Board of Trustees/Executive Committee and FA Staff
Meet The Team
Patron
Her Majesty The Queen
President
Air Chief Marshal Sir S J Hillier KCB CBE DFC ADC MA RAF
Life Vice Presidents
Air Marshal Sir Christopher Coville KCB BA FCIPD FRAeS RAF Ret’d
Air Marshal Sir Michael Simmons KCB AFC RAF Ret’d
Air Commodore K Minton BSc (Econ) FIMgt RAF Ret’d
Group Captain A A Cartwright MA RAF Ret’d
Group Captain G W Gibson CBE RAF Ret’d
Group Captain P W Hilton RAF Ret’d
Group Captain A White MBE RAF Ret'd
Wing Commander B C Atkinson OBE RAF Ret’d
Wing Commander C S Burns RAF Ret’d
Wing Commander R N Williams RAF Ret’d
Group Captain P Thorogood RAF Ret'd
Squadron Leader D McDermott RAF Ret'd
Air Commodore M Doel OBE MA BEd FRAeS RAF Ret'd
Group Captain M C Neville CBE BSc RAF Ret'd
Vice Presidents
Air Marshal S Atha CB DSO MABSC RAF
Air Marshal J Young CB OBE BSc MA MSc CEng FIET FRAeS HonFAPM RAF
Honorary Life Vice President
G Dyke
Chairman
Group Captain R Pratley (Rich)
Station Commander
RAF Wittering
Cambridgeshire
Tel. 95351 7200
Deputy Chairman
Group Captain N Jones (Neil)
DCOS JFHQ
Northwood Headquarters
Middlesex
HA6 3HP
Tel: 01923 955156 Mil: 93605 5156
RAF FA Chief of Staff
Wing Commander (Retd) K Watt (Keith)
Field Service Engineer
C-17 Field Services IPT
International Hub
Boeing Defence UK Limited
RAF Brize Norton
Oxon
OX18 3LX
Tel: 01993 867918
FA Councillor (and Shirts For Africa Appeal)
Wing Commander N Hope (Neil)
SO1 DAAM
RAF Shawbury
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY4 4DZ
Tel: 01939250351 Ext 7101 Mil: 95531 7101
Secretary
Mr V Williams (Vince)
RAF FA HQ
RAF Brize Norton
Carterton
Oxfordshire
OX18 3LX
Tel: 01993 895559 Mil: 95461 5559
Director of Finance
Squadron Leader L Arthur (Leanne)
HQ Air Continuous Improvement Team
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE
Tel: 01494 496856 Mil: 95221 6856
Football Development Officer
Mr J Duff (John)
RAF FA HQ
RAF Brize Norton
Carterton
Oxfordshire
OX18 3LX
Tel: 01993 895989 Mil: 95461 5989
Director of Sponsorship
Squadron Leader J Smith (Jon)
OC Tactical Fuels Sqn
MoD Stafford
Staffordshire
ST18 0AQ
Tel: 01785 787597 Mil: 95551 7597
Director of Football Delivery
Squadron Leader M Blagojevic (Martin)
SO2 Costing Cell
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE
Tel: 01494 496864 Mil: 95221 6864
Director of Discipline
Squadron Leader R Lewis (Rich)
OC Force Development
RAF Boulmer
Northumberland
NE66 3JF
Tel: 01665 607405 Mil: 95818 7405
Director of Referees
Wing Commander G Winwright (Garry)
Conceptual Component Programme
RAF Halton
Buckinghamshire
HP22 5PG
Tel: 01296 656524 Mil: 95237 6524
Director of Representative Teams
Squadron Leader J Hetherington (John)
OOA (Defence College Shrivenham)
Tel: Mil:
Director of Communications
Squadron Leader G Parker (Garf)
SO2 Employment Policy Development
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE
Tel: 01494 494 259 Mil: 95221 4259
Director of Strategy
Air Commodore S Harper (Simon)
ACOS Pers Pol
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE
Tel: 01494 497155 Mil: 95221 7155
Director of Community Engagement
Group Captain G Bettington (Gordon)
DCOS Community Support
RAF High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP14 4UE
Tel: 01494 493961 Mil: 95221 3961
Secretary
Vince Williams
Vince Williams
Secretary
Vince Williams took up the position of Football Liaison Officer with the RAF FA in October 2006 and became County Secretary in May 2008. Vince also took up the reigns of UK Armed Forces Secretary in July 2011. Vince previously spent 16 years at Farnborough Town Football Club and has built up a large network of contacts within the football industry.
During his time at Farnborough Town Football Club Vince held a number of roles including Football Secretary and General Manager, picked up the club's Chairman's Trophy on three occasions and has sat on disciplinary panels for the Football Conference.
The Non-League Paper voted Vince 'Unsung Hero' in 2004 and also 'Administrator of the Year' in 2007.
Vince's role with the RAF FA includes overseeing and responsibility of liaising and compliance with the FA and administrative support accross all RAF football sections.
Married with two children Vince supports Watford.
fOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
John Duff
John Duff
Football Development Officer
John Duff (MBE) became the first full time Football Development Officer (FDO) in the Royal Air Force following on his discharge from the Royal Air Force in June 2006. Although John is directly employed by RAFFA his post is 100% funded by the FA HQ in London.
John joined the RAF in 1968, during his long career he had a total of 13 postings, including two overseas tours in Germany and one in Gibraltar. John spent the last 4 years of his career as the SWO at RAF Brize Norton. Throughout his career John has always been heavily involved in RAF football either as a player, coach, manager, referee or administrator. In 1995 he was appointed OIC Football at Brize Norton. In 1998 he was also appointed as the Fixture Secretary of the RAF London League, he only relinquished both positions on his discharge.
John has witnessed the decline in RAF football in recent year’s, he is hoping to reverse this decline by creating more opportunities for individuals to be able to participate in football so that football continues to be the number one participation sport within the RAF.
Email: John.Duff102@mod.gov.uk
Football Development assistant
Sheila Haining
Sheila Haining
Football Development Assistant
Sheila Haining completed the team at RAF FA HQ when she became Football Development Assistant in November 2006.
Has previously been involved in setting up and running soccer schools at RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus) with her husband Mark who is a UEFA 'B' qualified coach and Level 1 qualified coach educator.
Sheila's role involves administration support to all aspects of football development within the RAF including circulating details of courses, arranging accomodation and maintaining the Association's databases.
Email: Sheila.Haining711@mod.gov.uk
