Sue Bridgewater and Gareth Farrelly appointed as new Foundation Trustees

The Board of Trustees at The Players Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Sue Bridgewater and Gareth Farrelly as new members of the Board.

Sue and Gareth bring with them a huge wealth of experience in football, alongside extensive knowledge of senior leadership and governance. They are both passionate advocates of inclusivity and supporting the charitable needs of current and former professional footballers.

Sue is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Liverpool, where she founded and directed the Centre for Sports Business, set up the globally ranked MSc Sport Business and directed Executive Education for the Management School.

She has worked with football stakeholders around the world and has a long-standing relationship with the League Managers Association, where she founded and directs the association’s diploma for professional football coaches and managers.

Sue has been a member of UEFA’s Research Grants and Awards Jury since 2014 and subject-matter expert for UEFA in women’s football. She was a Board Director for Women in Football 2016-2023, championing greater gender diversity in the football workforce.

Gareth Farrelly enjoyed a distinguished career as a Premer League footballer and Republic of Ireland international before he retired early from the game due to a life-changing illness and qualified as a lawyer. Gareth’s 16-year playing career took him to leading clubs including Aston Villa, Everton and Bolton Wanderers.

Today, Gareth is a Litigation and Sports Lawyer with Glaisyers ETL. He is also a co-founder and CEO of the Union of European Clubs. Gareth is a member of Sport Resolutions’ Independent Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators and was previously a Court of Arbitration for Sport Arbitrator and Premier League Judicial Panel Member.                                             

Gareth is also a member of The Football Association’s Judicial Panel and sits on both the Chairman’s Panel and the Football Panel. Gareth is the President of the MIP Alumni Association, a group of former international players who completed a Master’s Programme with UEFA.

Brendon Batson OBE, Chairman of The Players Foundation, said: ‘On behalf of the Trustees, I am delighted to welcome Sue and Gareth to the Board. It’s an exciting time for the Foundation as we continue to implement our ambitious strategy and I know that the combined expertise of Sue and Gareth will prove invaluable. We’re all looking forward to working alongside them and utilising their experience within the game.’