The Team

Mark Fearon
Manager

Mark helped open the Club in 1976, when he was appointed as a sports assistant and coach. Since then he has 'climbed the ladder' through the roles of Supervisor, Assistant Manager and Manager…and is now the Executive Director. He's only ever had one interview in his life…(but has conducted hundreds over his 34 years at the Club!).

Rumour has it that he was an accomplished sportsman in his time…but there's nobody around to verify such claims!!............so it could be all talk!

Mark is married to 'Saint Susan'…(she has to be if she puts up with him!)…and has a son Paul who works at the local golf club. He lives in the country surrounded by horses, dogs, cats…and ducks…..........lots of ducks!!

Mark loves his work and will continue to show the enthusiasm and leadership which has resulted in him becoming a respected Leisure Professional with a wide range of skills and experience, helping the Club to become one of the leading sporting venues in the region.

Lorraine Forshaw
Deputy Manager

Lorraine has 'progressed through the ranks' since she joined as Clerical Assistant in 1984…(her 25 years was celebrated in 2009). She became Centre Administrator in 1996 & Deputy Manager in 2006…she's quick to point out that she started work at the Club straight from school!!

In a previous life she worked for Barclays Bank and was a Fashion Buyer for Browns of Chester. For many years Lorraine took the most popular Aerobics class in the area until she finally hung up her leg-warmers in 1996…it's never really been as good since!

Lorraine is the centre of the operation and is skilled at 'keeping all the plates spinning'…which has been of great benefit to the Club over many years. She oversees the day-to-day management of the Club and she won't tolerate the business losing any money!!…beneath the blonde curls and lipstick beats the heart of a businesswoman…so be warned!

Lorraine is married to Terry and has two children. She loves to travel and enjoys her time on the Greek Islands.

Kevin Jones
Duty Officer (Sports)

Kev has worked at the club since 2004 when he joined us from Total Fitness…having been previously at David Lloyd as a senior lifeguard. He enjoys his role and has a good relationship with all the various groups based at the Club.

Kev has a keen interest in horse racing and football…(unless the money runs out at the bookies !)…and enjoys all sports. He supports Liverpool for his sins and can even remember when they used to win things !! He is married and has a young family which he loves spending time with.

Jen Robinson (Left December 2010)
Development Officer (Sports)

Jen joined the staff in 2008 and has certainly brightened up the office… (we must teach her how to turn the lights off !!). She was previously a support worker and teaching assistant at a school in Chester. Her current role brings her into regular contact with the Local Schools Partnership, Cheshire FA and numerous local teams and players.

A keen Manchester United fan… (well she does live in south Cheshire which is near enough!)…she is constantly updating and developing her coaching qualifications and waiting for the call from Sir Alex !!

Graham Duckers
Duty Officer (Sports)

Graham has been at the Club since 1998…(although it seems longer !)….and is also the Club's official 'Beer Taster'! He previously worked at the Abbots Well and Flint Leisure Centre.

Graham is very keen on sport and plays for the local vets football team and has been a member of Upton Golf Club for 25 years..(believing that you should get as many shots for your money as you can !). He supports Manchester City…(although we only found this out when they had money !), loves golfing holidays and likes anything Irish (particularly Guinness !). He's married to the long suffering Barbara and has two girls who both play football and golf very well…(must get that from their mother then ?).

Dan May
Duty Officer (Social)

Dan has been working at the Club since 2007. He had previously spent a year stumbling his way around the world !…but having received numerous job offers on his travels…he finally answered an advert for a post in Chester…and the rest is history!

A keen Everton supporter (must have a good sense of humour then !)…Dan also enjoys various types of music, socialising and keeping fit…(proof of the latter is yet to be provided !) He is also a regular at the Glastonbury festival…(not that he can ever remember any of it !)

Alison Goulding
Duty Officer (Social)

'Ali' has been at the Club since 1999 and is in charge of catering (as well as her normal duties)and is loved by everyone because she feeds them! .but she's also a key member of staff who always has the Club at heart.

Ali has two children (one of each), two guinea pigs, one dog and a gerbil…Oh!…and a husband…(sorry Gary!). She enjoys holidays abroad in the sun, and loves her family and friends.Although she sounds very sensible she supports Liverpool…(so that theory's just gone out the window !)

Neil Deakin
Duty Officer (Social)

Neil joined the Club in 2007 and is originally from Warrington and returns regularly to watch the local rugby league team. He is also a regular at Old Trafford in Manchester to watch ‘the mighty reds’ !..(his words)…and now lives in Eastham.

As he's not much of a drinker…Neil splits the rest of his time between watching sport and films, playing his xbox 360 (alter ego woolfiel01) and acting as Daniel Craig's stunt double…(I think that last one is made up !).

Stephen Johnson
Head Groundsman

'Johno' is the Club's 'Maintenance Maestro'…his knowledge of drainage systems, grass, machinery and boilers is legendary !

Johno joined us in 2006…but has been associated with the Club for many years…mainly standing at the Bar ! (but occasionally playing Cricket and Football…). On leaving school he went into the construction and water industry, transport and later into market & landscape gardening. Winning FA Groundsman of the Year in 2008 was a real feather in his cap.

Johno is a key member of staff who works hard to improve the standard and quality of the Club's facilities, and clearly loves his work.

Stephen Rowland
Groundsman

'Rolo' joined the Club in 2005 and has worked on the groundstaff ever since.

He is a popular member of staff who clearly thrives on the camaraderie that exists between his peers and himself....but his inability to locate underground water pipes with a set of divining rods is just baffling !!...

Freddie Brickland
Assistant Groundsman

Freddie began work the Club as a Sports Attendant while he was still at the local Sixth Form, progressing to his new role in 2009. As the 'junior' member of groundstaff he has to know how to take a practical joke and have a good sense of humour! Freddie is a keen and talented sportsman, and as a youth played for Vauxhall Motors which led to trials at Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool FC…

His hobbies include tinkering with cars and socialising with friends…(if he's managed to get the car going ??).

Nikki Arathoon
(Admin Assistant)

Nikki has worked at the Club since 2002 and in a previous life was an air traffic controller for 12 years in the RAF, controlling both military and civilian aircraft at several different airfields around the UK. She moved to Cheshire in 2001, is married with two children and lives in the country were she enjoys the outdoor life including walking, gardening and also skiing and camping.

Nikki …(or 'Squadron Leader' as she's affectionately known !) also loves to experiment in the kitchen with new recipes…(but despite that, she and her family have very few days off sick !).

Louise Haughton
(Admin Assistant )

Lou is one of our newest members of staff….joining the team in 2009. She previously worked in the Motor Industry as a PA, lives locally and is married with one son (who attends the local high school).

Lou dreams of moving to France and every year promises to become fluent in their language…maybe next year ? She struggles to understand the complexity of Formula One while the men in her life relish in it's glory!! Her hobbies include quad biking, skiing, cycling…and walking the family dog…(she tried dragging it behind the quadbike but that ended in tragedy!)

Debra Davies
(Receptionist)

Debs joined us in 2009 but was certainly not a stranger to the Club, as she's been running the treadmills, spinning the bikes and propping up the bar for years. A local girl…Debs is a familiar face to shoppers in Chester as she's worked in retail for over 20 years…

She enjoys wine and cider…and loves to dance on the tables !!(we won't be able to go back there for our staff Christmas party again !!!)