New Chair and Treasurer at Raiders

At a recent Berkhamsted Raiders Trustees Meeting, some changes were agreed to the leadership of the Raiders Trustee Board.

After 12 years as Chair of Trustees for Raiders, Keith Pollard (pictured) has decided to step down to free up some time for the other volunteer roles that he undertakes, both within and outside sport. The Trustees have appointed Chris Armond, Trustee Marketing, as the new Chair of Raiders and he will officially be taking over at the AGM in October.

Keith joined Raiders as an U8 parent in 2004 and ‘rose through the ranks’ to become a Team Manager, AGC and Committee member. In 2009, following the sad and sudden death of Paul Beard, he took over as Raiders Chair of Trustees with the aim of fulfilling Paul’s vision for Raiders. Since that time, Raiders has trebled in size and become one of the leading community youth football clubs in the UK and in Europe, providing sport for all abilities and ages. As Chair, Keith has also given his time to represent Raiders within the national FA and Herts FA, the Berkhamsted Sports Grounds Charitable Association (BSGCA), the Dacorum Sports Network (DSN), as a Trustee of BerkoAstro and as an influence on the County, Borough and Town Councils.

Keith will continue to have a role within Raiders and within football, as a community clubs representative on the Herts FA Council, in his role on the DSN Executive and as a liaison with the Herts Sports Partnership. He will also continue to lead Raiders’ plans for facility development, primarily the new pitches and potential for a Raiders Clubhouse at Durrants Lane.

In his spare time, Keith volunteers as a Mentor for the SportsEd charity, is a volunteer for the Canal and River Trust, and a Boat Crew volunteer for Waterways Experiences, providing trips on the Grand Union Canal for the disabled and disadvantaged.

New Treasurer

Steve Bird has also stepped down as Charity Treasurer with Richard Bedlow, Raiders Trustee, taking on his role. Steve, a former referee, and a long-term Raiders Manager, has done a brilliant job of bringing order to the Raiders finances as the club has grown. He has also been a great support to the Club in their efforts to secure a long-term lease on the Durrants Lane site. His dedication to and efforts for Raiders are greatly appreciated by all the Trustees.

So, a time of change at Raiders. But a positive change, and a chance for some new blood to lead the Club through an exciting future.