The vote for Everton's inaugural Fan Advisory Board is now open.
Once operational, Everton's Fan Advisory Board will be consulted on long-term strategic issues and will meet regularly with the Club’s hierarchy, including members of the Board of Directors.
The vote will be independently verified by UK Engage and will identify four members of the Fan Advisory Board. The four successful candidates will join a further seven members on the final 11-person panel. The additional seven members are set to be democratically nominated by supporter groups making up the Everton Stakeholder Steering Group (ESSG).
To find out more about Everton's Fan Advisory Board, its function, and how it will represent Everton's global fanbase, click here.
Read on to learn more about the candidates and then vote for your preferred four by submitting the form at the bottom of this page.
Voting closes at 11.59pm on Thursday 9 June.
Please note, to be eligible to vote you must have had an Everton supporter number prior to 1 May 2022.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Tom Astley
Name: Tom Astley
About me: I want to assist in ensuring Everton’s long-term strategic objectives are met, with the upcoming stadium move to Bramley-Moore being a pivotal part of our future and growth as a club, and it is important that we all look to unite as one and ensure the best for future generations of supporters (after all, I have a two-year-old who I can’t wait to take to Bramley-Moore).
Supporters are the lifeblood of the Club and have rightly been consulted along the way in regard to the stadium move, and I will listen to what supporters are saying about Everton’s vision, Everton’s objectives, Everton’s future plans and the ongoing stadium relocation and Goodison Legacy Project to ensure supporters' views are fed into the Fan Advisory Board.
I have 13 years of experience working in sports regulation, currently working for The Football Association as an Integrity Investigator, so I can also bring to the table experience in regulation, governance, and an ability to challenge and question.
Over and above all this, it’s a passion for Everton that drives me to be part of the Fan Advisory Board, to help make a change and shape the future of our Club for the best. COYB
Jazz Bal
Name: Jazz Bal
About me: Having served a full military career around the world, I’ve experienced our Club as an overseas fan and, since moving back to Liverpool (2014), I’ve been a season ticket holder in the Upper Gwladys and regularly go to away games.
I believe in this process and understand what will be required, having had experience of representing Blues with senior members of Everton. Some voluntary roles I’ve had include:
- Joining the Everton Fans’ Forum in 2019; chairing it since 2020.
- Forming the Tri-Service Toffees (officially-affiliated military supporters' club) in 2019; playing a key role in getting them a position on the Supporters’ Club Committee.
- Joining the EFC Shareholders’ Association in 2020; becoming a member of the Executive Committee in 2021.
- Being selected by the Football Supporters’ Association to be one of six Premier League fans to present directly to Tracey Crouch MP during the fan-led review of football governance.
- Chairing the Everton Stakeholder Steering Group that played a significant part in getting the Fan Advisory Board to this stage.
I’ve also met many Evertonians over the last few years and fully understand the importance of fan voices being heard at Board level. After all, it’s our Club… Everton Aren’t We!
Julie Clarke
Name: Julie Clarke
About me: I’m a lifelong Blue, who has followed the team throughout Europe and the world.
Despite leaving Liverpool in my 20s, for my job, I have never stopped travelling to Goodison. In fact, up until 2010, I went to every game (home and away) every season, with a 400-mile round trip for home games.
I was active in the London Supporters' Club and later on with APFSCIL (Association of Provincial Football Supporters' Clubs in London), as Travel Secretary. I represented supporters of all UK league clubs, based in London, attending regular meetings with the Premier League, Football League, police and train operators to discuss important issues around travel arrangements and safety of supporters, campaigning for fair ticket allocations and fixed cost fares for fans.
I now live near Cambridgeshire, making the six-hour round-trip for every home game and as many away games as possible. I travelled to Europe in 2017 when we played Olympic Lyonnaise.
Ian Craig
Name: Ian Craig
About me: As a long standing, season ticket holding 'Blue', I have recently retired as a Financial Services Executive, having operated on and supported numerous Boards over many years.
I have successfully led large scale operations nationally and internationally for 'blue chip' organisations and now hold a number of Non-Executive Director and Trustee positions, mostly in the Merseyside area, and I am skilled in working with Boards to help develop strategies and improve operating performance.
I have led teams of up to 4,500 staff supporting over 15 million customers in the UK and have a track record of helping businesses improve their customer relationships through innovative and creative thinking. I am a first-class communicator who influences well at all levels and I am adept at building effective relationships and developing high performing teams.
By utilising all of these skills developed over many years, I would welcome the opportunity to help the Everton Football Club Board shape the future of our fantastic club as we look forward to moving into our new stadium. By acting as the voice of the fanbase, we have the opportunity to turn this 'sleeping blue giant' into a football powerhouse and I'd love to be part of it!
Shaun Ingram
Name: Shaun Ingram
About me: As a passionate supporter who has followed Everton home and away for many years, I want to join the Fan Advisory Board to try to bridge the gap between the Club hierarchy and the fans. I speak to and engage with a wide variety of our fans and feel that my communication skills make me an ideal candidate to join the Fan Advisory Board.
I want to take the issues and questions our amazing fanbase has and have meaningful dialogue with the Club about resolving those issues or getting answers to their questions.
The Club can only move forward when the fanbase and the Club hierarchy are united and pulling in the same direction.
John Jennings
Name: John Jennings
About me: I am applying to be considered for the Fan Advisory Board because, very simply, I am passionate about Everton Football Club.
I attended my first game in 1966 and first had a season ticket in 1974. I am a shareholder and season ticket holder in the Upper Gwladys Street. Having left Merseyside to find work aged 21, I travel over for games from Nottingham.
In my work life, I am a member of an advisory board for a large organisation, and, along with other team members, I help business leaders to better connect and engage with their staff/customers, or in our case, with the fans. I would hope to bring some of that experience to bear for the benefit of all supporters and the Club.
The recent European Super League fiasco, which Everton were very vocal about, has highlighted how all clubs can do more to work in partnership with their supporters for mutual benefit.
Everton are the People's Club. I would be very honoured to be asked to be one of those people representing our fantastic fanbase, and helping the Club progress and succeed over the coming years.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
COYB!
John
Dave Kelly
Name: Dave Kelly
About me: I have been involved in fan activism and fan culture for over 30 years. I have represented fans at local, national and international level. I sat on the National Council of the Football Supporters' Association for 12 years and represented English fans at the European Congress.
I was a founder member of Keep Everton in our City, Everton fan group The Blue Union, the Everton Supporters' Trust and co-founder of Fans Supporting Foodbanks. I led on the FSA's '£20's Plenty' campaign and have also campaigned against racism. Not just in football but also in the workplace and society in general.
I have also sat on the Executive Committee of the Everton Shareholders' Association for the past 10 years. I am passionate about inequality and injustice.
I have had a season ticket for 47 years and attended every away game for 17 consecutive seasons. I believe the Fan Advisory Board presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's well documented that "Football Without Fans Is Nothing". Let's embrace this opportunity and work collectively with our beloved football club.
I could think of no bigger honour than being elected to represent our wonderful supporters.
Onwards and Upwards
Laura Hebden
Name: Laura Hebden
About me: I am a passionate Evertonian who has supported the Club since 1987.
Since 1999, I have travelled from university and later London to support the club I love. It would be a great honour to represent our amazing fanbase and shape the future direction of the Club to ensure supporters' views are fully represented; it is crucial that our Club maintains a close relationship with and serves all Evertonians.
In these rapidly changing times it is crucial that the fans' views are represented to ensure the future of the Club and the game of football. I feel I have the skills to articulate how fans feel and, collectively, the fans can shape the direction of the Club and ensure that the fans feel valued.
I believe it is important to cement a strong relationship between the Club and the fans. It is important that the Fan Advisory Board understands how to do this and works together to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Club.
It would be an honour to represent the fans. I care passionately about ensuring the success of the Club for its future generations of fans.
James Holman
Name: James Holman
About me: I have been attending Goodison since 1974, with family. I am a shareholder, season ticket holder and regular attender of away fixtures with my two sons. I was born in the city and have lived and worked here almost all my life. I absolutely understand, because I feel it too, the pride and passion Scousers have for their heritage, their city and their Club.
I am General Counsel and sit on the Board for Weightmans, a law firm, nearly 200 years old and one of the largest employers in the city. Law is about people, making them feel included and valued; listening is the key skill. I am not afraid to make a decision or express a view.
I am perhaps old fashioned in my approach. I view media and technology as tools. But people are our lifeblood. We must be tolerant and inclusive. We are all so different. Evertonians, though, share a common bond which makes us all family.
It is such an exciting time in the Club’s history. Bramley-Moore and the Goodison Legacy. I see the Fan Advisory Board as a chance to be part of that momentum. Something which will shape the next 100 years.
Onwards Evertonians.
Timothy Ohlson
Name: Timothy Ohlson
About me: I believe that there are thousands of Everton supporters around the globe. I have travelled the world and met many of these supporters.
I grew up overseas from my "home" country, I ran a supporters' group in my home country (USA). When I moved internationally, I quickly helped start a supporters' group in my new county.
The one thing that still amazes me is that when you meet an Evertonian, no matter where you travel in the world, there is an instant connection. The Blue family is alive and well across the globe.
I want those global fans to be represented on the Fan Advisory Board. I feel that I represent what it truly is to be an international Everton supporter and I want to represent that spirit on the FAB.
Stephen Tait
Name: Stephen Tait
About me: A lifelong supporter, like many of our fans I live and breathe everything Everton. I would consider myself being a suitable candidate as I already have a great relationship with the Club.
I have on many occasions engaged with them on behalf of fellow fans inclusive of ticketing and seat issues and personal messages for fans by Club representatives. If elected, I would look to do more of this for the wider fanbase.
I would look to ensure I constructively communicate and work with the fans, Club, fellow Board members and shareholders on those items that can make a difference.
Our Club does great things but even great things can be improved on and I would like to champion anything that can be seen as having the potential to make a difference.
As we plan towards our new stadium, there will no doubt be fresh challenges and opportunities. I would like to play my part in Everton being embedded in its new surroundings but also support the work in the community around Goodison Park. For these reasons, I would like to represent you as fans as part of the Fan Advisory Board and would appreciate your vote.
Tony Whittaker
Name: Tony Whittaker
About me: I have been a season ticket holder since the early 1970s so I have seen the best of Everton and sometimes the worst. Most importantly, I have made so many friends along the way, all with the same common goal. Family and friends now are into the third generation, many of them yet to see success but remain devoted to Everton and all it stands for.
This belonging means I fully understand the needs of the fans and the Club going forward and feel confident I can support them both in achieving our long-term strategy.
The Fan Advisory Board gives the opportunity for us to engage directly with the Everton hierarchy and Board members. With good working experience, I am sure I will be able to tell the Club the fans' ideas and help both the fanbase and the Club reach its aims and objectives, which are now more important than ever.
We have an opportunity to broaden discussions and enhance supporter engagement to ensure we remain as one of the highest-ranking clubs within the Premier League and, ultimately, Europe. Our new stadium and stability from enhanced revenue will be key but our voice will be as important.
Withdrew: Thomas Morris
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