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ECFA Committee

The ECFA Committee is one of three advisory groups to the AoC Sport Board. Its purpose is to advise the Board on:

a) The strategy for growing and developing football competition and participation in colleges

b) A cross college strategy for growing football and raising standards

c) Building national partnerships, sponsors and community links; working towards AoC Sport vision of providing sport or physical activity for every young person

d) The football budget set by the National Football Development Manager and make recommendations for obtaining additional sources of income and priority areas of expenditure

e) The organisation of Category 1 leagues and make decisions on applications

f) Football issues raised by other AoC Sport advisory groups and/or members

The membership of the committee includes:

  • Up to eight senior college members (including Chairperson and Vice Chairperson)
  • AoC Sport Managing Director (Ex Officio position)
  • Up to two independent representatives (including The Football Association)
  • Up to two young people (e.g. students, apprentices) as youth representatives (co-opted members)

The ECFA Committee Members

Joanne Maher (Chair) – Principal & CEO, Loughborough College

Mark Walsh – (Vice Chair) Head of School, Milton Keynes College

Sam Burman - Lecturer in Sport, Suffolk New College

Stuart Horsfield - Sport & Enrichment Lead, York College

Daniel Brett – Deputy CEO & Principal, York College

Independent Representatives:

James Earl – National League Systems Manager, The FA

Pedro Viveiros - Participation Development Manager, Hampshire FA

Youth Representatives:

Amy Newbold - FA Women's Football Development Officer (Apprentice), Shropshire FA

Jack Spencer-Jones

Executive reports:

Dean Hardman – Director of Sport and Student Experience, AoC Sport

Dan Greenwood - National Football Development Manager, AoC Sport

Andy Perlejewski – Competitions Manager, AoC Sport

Co-Opted:

Andy Baker – Regional Network Manager, The FA