Job description:

Independent Chair of The Football Association's National Game Board

Our Organisation

The Football Association (The FA) is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England, dedicated to promoting the sport and inspiring positive change through the game. We are responsible for developing and advancing football at every level, from grassroots to the professional game, generating revenue to support investment in English football.

The FA oversees all England international teams, including men's, women's, youth, and para football. We manage FA competitions such as the Emirates FA Cup, the FA Youth Cup, and the Adobe Women's FA Cup. Additionally, we oversee men's and women's leagues below the professional level. Our remit includes the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.

The National Game Board

The National Game Board (NGB) is The FA's senior committee overseeing the grassroots level of the game.  This includes deciding on levels of funding, the promotion and raising of standards of participation and operational matters relating to County Football Associations.

The NGB currently comprises individuals selected from The FA Council who represent various stakeholders within the grassroots game and two independent members.

The Role

The FA is seeking to appoint an Independent Chair of the NGB.  The primary role of the Independent Chair is to chair meetings of the NGB, bring objectivity to discussions and an independent point of view and judgement on matters within its remit.

The Independent Chair will:

• Demonstrate the values of The FA, leading the NGB with a collaborative style that ensures cohesion and that the Executive are held to account.
• Ensure that the NGB acts with integrity and takes all the different stakeholder interests into account as it makes decisions. This includes managing the trade-offs that will naturally arise from these stakeholders to ensure that decisions are taken in the best and long-term collective interests of football at this level.
• Be curious and provide challenge and support to other NGB members and the Executive team.

Ideally, candidates will be able to demonstrate:

• Experience in chairing the board (or equivalent) of an organisation
• A senior level business profile
• Knowledge of football at the grassroots level, such as from prior involvement with a league or club at this level.

Term

The Independent Chair will be able to serve a maximum of 3 terms of 3 years.

Time Commitment & Remuneration

The NGB meets 7 times per season including 2 x 2-day strategy meetings.  Meetings are usually held midweek during working hours at Wembley Stadium. 

An allowance can be claimed for attendance at each meeting of the NGB (currently £300/meeting) along with any travel or subsistence expenses incurred.

Definition of Independence

Independent means a person who is:

a) free from any close connection to The FA and a close connection shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the following:

i) the person is, or has been within the last six months, actively involved in The FA's affairs or held any position or role within The FA (including, without limitation, being a Member of The FA Council, a member of any committee of The FA or an employee, director or officer of The FA);

ii) the person holds, or has held within the last six months, a position or role with any Football Stakeholder (including, without limitation, being an employee, director or officer of any Football Stakeholder);

iii) the person has, or has had within the last six months, a Material Business Relationship with The FA; and

iv) the person has close family ties (including by way of being connected with an individual as a spouse, civil partner, former spouse, former civil partner, parent, step or adopted parent, grandparent, child, step child, adopted child, descendant, qualifying co-habitant or next-of-kin) with any directors, senior employees or committee members of The FA or any Member of The FA Council; and

b) viewed as independent from the perspective of an objective outsider;

How to Apply

We have retained Elevate Talent, a specialist executive search firm, to manage the initial stages of our recruitment process, including all screening and preliminary interviews. Accordingly, please send your application, including a CV and Covering Letter to  [email protected] by midnight on 1st February 2026. Any enquiries regarding the National Game Board or the role should also be directed to the above e-mail address.

The appointed candidate will be invited to observe National Game Board meetings during the 2025 / 2026 season and will officially start in the role from the 2026 / 2027 season.

The Football Association promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from everyone who meets the criteria. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please detail this in your covering letter.