Chris is a life-long Watford fan, born and educated in Watford.  He is currently Director of a local training and coaching consultancy Mentor Group having previously held senior positions at Dell Computer Corporation and Honeywell.

In terms of his role with the Trust, Chris is passionate about using his experience in Sales, Customer Service, Training and Coaching to make a difference in how the Trust operates and delivers on its promises to the community.

Chris is also a member of the Football Club Board where he acts as Alternate Director.
 

Ed Coan’s connection with Watford FC stretches back some 22 years.

He first joined Watford as public relations officer in 1984, and played a key role in developing the Club’s family facilities and appeal in that era. He left at the end of 1989 to form his own consultancy, but continued to operate as the Club’s press officer and publications editor, before returning to the club as Acting Chief Executive and Commercial Director in 1997.

Once a full-time appointment was made, he reverted to a consultancy role again, but re-joined the Club full-time in 1999 as the club’s Director of Marketing. Five years on, during which time he led the project to form the Club’s Community Sports & Education Trust, he re-started his consultancy business, before joining The FA.

His consultancy work has enabled him to see the sports business from virtually every angle, as he has worked for governing bodies, agencies, sports brands and on major events.

Ed is a former schoolboy international footballer and holds a coaching badge.
 

Ruth Ellis is Director of Operations at the Watford YMCA.  She has had an involvement with Watford Football Club for over 20 years and was involved in the setting up of the Learning Centre.  Watford Football Club supports the YMCA with their Princes Trust programme and other activities to get people fit.  Ruth is Commissioner for the Inland Revenue, she is also involved with Watford Council in the development of community centres in Watford, Orbital and Centrepoint.

Michael Jones has worked for Watford Football Club since 1994, where he began his career with the Club in retail and ticketing.

Having progressed through the ranks Michael went on to lead the ticketing operation at Vicarage Road until the summer of 2007 when he joined the Club's Operating Board as Head of Venue and Customer Experience, with further responsibility for retail and catering.

Michael, aged 34, is a Watford fan and was a season ticket holder of long-standing before joining the Club.
 

Heather Valentine started her policing career with the Metropolitan Police Service in 1979.  In the years to follow she held senior positions with the police across London.

In 1999, Heather was promoted to Detective Superintendent and headed the Lawrence Review Team during the period leading up to, and immediately after, the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report.  Her work included positioning the force to respond to the key recommendations within the Inquiry report and contributing towards the organisational changes which the Metropolitan Police embraced after the publication of the report.

In 2003, she took up post as Borough Commander for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.  Here she oversaw the policing of football matches at Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers football clubs, all within the borough. She was the local ground commander on 21st July 2005 for the terrorist attack at Shepherds Bush LTE station and was closely involved in the work to reassure communities in the borough after the 7/7 and 21/7 attacks.

In 2007, Heather joined Hertfordshire Constabulary in the post of Assistant Chief Constable Specialist Operations.  She currently has responsibility for citizen focus across the force. 

Mike Whitlam is one of the best-known managers in the UK Voluntary Sector. He was awarded the first ever Charity Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to Charity.

Having joined NACRO in 1975 from having been a Governor in the Prison Service, Mike went on to work for a number of other Voluntary Organisations. He was Deputy UK Director and Director (UK) of Save the Children and CEO of the RNID before being appointed Director General of The British Red Cross. Perhaps the most high profile campaign with which he was involved was the Anti-Personnel Landmines Campaign, which of course involved Diana Princess of Wales.

It was in 1986 whilst CEO of RNID that he had the idea to set up ACENVO (now Acevo). Acevo, the body supporting Chief Executives in the charity sector, celebrated being in existence for 20 years in 2007.

From 1999 to 2001 Mike was the first Chief Executive of the International Mentor Foundation and following Mentor, Mike established the VISION 2020 the Right to Sight Campaign as CEO.

Mike is now a Charity Consultant using his many years of experience to work with a variety of voluntary organisations that need support to resolve particular issues such as growth, change management, mergers and many other management and programme difficulties including providing Interim managers.

The Interim Management service is run within Russam GMS. He also Chairs the Ofcom Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled person’s issues and is a Non Executive Vice Chair of Hillingdon PCT. In addition to his consultancy work Mike is also Chair or Board member of a number of Voluntary organisations which includes the Chalker Foundation for Africa and Ickenham Youth Football Club.

Our Patrons are extremely important to the Trust as their knowledge and experience of the local community is vital in helping the Community Trust to grow and develop.

As a season ticket holder at Watford Football Club, Claire Ward has always been impressed by the Club\\\'s commitment and is particularly proud to be a Patron of Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust. Claire believes that football is a unique sport that has the power to bring communities together and to influence young people for the better.

As the Mayor of Watford, former Deputy Head Teacher Dorothy Thornhill, is more than happy to support and offer advice to Watford's Community Sports and Education Trust.

Dorothy adds "The Trust gives opportunities to hundreds of local people to play and learn through football and other sports. All too often football seems to be about multi-million pound deals and household names but Watford's Community Trust believes strongly in the community ethos and bringing everyone together. Its about giving people unique chances to enrich and improve their lives and through Watford Football Club they are certainly given the opportunity in many different ways.

It is a real pleasure to be offered the chance to be a Patron for the Trust as it is a valuable asset to our town."

Graham Taylor joined  the Board as non-executive Director on 22 January 2009 and was formerly the manager of Watford Football Club during the period from 1977 to 1987 and February 1996 to June 2001. He was also England manager between 1990 and 1993 where he was in charge for 38 international matches.

He was officially appointed as Watford Chairman on 4 January 2010 and will remain at the helm until 30 June 2010, when his position will be reviewed.

Taylor re-established his links with the Club's community work by becoming a Patron of Watford's Community Sports and Education Trust in July 2009.

Graham is a passionate believer about Watford's vital role in the local community and he spear-headed the Club's community ethos back in the 1970 and 1980s, during his first spell as manager of the Hornets.