At Chesterfield FC Community Trust, we’re proud to have a passionate and dedicated team at the heart of everything we do. From leading community projects to delivering fun, inclusive activities, our staff bring energy, care and commitment every single day.
They’re supported by an incredible group of coaches and volunteers who play a vital role in helping run our programmes and keeping the HUB buzzing with life.
Together, we’re working to make a real difference in our community and we can’t wait for you to get to know us.
John Croot
CEO
John is the Trust’s CEO and has a longstanding connection with the organisation. What he values most is using Chesterfield FC’s identity to engage the community and deliver positive social outcomes. His motivation centres on the opportunities that the club’s connection with local people creates for the Trust to reach participants and make a difference through its work.
Jayne Bacon
Head of Trust
Jayne leads the Trust towards its strategic aims, helping create a safe, welcoming environment for programmes that meet local needs. She values the opportunity to support people of all ages through the power of football and work alongside a committed team. Her memorable personal achievement is roller skating across the Humber Bridge on its opening day in 1981.
Keith Jackson
Deputy Head of Trust
Keith supports the Head of Community with the Trust’s strategic and operational work. He values seeing the difference the organisation makes to local lives and working with a team committed to improving Chesterfield and the surrounding area. His football claim to fame is a goal at the SMH Stadium that was once described as “Van Basten-esque”.
Georgia Ball
Head of Finance
Georgia looks after finance at the Trust, bringing a focus on the organisation’s financial work to her role as Head of Finance. The people are what she enjoys most about working here, and she particularly values her friendly colleagues. Her connection with football also extends beyond the Trust: she has officiated in an FA Cup Final at Wembley.
Sharlaine Fincham
Head of Young Person Social Prescribing and Youth Wellbeing
Sharlaine leads youth wellbeing and engagement work, ensuring services listen to young people and respond to their individual needs and those of their communities. She particularly values the people behind the Trust and the care they bring to their work. Outside her professional life, she spent a year travelling around Europe in a campervan with her two-year-old son.
Tom Keenan
Education Manager
Tom oversees education pathways spanning primary schools, BTEC football and education, degree programmes and alternative provision. His focus is on high-quality learning that meets community needs and supports positive outcomes. He enjoys watching participants progress through qualifications, further education and employment. Outside his education role at the Trust, Tom has self-published three children’s books.
Olly Parkinson
Senior Wellbeing Officer
Olly is the adult lead in his role as Senior Wellbeing Officer. He values helping vulnerable people and seeing the difference the Trust’s work makes to their lives. That opportunity to support others is what he finds most rewarding about being part of the organisation. A memorable personal detail is that Olly got married in a Scottish castle.
Sean McGrath
AP Manager
Sean teaches a balanced curriculum to secondary-aged students in alternative provision. He values supporting young people who find education difficult and watching their confidence and ability grow through attending the Trust. Seeing that progress is a particularly rewarding part of his work. A personal fact Sean shared is that his blood type is AB negative.
Darren Parkinson
Head of Community Engagement
Darren leads the Trust’s community engagement, facility and IT departments. He values seeing first-hand the outcomes people achieve through its programmes and the difference those activities make to their lives. The people the Trust reaches are central to what he enjoys about his work. Outside his role, Darren has cooked a meal for a European Cup winner.
Peter Whiteley
Governance and Heritage Officer
Peter handles charity paperwork and oversees heritage and history projects for both the Trust and the wider football club. His work combines governance responsibilities with preserving and sharing the organisation’s history. The opportunity to make a difference for people is what he values most about the Trust. Outside work, he collects Doctor Who merchandise, particularly from the classic era.
Abbie Kent
Community Officer
Abbie delivers physical education lessons, lunchtime clubs and after-school activities in schools. She enjoys helping teachers develop their knowledge and understanding of PE, alongside seeing pupils progress through their lessons. Those opportunities to support both staff and children are a highlight of her work with the Trust. Outside the classroom, she is an ice hockey fan and supports the Sheffield Steelers.
Daniel Massey
PE Lead and Teaching Assistant
Daniel leads PE and supports students in the classroom, combining physical education with his teaching assistant responsibilities. He values the opportunity to work with young people and make a difference to their education through the Trust. Supporting learning is at the heart of what he enjoys about his role. A personal fact from Daniel: he has broken three bones.
Caitlin Washington
Youth Wellbeing Mentor
Caitlin works as a Youth Wellbeing Mentor and values being part of a team that makes a difference in the community. She particularly enjoys the friendly atmosphere at the Trust and the positive working environment created by her colleagues. The people around her are a highlight of the role. Away from work, she has been skydiving in Australia.
Craig Dawson
Senior Community Officer and SEND Lead
Craig oversees the Trust’s work for people with special educational needs and disabilities, including football, crafts, PE and Camp Inspire during school holidays. He finds being part of the community and seeing the effect of these activities especially rewarding. Before the pandemic, Craig also ran his own theatre company, with his first production making a small profit.
Alyss Jackson
Senior Community Officer in Primary Education
Alyss manages the primary education department and specialises in inclusion for women and girls. She is passionate about using football to make a difference locally and enjoys seeing the impact of the Trust’s work across the community. Her enthusiasm for that work is matched by a busy family background: she is the seventh of nine children.
Amy Blatherwick
Youth Wellbeing Mentor
Amy supports young people aged 14 to 25 to build confidence and independence in the community and reduce social isolation. She values the Trust’s friendly culture, where colleagues get on well, socialise and offer help when it is needed. That supportive team environment is a highlight of her working life. Away from work, Amy grew up on a farm.
Emma Gittins
Community Officer
Emma delivers PE and Premier League Primary Stars sessions in schools, supports tournaments and enrichment, and coaches adult pan-disability football and the under-13 Chesterfield girls’ team. She enjoys making a positive impact through sport and helping brighten someone’s day. Her personal party trick is being able to say the long Welsh place name Llanfairpwllgwyn gyllgogerychwyrndr obwllllantysiliogogogoch.
Ella Hobbs
Youth Engagement Mentor
Ella leads the Reboot programme, runs Premier League Kicks dance sessions and supports young people through social prescribing. Her role brings together several ways for young people to engage with the Trust and its activities. She particularly enjoys working alongside her colleagues and values the team around her. Although known as Ella, her full first name is Eleanor.
Debbie Dance
Community Officer
Debbie delivers SEND crafts and Knit and Knatter sessions, alongside craft and nutrition activities at Camp Inspire. She also provides cover for chair-based exercise sessions. The most rewarding part of her work is seeing people in her groups make progress and improve their wellbeing. That visible change gives her a strong sense of job satisfaction across the activities she delivers.
Jed Frazer
Community Officer in Primary Education
Jed delivers PE and Premier League Primary Stars sessions in primary schools and also contributes to the Trust’s youth engagement work. He enjoys having a role that spans both areas, giving him opportunities to work across different activities for young people. That variety is a highlight of his time at the Trust. Outside work, Jed plays the guitar.
Jake Golding
Youth Wellbeing Mentor
Jake works as a Youth Wellbeing Mentor and enjoys the variety that comes with his role at the Trust. For him, a particular highlight is that no two working days are the same. That changing day-to-day experience is what he values most about being part of the organisation. Away from his work in Chesterfield, Jake has lived in China for a year.
Karen Ball
Head of Cafe Operations
Karen oversees cafe operations, making sure the cafe and Chester’s Den run smoothly and efficiently. Her role focuses on the day-to-day running of these spaces within the Trust. She enjoys being part of a happy, friendly working environment and values the atmosphere created by her colleagues. Outside work, she has taken on and completed the London Marathon.
Katie Clark
Pastoral Teaching Assistant
Katie supports students with their wellbeing and education as a Pastoral Teaching Assistant. She appreciates the Trust’s flexibility and understanding when personal difficulties arise, alongside the opportunity to help the community through different projects. That combination of student support and a considerate working environment matters to her. Away from her role, Katie has also made an appearance on television.
Kerry Owen
Community Officer
Kerry works as part of the Trust’s kitchen staff, with a role focused on the kitchen alongside her Community Officer title. The people are what she enjoys most about working at the Trust, and her colleagues are a highlight of her day-to-day experience. Away from her kitchen role, Kerry shares a light-hearted personal detail: she is naturally ginger.
Lewis Sutcliffe
Community Officer
Lewis works in primary education as a Community Officer, contributing to the Trust’s work with schools. The impact the organisation makes in the local community is what he values most about his role. He values being part of an organisation whose primary education work forms part of its wider contribution to people in Chesterfield.
Michelle Slater
Head of Women and Girls Football Development
Michelle leads the strategic growth, technical pathway and delivery of women’s and girls’ football across the Trust and club. She enjoys seeing the impact of that work in the local community. Her experience also includes playing at the highest level: Michelle is a former England women’s international and a former player for Doncaster Belles.
Natalie Watson
Wellbeing Officer in the Adult Healthy Communities Team
Natalie works as a stop smoking adviser within the Adult Healthy Communities team. She values the breadth of activities at the Trust and feels privileged to be part of an organisation with something for so many local people. Outside work, she enjoys holistic and spiritual interests, holds qualifications in complementary therapies and names Reiki as her favourite treatment.
Nigel Leavesley
Primary Education Community Coach
Nigel delivers PE lessons, lunchtime clubs and after-school activities, and also supports Camp Inspire and Soccer School. He particularly values the Trust’s inclusive approach and the team spirit among his colleagues. His work gives him opportunities to take part in several programmes for young people. Beyond the Trust, Nigel is also a Fencing Development Officer for British Fencing.
Oli Barnes
Community Officer
Oli works in Healthy Communities as a Community Officer, contributing to this area of the Trust’s work. The opportunity to make an impact locally is what he enjoys most about being part of the organisation. His background also includes a substantial period of military service: before his work with the Trust, Oli served for 16 years in the British Army.
Ryan Cheshire
Youth Community Outreach Lead
Ryan empowers young people through sport and mentoring, delivering Premier League Kicks, Boots on the Ground and Reboot. He particularly values the impact the Trust has on people across Chesterfield and the surrounding communities. His role combines outreach with opportunities for young people to participate. Away from work, he once ate 18 slices at a Pizza Hut buffet.
Sally Newham
Administrator
Sally supports the Trust through her work as an Administrator. The people are what she enjoys most about being part of the organisation, and her colleagues are a highlight of her experience here. Away from work, she has an ambitious dream: Sally dreams of cycling the length of South America, taking on a journey across the continent.
Steph O’Brien
Female Pathway Lead Coach
Steph oversees the football and education pathway for females and has returned to the Trust after previously working here for five years. She values the flexibility and trust that come with working for the organisation. Her football background also includes a notable achievement on the pitch: Steph has been an FA Cup runner-up.
Tom Morris
Media Officer
Tom works as the Trust’s Media Officer and enjoys seeing the full range of programmes the organisation offers. The impact those activities have on people is what he values most about his role. His work connects him with the breadth of the Trust’s activity. Outside work, a memorable experience was seeing the Northern Lights during a visit to Iceland.
Dawn Page
Youth Social Prescriber and Wellbeing Mentor
Dawn works as a Youth Social Prescriber and Wellbeing Mentor. She particularly appreciates the Trust’s welcoming, supportive environment, where people’s wellbeing is valued, and enjoys being part of a friendly team. That atmosphere is a highlight of her work with the organisation. Away from her current role, Dawn’s background includes performing as a singer in a band.
Molly Hebdige
Community Officer
Molly works mainly in the cafe at Chester’s Den, alongside delivering SEND sessions in primary schools and teaching dance at the stadium. She enjoys learning from the different people she works with and providing activities for children of all abilities. Her interests and qualifications also extend to another form of movement: Molly is a qualified Pilates instructor.
Emma Peaty
Youth Wellbeing Mentor
Emma supports young people’s wellbeing through non-clinical intervention. The opportunity to make a positive difference in the community is what she enjoys most about working for Chesterfield FC Community Trust. Her role centres on supporting young people through that approach. On a lighter note, Emma says her enthusiasm can be heard before she is seen, thanks to her lack of volume control.
Rick Bradley
Smoking Cessation Worker
Alex Simpson
Youth Wellbeing Service Lead
Michael Goodwin
Chairman
Michael chairs the Board of Trustees and brings experience from a career rooted in community work. Becoming a trustee offered him the opportunity to continue that involvement after retirement and contribute to the Trust’s work. His motivation is straightforward: to give back to the community and support a charity whose purpose reflects his own commitment to local people.
David Simmonds
Vice Chairman
David brings extensive experience in education to his role as Vice Chair, having progressed from sports lecturer to Assistant Principal during a 36-year college career. With a longstanding involvement in football and the voluntary sector, he became a trustee to put his knowledge and experience to work for a cause he has always supported.
David McArdle
Trustee
David is a sports lawyer with particular expertise in labour and medical issues relevant to the Trust’s work. A Chesterfield FC supporter since Frank Barlow’s time as manager, he responded to an advertisement for trustees when he had more time to contribute. He joined to share useful skills while learning more about the charity and its activities.
Matt Morris
Trustee
Matt brings extensive experience across mainstream, special and alternative education to the Board of Trustees. His background includes academy leadership, supporting vulnerable children and coaching school leaders. Having previously chaired the joint Club and Trust Safeguarding Board, he became a trustee in March 2025 to support the Trust’s growing education offer and celebrate the team’s achievements.
Dr Paul Stankard
Trustee for Safeguarding and Mental Health
Paul brings his professional experience as a doctor and psychiatrist to the Board of Trustees, with a focus on safeguarding and mental health. He supports the Trust’s commitment to safe practice, accountability and financial stability. His interest in serving the community and contributing to the Trust’s work is central to his involvement as a trustee.
Maria Starkie
Trustee
Maria brings 25 years of British Army experience to the Trust, including skills in policy, governance, leadership and mentoring. Born and raised in Chesterfield, she became a trustee after returning to Derbyshire, seeking a way to give back locally. She is motivated by supporting people to realise their potential and improving opportunities across the community.
Nick Johnson
Trustee
Marcus Leverton
Trustee
Lee Towers
Trustee
