chair of the Association which was then followed by the elevation to Chair of the Association at the Annual General Meeting in June 2010. In 2007 after 20 years of service I was then made a Life Member of the Association.  

In Season 1998 - 1999 I was elected to the Management Committee of the South and West Counties Championship Competition, a Competition for County Representative Teams and became the Deputy Chair of the Competition in 2006 and was elevated to the position of Chair the following year, another position I still hold and value today.  

During the season 2008 – 2009 the North Bucks and District Football League made me Vice President of the League and then in 2018 the Members Clubs of the League honoured me by making me the President of the League. 

In general Football has been my main interest and sport but I did play cricket for the local Westbury village team for many years from the earlier age of fifteen until 1995 when I decided that I had I needed a break from one of the sports and chose cricket for that break. During the period in being involved with the cricket club I also was the Club Secretary for twenty years before relinquishing all ties with the cricket scene.  

I have been involved in my village football club for over fifty continuous years now and with many other many organisations and competitions for long periods of time helping with administration and support in numerous ways. It gives me pleasure to be able to do this and serve the game of football at the grass roots level. 

With my roles within the Berks and Bucks Football Association it was and still is my aspirations to make the organisation one of the top three County Football Associations in the country. I believe that we must continue to modernise to ensure we are able to successfully perform our role as a modern County Football Association within both our governance and development roles. Football is a changing game and environment, the Association needs to be ready to guarantee we are inclusive, reflect the diversity within our county and meet the next challenges that are placed and will present themselves in the future. Whilst I am still involved with the organisation it will be in my aspirations to ensure that we are in a position to do this.

Contact David via Davidgrainge@hotmail.com

I was born in Oxford and moved to Milton Keynes at the age of 18 due to work commitments. I have been married 41 years and we have had 3 children and 3 very special grandchildren aged 3, 6 & 10 and 2 lovely step granddaughters.

I cannot write this profile without mentioning my love for Everton FC. They are my boyhood team and I have fond memories of my Dad taking me to watch them in London and also to Goodison Park. My own family are also true blues and until recently we regularly saw the team 3 times per season. My eldest granddaughter has also made the trip and is a confirmed blue nose. Other sports I enjoy are Horse Racing, Cricket & Golf (although I am not as good at Golf as I would like to be).   

I was able to take an early retirement and currently I child care 2 days per week. In addition I work as an Invigilator at a school in Milton Keynes and act as a presiding officer for Milton Keynes Council at Election time. As well as holding the office of Deputy Chair, I am the ‘Board Champion’ for Safeguarding in our County and I act as an FA accredited Discipline Chair.  

My Football life began at the age of 9 when playing for my local cub group. As a young boy I played for Marston Saints FC who were a very successful team at that time. My whole life has been football and at this age I only ever wanted to be a professional footballer. At the age of 16/17 I played for Reading FC in their ‘A’ Team (Would be known as an academy team today). My highlight being selected for a Reserve Team fixture at Elm Park. Despite making a good start to my career at Reading, unfortunately my form dropped and I received a very nice letter saying ‘No thank you’. I then played for Oxford City in their Youth, Reserve and 1^st Teams in the then Isthmian League. My 1^st appearance in the first team was away to Dagenham in front of over 1000 people where we lost 3-0 but I enjoyed every minute of it including fish & Chips on the way home in the coach. My work commitments took me to Milton Keynes so after a short break in playing I then played briefly for Buckingham Athletic, then moved to Milton Keynes City (who played in the Southern League). I then played for Wolverton Town & Newport Pagnell Town in the United Counties League ending up my playing career at Bicester Town in the Hellenic League. The highlight being an Oxford Senior Cup Final played against Oxford Utd FC at the Manor Ground which we lost after extra time 1-0.

I then turned my hand to Football Management where I started off at Stony Stratford FC, followed by Buckingham Athletic (League & Cup Wnrs), Wolverton Town, Newport Pagnell, Wootton Blue Cross, Potton Utd & finally Buckingham Town in the Southern League (with my dear friend Steve Curley). Unfortunately we were relegated that season and were subsequently dismissed from our role!

I am also a Level 5 Referee and continue to Referee today for MK Dons Academy Teams, MK Dons SET, MK College & MK Dons Ladies. Until recently I also refereed in the United Counties League where I was an appointed official in a Reserve Cup Final. My refereeing career commenced whilst ‘running the line’ for my sons teams. It was often that we had no appointed referee and I would do the job (much to my son’s disgust!). I decided to complete the Referee’s course so at least I could do the job in a proper kit. It was here that my passion and enjoyment of refereeing started and I moved forward from level 7 to 5 and was The MKRA Referee of the Year in 2007. I have been fortunate enough to officiate many youth and adult cup finals.       

My association with the Berks & Bucks FA started when I became manager of the County’s U18 Youth Team. A position I held for 7 years (Winning the South West Counties Championship and Cup) before work commitments ended my association with the team. During this period I had made strong friendships with the late Mr Dick Custance (Youth Chair) and David Grainge (Youth Secretary at that time). I had an insight into the organisation which I had really enjoyed. A few years later an opportunity arose and I became a member of Council for the association in 2007. I became Deputy Chair in 2010. In addition I served as Chair of The Rules Revision Committee. I did not realise how many Rules I did not know until I held this position. I shall be forever in debt to Robin Woolman for his guidance throughout this period. During this time together with David Grainge (Now Chair) we have overseen many changes to the organisation and I believe we have moved considerably forward to keep up with today’s ever changing society. Looking to the future we need to continue to develop the Board and our Council. We have a great team of staff who have a willingness to help and assist football in our community which I am very proud of.

I am also the Safeguarding Champion for the Board of Directors. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously, and I am very proud of our approach to Safeguarding as a Board.

Contact John via harryhors17@gmail.com

Geoff is our Finance Director and his ‘day job’ is owner of Financial Advice firm Lewis Christopher Ltd.

The business specialises in investment management, pre and post-retirement planning, mortgages and protection and as well as being a Director of this business, he also owns Limestone Residential Sales & Lettings.

Geoff lives in Newport Pagnell and is a keen cyclist and tries to get to the Gym at least a couple of times a week… although he doesn’t need much of an excuse not to! In his spare time he is Treasurer at Newport Pagnell Town Football Club where he has been involved on the committee for 20 years.

Contact Geoff via Geoff@LewisChristopher.co.uk

Nikki joined the Board as People Director in July 2021, providing a strategic lead on all Human Resources related matters. 

She previously volunteered as an Independent Disciplinary Commissioner for the Berks & Bucks FA and maintains a strong interest in grassroots football through her children, who play for a local club.
 
Nikki brings a wealth of HR experience from both the public and private sectors, having worked at the National Audit Office for 25 years, before taking a short career break to focus on her family, and joining Heathrow Airport as a Senior HR Business Partner in 2019. 

Nikki is passionate about delivering people solutions that achieve a high performance and inclusive culture. She is delighted to be working with the Board to help the County FA achieve its aims of connecting people and changing lives through football, ensuring that all communities are able to benefit from the grassroots game.

Director of Commercial at Berks & Bucks FA, Munnawar joined the Board of Directors because she was motivated by the purpose of connecting people and changing lives through football and the inclusive nature of this purpose. She is also passionate about the physical and emotional benefits team sports can bring to all, such as; personal development, team work & collaboration, mental health and well-being.

Munnawar felt she could bring a wealth of expertise from her professional experience to help the Berks & Bucks FA team and our commercial strategy and activities. 

She hopes to help the team deliver a compelling and focused commercial strategy that will drive stronger engagement with everyone the Berks & Bucks FA team work with and support.

Kulbir has been involved with the Berks & Bucks Football Association (BBFA) since 2016, when he joined the BBFA Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG). As a member of the IAG he has advised on, and contributed to, initiatives that encourage participation in grassroots football from underrepresented groups.

In January 2019 Kulbir joined the Board of the BBFA as a Non-Executive Director for Inclusion, a role which he was keen to take on. One of the first tasks that he embarked upon was to create a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Plan for the organisation to work from. 

Kulbir is committed to ensuring that everyone who is involved in football at a grassroots, county level, has a great experience, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability or disability, faith or age. 

He has extensive experience of working in both private and public sector organisations, delivering on D&I initiatives and targets. Specific areas of work have included the recruitment and retention of BAME personnel. Designing and delivering diversity and cultural awareness training. Chairing workplace diversity boards to address issues of discrimination and to support staff with career development. Management training of unconscious bias and the negative impact on individuals and teams within an organisation. Collaborating with community organisations to tackle discrimination and hate crime through education and awareness. Coaching and mentoring marginalised young people who lack aspiration, confidence and often self-esteem.

Having worked in the airline industry, retail management and executive coaching in the USA and the UK, Kulbir has spent the last fifteen years working in the public sector with underrepresented, hard to reach communities. In 2018 Kulbir was recognised by Her Majesty the Queen in The New Year’s Honours List for this work. He was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Community Cohesion and is now a proud member of The Order of The British Empire. Also in 2018, Kulbir was the recipient of a British Community Honours Award presented at The House of Lords. This was also for services to community cohesion and his work on equality, diversity and inclusion in the community. 

As a member of the Board, Kulbir will draw upon his vast experience to ensure that as the County FA, we provide everyone an opportunity to be part of the game. He will support and advise on our inclusion priorities over the coming years. These are underpinned by three principles of change which are:

• Ensuring governance and leadership is diverse and modern;
• Removing any obstacles to access and progression in coaching, talent development or personal development pathways; and
• Enshrining equality, diversity and inclusion in our day to day operations.

Contact Kulbir via Kulbir.Brar@Berks-BucksFA.com

I have been a football fan for most of my life and for many years I found my sexuality to be in conflict with my love for the game. The sea-change in attitude to LGBTQ+ participation in football over the past 5-6 years has been remarkable but it is clear there is still a very long way to go for football to be a truly inclusive and diverse sport.

I believe that my passion for change, my insight as a gay football fan and my experience in the commercial world will be of help in continuing to drive progress to the goal of a sport where everyone can participate regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexuality or gender identity.

Previously worked with the FA, the Gay Football Supporters Network and Reading FC to address the issue of homophobia on the terraces. A former player with London-based LGBTQ+ football club, Leftfooters FC.

Part of the organising committee of the IGLFA World Cup help in London in 2008. An active member of the LGBTQ+ supporters club of West Ham United (Pride of Irons).

Chair of the Berks & Bucks FA Inlcusion Advisory Group (IAG)

I am married with 3 children with Sarah a Dance teacher at Trinity School, Newbury. My son Joel works in the Golf Travel business for Golf Breaks.Com with my eldest, Louise working at West Berks Council, as does my wife Eleanor. I am a very keen golfer with a handicap of 6. I was born in Plymouth where many of my family still reside.

At school in Plympton, just outside Plymouth, I was a very keen sportsman gaining Devon County honours in Football, Cricket, Hockey and Badminton. Whilst playing for Plymouth SFA, I was taken on by Plymouth Argyle as an associate schoolboy but never given a contract (they were right !! ) . After secondary school I attended St. Lukes College, Exeter for 3 years to train as a PE teacher where I met many very able and competent sportsman at National level. Many have also become national football administrators.  I played Football and Cricket for St Luke’s 1st X1 and was selected for the English Colleges and played at Wycombe Wanderers against Oxford University. My final year was at Exeter University gaining a B.Ed degree which was a superb grounding for a future teaching career. I had played in the South Western League and the Western League by this time.

After college I moved to Hampshire playing football for Waterlooville in the Southern league and cricket for Petersfield CC. After five years teaching at Bedales School, Petersfield, I gained a new position at Shaw House School, Newbury as Head of P.E. This all girl’s school was taking boys for the first time and therefore there were no sporting facilities on site.  Coaches to local sports grounds and away matches were the main format for the first few years. However new pitches and a splendid Sports Hall soon made P.E. life a great deal easier.  I gradually moved out of full time P.E. and took on more classroom roles initially as a Geography teacher and later as a Careers advisor and Work-Related Activities Coordinator.  As a Head of Year, I was part of the Senior Management Team.  After fourteen years at Shaw House I was appointed to Kennet School, Thatcham, as a Head of House. This thriving comprehensive grew to about 1800 pupils in my 21-year term of office with each HOH being in charge of about 450 pupils.  For many of these years the school as listed by Ofsted as ‘Outstanding’. I continued to teach Geography and P.E. throughout my career.

Whilst teaching in Newbury I was made Manager of the Newbury U15 schools’ team and gained considerable success in the ESFA ‘Trophy’.  At this time, I also did a great deal of coaching within the Reading & Newbury areas, often for Reading FC players in the summer holidays. I went on to become secretary of Newbury SFA for many years. After playing senior cricket for Falkland CC in the Home Counties league and Football for Thatcham Town F.C.  (recent FA Vase winners) I became a qualified Football referee.  After gaining promotion from the North Berks and Newbury Sunday Leagues I officiated on the Hellenic League, the Diadora Isthmian League and the Vauxhall Conference.  I was Chair of Berkshire CSFA for 8 years before being asked to join the National ESFA Council.  I was chairman of the ESFA for season 2018 -19.  In this role I had considerable contact with national officials at Wembley with the main focus being on the growth of the woman’s game and Futsal. There were also many financial discussions concerning grants etc. This has given me a very good appreciation of the National FA and the systems, functions and processes they provide for County FAs.

During this time, I became a Discipline Panel chair and eventually was appointed to the National Serious Case panel. I have to regularly attend training sessions and take assessments to maintain and develop these roles for the County FA.

I joined the Berks & Bucks FA council 18 months ago as the education representative which unfortunately has created a zoom familiarity and not the personal face to face contact which I had hoped for. It is a great privilege to be a Berks & Bucks FA director with the myriad of opportunities and experiences that will come with the role. My position with the Grassroots sector mirrors my football past and I hope I will bring knowledge, experience and integrity to the future issues that I deal with.  Already I am well aware of the breadth of events we provide for our footballers at all ages and I compliments all the administrators, managers and support staff that help deliver football throughout the county.  It is extremely important that we leave a lasting legacy for future generations, so we must continue to discuss, develop and manage all situations and issues with our partners to sustain the future success of the Berks & Bucks FA. I look forward to meeting many Berks & Bucks football stalwarts as my years in office unfold.

I was born in Charvil in 1952, the third of 6 children. I attended Twyford Infant School, Twyford Junior School and then Wargrave Secondary Modern School, leaving at the age of 15 to become an apprentice Carpenter and Joiner. Having served a 5 year apprentership I went to evening classes for 2 years to study for an ONC in site management. My work life has taken me along many different pathways having worked on many different projects including the refit of QE2 when she returned from the Falklands war, to the renovation of Windsor Castle after the fire in 1992 where I along with many others was honored to meet several members of the Royal family. Having been sole trader in the construction industry for over 40 years I am now semi-retired and like to spend time tending my allotment and garden but most of all spending time with my grand children.

I married my wife Sue in 1973 we have 2 sons and 2 grand daughters.

I first became involved with football when my eldest son started to play, having taken him to a club presentation and having had one to many glasses of lemonade I was challenged about becoming a referee, a challenge which I accepted. I qualified as a class 3 referee in 1986 and joined Bracknell Referees’ Society and am still a member having served as a committee member, society representative on the Berks and Bucks RA management committee, Secretary, assistant treasurer, vice chairman, Chairman and Training officer a position I still hold. In was persuaded to apply for promotion in 1898 and was promoted to class 2 that same season, 2 years later following a season dogged by injury I was promoted to a class 1 referee, the equivalent of a level 5 today. In 1990 I was invited to join the referee training team at Bracknell Referee's Society and was then encouraged to apply to the FA to become a Licensed Referee Instructor. Having attended the 1st year of the course in Lincoln 1998 and the 2nd year at Staverton Park in 1999 I qualified a Referee Instructor, a position I held until 2015 when family health commitments forced me to retire from the position. I am also a mentor for new referees and am an observer for referee promotion candidates.

After having been asked on several previous occasions in 2009 I stood for election to the B&B FA Council and was duly elected. I served on the Rules and Revisions and Football Development committee's for three years before moving from Rules and Revisions to the Referee's Committee. In 2013 I became Chairman of the Football Development Committee. When the formation of Council was changed in 2014 I remained on the Referee's Committee until 2015 when I moved over to the Cup Competitions Committee. I have been a member of the Grounds person of the Year award committee since joining council. I sit on County Disciplinary Commissions am a Disciplinary Commission Chairman I also sit on FA Discrimination Commissions.

In 2016 I was honored to be asked to stand for election as a Council Representative on the board of the County FA and much to my surprise I was duly elected, a position which I am proud to hold.

Over the last season we have a new look council giving all Leagues the opportunity to become a voice on how football in the county should be structured and would encourage all leagues that have not taken this opportunity to do so to join us in taking our great game into the future. We all know the Health benefits of football both Physical and mental so I would like to see us as a County strive to make Football more inclusive in all areas not just for players but for managers, coaches, referee's and club officials. Also to carry on the good works we are doing in promoting Women’s, girls’ and Disability football and give everyone the opportunity to share in this great game.

Contact Ron via bennett.50Norton@btinternet.com