SUPPORTERS’ BOARD: Meet Derby County’s First Supporters’ Board

Derby County announced in June 2024, following a rigorous application and interview process assisted by the Football Supporters’ Association, its first-ever Supporters’ Board.

Four independent members - Craig Flindall, Stella Gutteridge, Alex Leyland and Steve Wilson - were selected to join Hilary Leam (Rams Trust) and Jas Gidda (Punjabi Rams) on the Supporters’ Board.

All six members provide wide-ranging experience and skill sets which will bring a new level of insight and transparency into the way the club carries out its business.

In order to provide the fanbase with more information about the individuals on the Supporters’ Board, full profiles have been produced and can be found below.

CRAIG FLINDALL

Like the rest of his family, Craig is a lifelong Derby County fan and his first memory of the club is the victory over Rotherham United at the Baseball Ground in May 1986 which secured promotion to the Second Division.

He was a season ticket holder during the 1980s, which means that Dean Saunders is an obvious choice for his favourite Ram of all-time.

After a period of returning from Birmingham - where he studied at university and has worked - for games, he is now a season ticket holder once again in the North Stand at Pride Park. Craig is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

His ambition as part of the Supporters’ Board is to bring his passion for sport, expertise in finance and governance and his love of Derby County all together, to support the development of a successful and sustainable club for the benefit of all fans and the local community.

JAS GIDDA

Jas has been a season ticket holder for over 30 years and a vivid early memory is the Rams’ 4-1 East Midlands Derby victory over Nottingham Forest at the Baseball Ground in November 1979. This was his first solo visit, previously he had attended his first games with his older brother from the age of seven.

Whilst Jas has witnessed many of Derby’s greatest-ever players in action, his favourite remains Igor Stimac due to his skill, leadership and dedication on the pitch.

After graduating with a degree in Economics, he has since gained an MBA and has run a business consultancy practice for the last 20 years, which has equipped Jas with skills in strategic planning and financial analysis, as well as essential and effective communication abilities.

Jas’ vision - alongside his role with the Punjabi Rams - is to work with the club to enhance fan engagement, promote inclusivity and ensure that all voices are heard when it comes to decision-making, all of which will strengthen the club and ensure that we thrive both on and off the pitch.

STELLA GUTTERIDGE

Stella was born into a Derby County-supporting family and her first experience of the Popside came on 29th August 1981, when Kevin Hector scored during a 2-1 reverse against Leyton Orient.

Despite the defeat, she was hooked and this year marked Stella’s 32nd season as a season ticket holder, with Chris Powell and Craig Forsyth amongst her favourite players throughout the years.

Stella has over 30 years of experience in helping organisations to run major programmes, including mergers, acquisitions, regulatory changes and major contracts. This wealth of knowledge covers competitive environments, developing strategy and business plans, promoting good governance and improving culture.

Upon joining the Supporters’ Board, Stella is dedicated to ensuring that the danger of losing her club will never occur again, and that Derby County remains a club that its supporters can be proud of, for the way it’s managed, for its role in the community and for its football.

HILARY LEAM

Hilary’s Derby County journey started with her Dad, who has supported the Rams since 1948 and passed his passion on to the rest of his family. Her first game was away at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers in May 1983 before a first visit to the Baseball Ground for a crucial 1-0 win over Fulham just days later, after which she became a season ticket holder.

The stand-out players from Hilary’s time as a Ram have been Bobby Davison and Igor Stimac, while Craig Bryson is a modern favourite.

Hilary has held several commercial leadership roles, and she currently works with health and wellness businesses, as well as founding her own, alongside being Chair of Rams Trust and Rose Hill Arts Centre in Chesterfield.

Her expertise covers financial management, planning, brand strategy, developing people and operations, and Hilary hopes to apply this knowledge to ensure that future generations have a stable and successful club to enjoy.

ALEX LEYLAND

Alex describes Derby County as a club that has given him so many lifelong memories with family and friends. He attended his first game with his dad against Tottenham Hotspur at the Baseball Ground in 1997 and it was a thriller, as Robin van der Laan, Paul Trollope, Dean Sturridge and Ashley Ward found the net in a 4-2 win.

He first became a season ticket holder in 2004 and in that time his favourite player has been Curtis Davies due to his dedication on the pitch and leadership off it.

Alex currently works as an assurance manager in electricity market regulation. He has had a variety of leadership roles and independent board member experience for energy and water companies, with this bringing experience in governance, leading operations, and financial planning.

He believes that the Supporters’ Board can play a key role in helping the club to take on different perspectives, represent values that will make the fans proud and to operate responsibly so that future generations get to experience the journey of following Derby County.

STEVE WILSON

Although technically around to see Dave Mackay’s side lift the First Division title in 1975, Steve was only one, so he doesn’t think it really counts! The first group that he considers ‘his’ Derby County team was the side that Arthur Cox led to back-to-back promotions in late 80’s.

His all-time favourite player is Mark Wright, who gets the nod just ahead of Igor Stimac, due to his starring role alongside Peter Shilton for England at Italia ‘90.

Steve is currently the Chief Finance Officer for Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Office of the Mayor of Greater Manchester. He is a qualified accountant and has acquired significant expertise working on boards across many sectors. He brings a strong understanding of complex financial issues and good governance to the Supporters’ Board alongside his passion for Derby County.

Steve believes that the supporters board can help the owners, and the Derby County Board ensure that the club is successful on and off the pitch, while maintaining transparency and strengthening the relationship between the club and its supporters.