Lincolnshire Football Association are delighted to announce the appointment of three new Non-Executive Directors to our Board. 

Andrew Whitham (Marketing & Communications Director), Chris Cook (Safeguarding Director), and Oliver Tasker (HR & People Director) have all been appointed, and have already begun working across the organisation. 

Andrew Whitham

Andrew Whitham has a career spanning 20 years across all levels of professional football in the English football pyramid.

He has held a position at Lincoln City Football Club as Director of Sales for 5 years, with his role within the club including managing commercial revenue, communications, marketing, supporter services, CRM and data. He was influential in Lincoln City’s recent investment in new technology to improve communication and marketing through new software.  

He started his journey in football with Sheffield United, enjoying promotion to the English Premier League in his first season. Another string to his bow is he is a qualified WSET sommelier and delivers wine tasting events. Outside work, he enjoys football at all levels, cycling and badminton.  

Chris Cook OBE

Chris worked for Lincolnshire Police for thirty-two years and retired as a senior police officer. Since November 2009, he has been the Independent Chair of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Chris has also gained experience as the Independent Chair of the Nottingham City, Derbyshire and North East Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership. He is also currently the Chairman of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel. 

Chris has a keen interest in all levels of football and is a supporter of both Boston United and Tottenham Hotspur. He has formerly played grassroots football in Lincolnshire and currently supports his two grandsons who play for local teams in the Boston area. He also has a keen interest in tennis and is Chairman of Boston Tennis Club.

Chris is committed to keeping children safe and in 2017 was awarded an OBE for his services to this: “I am really looking forward to working with colleagues and communities in the county to develop and improve football for everyone.”

Oliver Tasker

Oliver Tasker is a Partner and the Head of the Employment law team at Wilkin Chapman LLP, the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire with 4 offices and over 400 staff. On a day to day basis, he provides strategic and commercial advice on all types of employment law and HR issues to businesses around the UK including a number of professional sports clubs and bodies. Oliver was also a Non-Executive Director / Trustee of Active Lincolnshire for six years sitting on their main board, acting as Chair of the governance and standards committee and latterly sat on the finance committee.

Oliver is from Lincolnshire and now lives in Lincoln with his wife and young daughter, with number two due to arrive shortly. Oliver is passionate about all things football, sport, health and wellbeing and is a strong advocate for Lincolnshire. He is a life-long Imps fan and has played football at various levels from an early age, throughout University and after returning to Lincolnshire he mainly played in the former Lincoln Saturday League. 

Speaking about his new role: "I’m delighted to join the Lincolnshire FA as HR and People Non-Executive Director. I know the difference that grassroots football makes to everyone regardless of age, gender, ability and health across Lincolnshire and beyond. I’m passionate about football and proud to be able to assist with the strategic direction of the Association to develop and grow the game in the County for participants, volunteers and everyone involved at every level.".

Nick Hanson, CEO of Lincolnshire FA, said: "Lincolnshire FA are delighted to welcome Chris, Oliver, and Andrew to our Board of Directors. Their appointments are a reflection of the progress we have made as an organisation, in that we are able to recruit and appoint leaders in their respective fields with fountains of knowledge and experience that will be utilised for the benefit of grassroots football in our area."

For any media related enquiries, please email Zack.Leader@lincolnshirefa.com.

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