Critical to any Awards ceremony is its judging process and the credibility of the panel of judges. In both instances, the Northwest Football Awards can boast impeccable credentials.
The majority of the Awards will be judged by the high-profile panel of judges seen below. All the football playing related categories are adjudicated by the harshest of critics – the public. Voting for these categories will be open shortly.
Professor Tom Cannon
Professor of Strategic Development – University of Liverpool Tom’s career includes roles as Director and Chief Executive of Manchester Business School, Chief Executive of the government’s Management Charter Initiative and private sector posts ranging from brand management in fast moving consumer goods to a small specialist development company created by Anita and Gordon Roddick. Ideopolis International’s work, where Tom is CEO, ranges from studies of the “Urban Revolution” to leadership, entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, innovation and change management.
Dan Jones,
Partner, Head of Sports Business Group, Deloitte
Dan and his full time team of 15 people work exclusively on sports-related projects at Deloitte. The team are based in the UK, but work with clients worldwide, partnering with local Deloitte offices as appropriate. In addition to his full time team Dan also works with all other areas of Deloitte to ensure the firm’s full range of specialist skills are available to clients. Dan personally advises clients on strategic, governance, commercial, regulatory, organisational and financial matters. His clients include the ATP Men’s & WTA Women’s tennis tours, the British Horseracing Authority, the Ryder Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, BMW Oracle Racing, the MCC, the ECB, the West Indies Cricket Board, British Cycling, UCI, UK Sport, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, the Rugby Football Union, the Scottish Rugby Union, the International Rugby Board, IMG, and a number of football clubs in the UK and abroad, as well as UEFA, The FA and the Premier League. He is also an experienced conference speaker and media spokesman and editor of Deloitte’s sports business publications, including the Annual Review of Football Finance and the Football Money League.
Ryan McKnight
Editor of F.C. Business – The Trade Magazine for the Football Industry. Ryan’s experiences in football have taken him from playing across the globe, to now being one of the leading commentators on all business aspects of the game.
Alan Myers
North West Bureau Chief – Sky Sports News Alan has over twenty years reporting experience for some of the top clubs and sporting media in the UK. In 1996 he was the first Press Officer for Everton Football Club where he dealt with the media attention that surrounded the appointment of four different managers, a Boardroom takeover and the arrival of Paul Gascoigne! After five years at Everton, Alan then joined Sky Sports News. Now, as North West Bureau Chief, Alan deals with seven Premiership clubs, three Championship clubs and countless league and non-league teams in the Northwest.
Martin O’Boyle
Lead Editor FIFA.com
After brief spells at the BBC, the Liverpool Echo and on Sky Sports, Martin was
appointed as Everton Football Club’s Communications Officer in May 2002. During his time at Goodison Park, he acted as the assistant editor of the club’s award-winning website and programme. In May 2005, Martin joined FIFA and is now responsible for the day-to-day running of the English language version of the world governing body’s official website, FIFA.com. He also plays a key role in the organisation’s social media offering, which attracted over half a million Twitter followers in six months. The 30-year-old has played an integral part of FIFA’s communications at no fewer than 14 tournaments around the world, including the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Gordon Taylor
Chief Executive – PFA Before joining the PFA in 1980 Gordon was an England schoolboy trialist, originally as an inside forward before establishing himself as a winger with Bolton, playing over 250 games for them. His football career then took him to Birmingham, Blackburn Rovers, and the North American Soccer League for Vancouver Whitecaps before returning to England to join Bury in 1978. In 1978 Gordon was also made Chairman of the PFA, succeeding Derek Dougan. Two years later Gordon went full-time and shortly after became Secretary and Chief Executive of the PFA.
Paul Thorogood
Chief Executive - Football Foundation
“Paul Thorogood has been CEO of the Football Foundation since April 2006, following a career with the Royal Air Force. During his armed service career, he rose from enlisted airman to the rank of Group Captain before electing for a career change and a move to the Foundation. Paul’s professional background has been primarily in operational logistics management and he saw active service in support of operations in the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan and both of the recent Gulf Wars. During the latter part of his armed services career he specialised in change management, organisational process design and performance management and strategic leadership. He has a Master of Arts Degree from Kings College London and a post-graduate diploma in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick. Having played football at a decent amateur level, Paul turned to football administration when his playing days were over and eventually became Chairman of the Royal Air Force Football Association on The FA Council in 2002. He remains an Honorary Life Vice-President of the Association.”
Maurice Watkins
Senior Partner – Brabners Chaffe Street Solicitors and Director – Manchester United Football Club Limited Maurice has handled numerous high value soccer transfers at home and abroad. He represents clubs and players before FIFA, UEFA, FA, FA Premier League and FAW (Football Association of Wales) disciplinary bodies, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and international and league compensation tribunals. He is also a regular speaker on footballing issues at home and abroad, having represented the Football Association and FA Premier League at recent conferences in Egypt, Qatar, Dubai, Trinidad and Tobago and Japan. Maurice is also a director of the Rugby Football League and Chairman of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
Stephen White
Group Marketing Director JD Sports Fashion PLC
After 15 years in design and marketing working in the financial and leisure sectors, Stephen moved into the football industry using his skills to publish and design for several clubs, including the design and implementation of the brand identity of Preston North End and the launch of it’s merchandise and retail platform, introducing the playing and replica label Kit. He was also a member of the team that delivered The National Football Museum to its founding original home of Preston and was instrumental in its product development and retail operations. Stephen then began working with JD Sports in the development of JD/Club own label product for Manchester City and Everton Football Clubs before becoming the Creative Director of the JD group.
Since 2005 he has held the role of Group Marketing Director at JD Sports Fashion PLC, responsible for marketing communications and sponsorships with several internationally established brands including Adidas and Nike on behalf of the JD, Size?, Scotts and Bank fascias covering over 450 stores. In addition, he also negotiated and managed multiple sponsorship deals on for the group across a wide range of genres that include television, press, live music venues and football clubs.
