Norfolk FA Board Members 2023

Board of Directors

Meet Norfolk County FA's Board of Directors.

Michael Banham

Michael Banham

Chairman

Michael joined Norfolk FA Council in 2001. At the time he was Chairman of the Norwich Business Houses League, a role he held for seventeen years after joining the League in 1994. Once the League merged with the Central and South Norfolk League in 2017, he was asked to become their President, a role he still holds.

His initial role within Norfolk FA was sitting on the Representative Committee and the Cup Committee. He joined the Board of Directors in 2008 when he was made Chairman of the Cup Committee and became Deputy Chairman of Norfolk FA in 2011, eventually advancing to Chairman in 2013, a role he still very much embraces. He now represents Norfolk on The FA Council sitting on the Football Development Committee.

He runs his own Chemist Sundries wholesale business supplying Pharmacies within East Anglia, a company he joined when he was nineteen as a sales representative.

John Turner

John Turner

Senior Independent Director

John has been involved in grassroots football as a player, referee, club secretary and has been secretary and treasurer of the Central and South Norfolk League for many years. John was awarded the FA Long Service to Football Award in 2018 and was recently awarded by his League to celebrate the 50 years of service to his League. He has been involved with Norfolk County FA since 1977 and has been a Director of the County FA Board since 2011. John also serves as a member of the FA’s National Serious Case Panel.

John comes from a legal background, having served as the Deputy Chief Executive of Norwich City Council before becoming the Chief Executive of the professional body for UK electoral administrators. He has also worked in over 40 countries in the World dealing with democratic issues, governance and many elections.


Matt Carpenter

Matt Carpenter

Norfolk FA Chief Executive

Matt joined the Association in the summer of 2009 and became CEO in August 2021. He started playing football as soon as he could walk and when the legs gave up on him, he moved on to fulfil a number of other roles within the game, from coaching and managing, to being the Secretary of what at the time was a Step 5 Club.

He is passionate about grassroots football and since joining Norfolk FA he has qualified as a referee so can usually by found on a local football pitch every weekend.


Tobi Amadasun

Oluwatobiloba Amadasun

Appointed Director (Inclusion)

Tobi has a background in Leadership within the Healthcare sector. He is currently a Partner at Breckland Alliance PCN, a group of GP surgeries based South Norfolk. He started his career with Boots UK and progressed to leading various independent pharmacies across the East of England. He was recently the Head of business development and Care services for Universal pharmacy. He is the Lead clinical Pharmacist for Breckland Alliance PCN. He Holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of East Anglia Norwich and Master’s in Business Administration from the London School of Commerce.

He is currently a Town Councillor in the Town of Watton. He also serves as a trustee on the Board of the Charlotte Harvey trust and Thompson Primary School. He is the Chairman of Watton Sports Centre and social Club. In 2018, He was awarded the Mary Seacole Healthcare leadership award certificate.


Stacey Annison

Stacey Annison

Appointed Director (Sustainability)

Stacey is a Client Manager at Mobilityways a climate tech company in Norwich that is on a mission to decarbonise the commute and former employee of 6 years at Norfolk FA who is passionate about sustainability and the opportunity to make an impact within Norfolk football.

Paul Ballard

Paul Ballard

Appointed Director (Insurance & Risk Management)

Paul worked in the Insurance industry for more than 45 years, being a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, but is now retired.

He has been involved in grassroots football for all of his adult life in varying roles as a player, manager, club secretary and administrator, whilst also serving as Chairman of the Norwich & District Sunday League from 2008 to 2020. He was elected to the Norfolk County FA in 2008, becoming a Director in 2013.


Joe Conway

Joe Conway

Appointed Director (Commercial)

Joe is our Commercial Director supporting marketing and partnerships. His role with us is an extension of his day job as Director of Business Development at the Ardonagh Group. He’s married with two children. Despite being in Norfolk for nearly 25 years he’s a Leicester fan.

Kathryn Hirst

Kathryn Hirst

Appointed Director (Commercial Legal)

Kathryn is a solicitor and partner of Hansells Solicitors, based in Norwich. Kathryn has over 20 years of experience in the law, having qualified as a Solicitor in 1999. She specialises in commercial and employment work and is a graduate of the University of Leicester. Kathryn completed the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in Guildford and also gained a Master’s degree in Employment Law from the University of East Anglia.

In her free time, Kathryn keeps herself busy by keeping fit and spending many hours on the side of football pitches and basketball courts, watching her sons play. Kathryn is also a trustee of the Assembly House Trust and of the Horstead Centre.

Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd

Appointed Director (Human Resources)

Ashley retired from paid employment in 2022, having been the professional lead for human resources for 20 years as Head of HR for Lancashire Constabulary and, more recently, as Deputy Director of Workforce at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to these roles, Ashley held senior HR roles in the Metropolitan Police and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, with more generalist managerial positions across London at the Local Government Commission for England, Woolwich Building Society and Pearl Assurance.

Other commitments in his retirement include being a Trustee for the Dereham Windmill and Treasurer at Mattishall FC.

Paul Marshall

Paul Marshall

Appointed Director (Finance)

Paul is a Chartered Management Accountant, having held Finance Director roles for over 25 years, most recently with The Cotswold Company, his role at Norfolk County FA is predominantly overseeing the finances of the organisation.

He firmly believe football is one of the few things in life where anyone can take part, or have an interest in, no matter their ability, or gender. Paul has recently retired and lives near Norwich and supports Norwich City. Over the years he has played local football and this has continued with his children.


Matt Wells

Matt Wells

Appointed Director (Youth Football & Safeguarding)

Matt joined the Board in 2019 and is our Board Safeguarding Champion. He is passionate in ensuring that safeguarding remains at the heart of everything that we do. For his day job Matt works as Education Manager at Norwich City FC supporting the education and welfare of the young players that are part of the Academy set up at the Club.