About Us

Janie has been an active football referee for 25 years, and became the second women to have operated within men’s professional football.

 Janie worked at the FA for 12 years as National Referee Manager for Education and Training. She has a vast experience in referee development both domestically and internationally having delivered education to grassroots through to elite referees on every continent and within every confederation on behalf of The FA and FIFA. As one of only a handful of female FIFA Instructors in the world, Janie has been privileged to be involved in many tournaments and workshops.

 Janie believes passionately about the development of people, to this end, for 10 years she has been involved in an organisation called Sports Officials UK Ltd a development partner of Sport England, for the last 8 years she has been an elected director and honorary CEO of the organisation. Janie was an Independent director for the English Cricket Board ACO for 4 years, also a former member of the Advisory group for Sport Wales. Her current role is very exciting; as Director of her own Sports Officials Consultancy for sports officials.

Simone graduated from De Montfort University with a 2.1 Honours in Performing Arts which will not surprise anyone who knows her well.

She joined the PFA in 2000 to develop female player representation at a time when Fulham FC had the first and only professional women’s football team.  She worked to establish that first cohort of players as PFA members and has continued to tackle under-representation of women and minority groups in the game ever since.

She became PFA Head of Equality and Diversity in 2005 and has worked with anti-discrimination campaign Kick It Out as a Trustee between 2007-2014 and as a supporter and campaigner from 2000 to the present day.

She was enrolled into the Show Racism the Red Card Hall of Fame in 2011 at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament and is an Ambassador for the organisation which works with schools, colleges and young people using football to encourage inclusion and anti-discrimination.

Simone has been instrumental working with other trade unions, campaigning groups, and football authorities to address homophobia in the game working with players, coaches and supporters groups to change the culture of the game. She created footballs first poster campaign “Gay or Straight We Are All Winners” and has worked with Stonewall and LGBT Football Groups to support and promote their work.

In 2010 Simone worked with mental health groups Time to Change and Mind to create The Footballers Guidebook, an innovative resource that helped dispel stigma’s around mental health for footballers and encouraged them to consider their mental health alongside their physical health. This helped create greater understanding for and of players well-being needs during and after their playing careers. The Footballers Guidebook has been redistributed to Italy, Spain, the USA and Australia.

In 2011 Simone developed the Equality and Diversity Programme for First Team players to help combat discriminatory language and behavior on and off-field. It clearly outlines to players that as well as laws of the game there are laws of the land which they must also comply with.  This has been delivered to over 2,000 players to considerable acclaim.

 At the time of writing, Simone is developing an Off Field Integrity Programme for First Team football players to address issues around respectful relationships in real life and on social media including sexual consent. She has worked closely with women’s group and advisors to provide a program that will create a greater level of understanding around sexual consent laws and legalities.

“My focus is using football as a tool to educate and inspire change. The culture of the game is evolving and it is important that we open up to encourage greater diversity at all levels of the game. If I can help with this in any way then I will.”

"Being part of the WiF 30% Mentor Programme is a great opportunity; to have access to this kind of support will be invaluable to both my personal and professional development. Being able to take this knowledge into the organisation I lead on will enable me to more properly support my team and allow us more effectively deliver our aims and ambitions for community development through football".

"Having worked in a County Football Association for nearly ten years and currently deputising for the CEO, I am looking forward to working with people from a broader business background and strengthening my ability and ambition to take on a lead role within a County FA or similar organisation.

I have a strong managerial background with a good strategic appreciation and vision in building and implementing plans, and a proven track record of exceeding target delivery. However I am particularly excited to focus my development on the business functions of an organisation and advance my own ability to innovate and diversify in an aim to secure future football and business sustainability".

– Heidi Lockyer, Birmingham County FA

“I am really looking forward to this exciting opportunity to work with a business mentor, which will help support and accelerate my continuing professional development”

– Lucy Wellings, The FA

“I’m excited to embark on this mentoring journey and to widen my knowledge about leadership, personal development and to continue on my path wanting to make impact in the industry. The mentoring programme is a great initiative in developing future leaders and I’m honoured to be part of it. I look forward to widening my network, but even more so to receiving inspirational advice from my mentor.”

"I am delighted to be involved in the programme and I am looking forward to meeting like minded people. I believe having a mentor will help me to reflect and be better on a daily basis both personally and professionally". 

"To be given the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in business whilst also learning from my peers on the mentoring scheme is going to be a really exciting project to be part of. I hope to be able to develop as an individual and improve key skills that will benefit my employer and the industry as a whole".

– Natalie Doyle, London County FA

“I am very excited to have been selected for the 30% Mentor Programme through Women in Football, as I think it is a unique opportunity for me to learn from an experienced professional, who can help me look at my career in a new light, solidify my goals and develop my leadership skills. This opportunity will give me concrete, hands on feedback from a senior professional who takes an interest in my career – that is something money can’t buy!”

– Preeti Shetty, Football Foundation

Sarah is the Events Officer for Women in Football.  Sarah joins WiF from IMG Media where she was Head of Production.  During the twelve years at IMG/Premier League Productions, she was instrumental in the growth of PLP. They went from producing and broadcasting 10 live matches and one magazine show to the current 24 hour channel with daily live studio of up to nine hours per day, seven magazine shows and a staff of over 100 with up to 250 freelancers per week.

Sarah played a significant role in all stages of the planning, finance, commercial elements and launch of the PLTV channel that broadcasts to over 200 territories worldwide and was key to the growth of the multi-million pound budget.  Sarah's previous clients include the Premier League, NBC, Channel 4, HBS, UEFA and The European Tour.  Sarah's background is live outside broadcast of major sporting events, including the Premier League, World Cups, European Championships, Wimbledon and The Grand National.

Sarah has been in the television sports industry for over 20 years and previous employers include ISL, IAAF, HBS, Octagon CSI, Charter Broadcast and Fountain Studios.

Sarah's role is supported by: