Board Candidate Personal Profiles
Nick Drane – Nominated by Mark Inskipp and Susan Watson
I have supported West Ham for over 40 years - as a season ticket holder over the past 30 plus. My family has roots in East London. I started going to games irregularly in my teens and as a season ticket holder with my father and brother at the start of the 1990s.
I enjoy the ritual of football and the diversity and wit of football supporters. Following a swift pint or two at the Black Lion we’d duck into the Supporters Club for a final half before getting into the ground and putting a modest flutter on first goal scorer or the result. The anticipation. The humour. The connection with other fans. These were powerful things and kept me coming back. In truth the football and the results were not always – usually? - great. But when they were it was just amazing to share the experience with thousands and thousands of fellow fans.
I was shocked and appalled by the plans for a European Super Leagues. I decided to get a bit more involved and was delighted to be able to support West Ham United Supporters’ Trust. I’m keen to continue pressing Government to implement the recommendations of the Fan Led Review of Football. Clubs are a special kind of businesses. And fans are a special kind of customer. English football desperately needs a statutory, independent regulator. Regulation is needed to protect clubs from themselves; to protect fans and local communities from inappropriate owners; to recognise the value of involving fans more and to protect what, amounts to, local cultural heritage.
If elected I’ll continue to work with the Football Supporters’ Association, other supporters’ trusts and fan representatives to press for the action needed to implement the Fan Led Review and support further fan engagement at West Ham.
Richard Elliott – Nominated by Chris Wheal and Terry Reynolds
I am 56 and a season ticket holder for the last nine seasons (and either a season ticket holder or member since the mid 1990’s), sitting in the West Stand. I’ve supported West Ham through thin and thin all my life, with my first match attended in 1974. I’m married, with two adult sons (also season ticket holders) and live in Essex.
By profession, I am a qualified senior banker and lending consultant, with experience as a Director and Board Member. I believe that my professional experience gives me a strong understanding of any commercial or financial aspect that impacts both WHUST and West Ham United itself – I strongly believe that in acting as a “critical friend” to the club (whether collaborating or holding to account), WHUST needs to properly understand the club’s own position and motivations, and I can help with that understanding.
Kevin Hind – Nominated by Diane Hind and Susan Watson
I’ve got West Ham flowing through my blood: three generations of my family have been season ticket holders including me, my late father was born within a stone’s throw of Upton Park, and my Mum met Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst through an insurance company she worked for.
I have been a member of the WHUST Board since it was created and before that I was a member of the WHUISA Committee.
In my professional life I have worked in the publishing industry for over 17 years, moving from an editorial role into software development. I have used my professional experience as a board member to ensure that the quality of our written output is of the highest quality.
Outside work I served as a town councillor for over 10 years as well as a school governor. I have been a political activist for many years, including an attempt at standing for Parliament myself. As a member of the WHUST board, I have used my experience on the political coalface to offer constructive advice on how WHUST should approach its relationship with the Club, including the may difficult calculations that sometimes need to be made.
I have helped to build our relationship with the Club as being strongly involved in establishing the Independent Supporters’ Committee (ISC). I was the first Chair of the ISC Ticketing Subcommittee. I am a West Ham representative on the Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group for football in Greater London.
The relationship between the Club and supporters has been severely strained in recent years, particularly as a result of the move to the London Stadium. More widely, there’s a pattern in modern football where big money and corporate culture is pushing out real fans like you and me. West Ham is more than just a business: it’s about East London, the people, the families, and friends who have supported the team for decades. We deserve to be treated with respect.
However, my priority is a strong working relationship with the Club. My political experience has convinced me that having a professional, well-organised supporter in a critical friend role achieves the best results. We need a strong Trust to get the best for all West Ham supporters.
Mark Inskipp – Nominated by Adam Fillary and Jordan Solane
I attended my first match at the Boleyn Ground in November 1968 when I stood in The Cage on the South Bank and was introduced to ‘pie and mash’.. I became hooked on following the Hammers and have been through the lows, in-betweens and occasional highs ever since. I’ve enjoyed our European travels over the last 2 seasons.
I started work as a computer programmer for British Leyland and since then progressed to setting up and running the European operations of a number of computer software companies. I have experience in developing operations from scratch across multiple countries, participating at senior board level, negotiating with stakeholders, creating communications for different channels, sales, marketing and business development.
Nowadays I work freelance with a number of start-up organisations providing mentoring support and helping them prepare for investment.
I am one of the founders of WHUST, having been on the committee of WHUISA before its transition. I am currently the Company Secretary where I utilise my skills in the administration and compliance functions that are required of a Community Benefit Society. I maintain the trust’s website and I participate in the marketing and ticketing sub committees.
I have a very strong interest in broadcasting and I sit on the FSA’s broadcasting committee where we voice supporter sentiment to decision makers at the Premier League and their broadcast partners.
Anthony Knight - Nominated by Mark Inskipp and Susan Watson
Lifelong West Ham supporter and Season Ticket Holder. Passionate about West Ham.
I consider myself to be intelligent and fair-minded. I want the very best for West Ham and the fans. Being a director will help me to represent our fanbase and to work on areas that need improving for the fans mainly concentrating on the match day experience. Attending a game is very different from watching a game on TV, my first trip to Upton Park was in 1970, I was immediately hooked, the noise, the atmosphere, the passion, the excitement of being at a game was incredible.
The matchday experience is key for existing and new West Ham fans, it should be enjoyable coming to a game but it should also be exhilarating. It seems that football clubs make changes without considering the impact on their fans. West Ham are no exception, there must be someone who can challenge the club and to help them make decisions that are good for the club and the fans.
I am creative and practical on what can be done, I have experience working on projects big and small and working with senior and junior people within an organisation. It is important to be a good listener, listen to the fans but also to listen to the club and in both cases to offer guidance when possible as to what is achievable, impact of decisions and actions, try to balance both points of views, find common ground but to always have the football clubs best interests at heart.
The fans are the most important part of any football club, unfortunately the football clubs don’t always treat them that way.
Rachel McFetridge - Nominated by Nick Drane and Susan Watson
From my first unforgettable game in 1996, to a seat on the West Ham United Supporters’ Trust board last year, West Ham have played an important role in my life. What started out as ‘moral support’ for a friend, who supports the club, quickly turned into what is becoming a lifelong relationship. I am a season ticket holder who moved from the East Stand Upper to the Billy Bonds Stand in August 2016 and I am very aware of the traditions, history and ethos of our club and of the importance of maintaining some of our cultural history as we continue to move into a new and exciting era.
Being a fan who attends home and away matches, I have encountered a number of women with similar passion for the club and the game. My aim is to work collectively with the trust (and other supporters' trusts) to ensure - both existing and potential - women at the game have the same positive experiences I have enjoyed along the way. I would utilize my role to ensure the views of women at the game are represented at board meetings. One of the initiatives I have been part of has been the setting up of Intrepid Irons, a group for female West Ham supporters and allies, to share experiences and meet up at matches.
My work in the education sector has developed my skills and knowledge in working partnerships with a number of sectors within the community, IT and social media, finance management and strategic planning. Throughout 2022, I have been involved in supporter’s trust working parties for Media and Communications and part of the Ticketing Committee. I am standing for re-election with the hope that I can continue to contribute to the steady progress and strengthen a productive relationship with the club.
I attend matches with the next generation of fans. They had no choice! This brings an additional perspective to my outlook upon the club and it is my hope that in years to come, they will do the same. Therefore it is important to me to embrace possible change needed to ensure the legacy of supporting this amazing club is continued. It would be a privilege to have the opportunity to continue in my capacity as a board member.
Terry Reynolds – Nominated by Richard Elliott and Chris Wheal
I have been a West Ham supporter for well over 60 years, taken as a child by my father, and also took my own children when they were old enough, and they, too are supporters. As soon as season tickets were introduced for the old Chicken Run, I had one and have had one ever since.
I’ve moaned at our owners from the Cearns to Terrence Brown, was wary of the Icelandic false dawn, and heartily disagree with the way our present owners run the club, and in particular, their treatment of “legacy supporters”. I also recognise the joy I’ve had at times under all those owners, supporting the Irons. But I’d like more of it with a better run club.
I joined the trust to be part of an organisation that stands up for supporters, and tries to broaden the number of supporters, through engaging with and making demands on the ownership with constructive suggestions as to how they could do better – or give way to others who can.
I would like to continue to do that as a member of the board of WHUST.
David Shaer – Nominated by Kevin Hind and Rachel McFetridge
I am a proud South Londoner and have supported West Ham for over 50 years, like all supporters I have experienced the highs and lows of supporting the club over that time. I attended three loosing semi finals in three years going away to Luton and Oldham as well as the home legs and the semi Final loss to Forest at Villa Park. My first heroes at the club were Pop Robson and Clyde Best.
I worked for 32 years in the NHS before taking early retirement, my entire career was spent in London working in Mental Health.
I am standing for election as I believe that the voice of the supporter needs to be heard now more than ever. Since the move to Stratford the club has moved further away from the fanbase than ever before. What is needed is a fan led group that can represent the views of fans in a constructive manner. It is easy to abuse from the side lines what is more difficult is to engage with and influence, I believe that the WHUST board has a proven track record of doing this and I am keen to continue this process.
Susan Watson - Nominated by Nick Drane and Kevin Hind
I’ve been West Ham from my earliest years, following in the footsteps of my dad. Over the 50+ years of following the Irons, that feeling of anticipation, of community, of belonging to the best, that thrill of football has never left me; it has only increased with time. Knowing I’m part of the family that is West Ham United is important to me and I want the best for it.
As part of that desire to improve the match day experience for supporters, I joined the WHUISA committee. I have been a member of the WHUST Board since its creation. During my time that I’ve been involved in improving things for supporters, I’ve worked to build good relationships with club personnel, the stadium owners, Newham Council, and all those involved in and affecting our club, our game and how we experience it. This includes home, away and overseas.
It is with a sense of pride I represent us on the Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group for football in Greater London and in working with the Football Supporters’ Association on VAR, Cryptocurrency and speak at Premier League meetings and with Government representatives. I’ve met with Football Supporters Europe as part of our European ‘tours’. It’s important our voices are heard, our views expressed and those that make decisions affecting us, know what we think and what we want.
Our club is more than a business, we are more than customers, we’re the emotional owners of our club. The history, heritage and identity of our club comes through us- we are West Ham United and it’s with a sense of pride and a feeling of privilege that I have represented and spoken up and out for us. We deserve to be treated with respect, whilst acknowledged that we are the key ‘stakeholders’ in WHUFC.
My priorities are to further develop all the working relationships, but particularly with the club, ensure supporters views are represented in all relevant arenas and help build a supporter representative body that ensures our voices are part of the decision making processes of our club and beyond.
Having strong, professional, problem-solving, dedicated, fan-focussed supporter representation that is not afraid to be that critical friend, achieves so much. We need a strong, vigorous trust that fills the critical friend role to get the best for us all; we deserve this. After all we are West Ham United.
Chris Wheal – Nominated by Terry Reynolds and Richard Elliott
Born in Barking, and the grandson of West Ham War Time Cup winner Norman Corbett, I was always going to follow the Hammers. Sadly, granddad’s talent didn’t pass through the genes, leaving me with two left feet stuck on the bottom of a pair of knocked knees.
With 35 years’ experience as a journalist, helping WHUST with media and comms, seemed the least I could do. But I’ve found myself involved in so much more besides. Ticketing has been a bugbear.
I was a longstanding Claret Member who upgraded to a season ticket last year after my daughter and I managed to get to so many games it broke the bank. Football can be frustrating for fans, but West Ham makes it doubly so with confusing ticketing, poor communication and too many things going wrong.
WHUST takes a pragmatic, professional and practical approach, offering help and support to the club, acting as its critical friend. I like that – and feel my professional experience and skills can further those aims.
I’ve been a school governor, charity trustee and a member of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, working with the BBC, SKY, ITV and many others to accredit teaching in universities. I have also been an active member of my trade union, the National Union of Journalists, and I am a trained negotiator.
I bring political nous and lobbying knowledge too. I have interviewed politicians and prime ministers and been inside the Cabinet Office in 10 Downing Street. Understanding how Parliament works and what makes politicians tick can help WHUST and the wider Football Supporters’ Association.
My family has been involved with the club before. My mum’s uncle, Bill Elliott, ran youth football locally and introduced several young players to the club who went on to first team fame. He then founded the Junior Hammers, which he ran for years. Bill was awarded an MBE in 1999 for “services to the community, especially young people's sport, in East Ham”. The whole family were given a special tour of the Boleyn Ground just before it closed. You can read about it on West Ham’s website: https://www.whufc.com/es/node/569.
It has been an honour to help get WHUST established. There’s much more to do. I’m hard-working and diligent and I believe I can make a difference.