About Us
Please find below, profiles for the twelve elected BFCISA Committee members, agreed at the AGM, Monday 23rd March, 2026.
BFCISA Committee 2026
Martyn Biddulph
I’m a 36-year-old, longstanding season ticket holder who is originally from Burnley but relocated several years ago to Birmingham. Some of my earliest and most cherished memories of Burnley FC involve my uncle taking me to games, where we would find our spot in the Bee Hole End. To a young fan in the early 90s, the atmosphere of the Turf was electric, and it instilled in me a loyalty that has never wavered.
Over the last three decades, I have witnessed the full spectrum of the club’s history, from lower league struggles to the heights of the Europa League. I have lived through the “ups and downs” that come with the territory of being a Claret, and each era has only deepened my commitment.
This appointment marks my first formal involvement with a club association, and I am incredibly eager to get started. I look forward to bringing my perspective as a lifelong, match-going fan to the table. Working alongside the rest of the committee, I am committed to representing the interests of our supporters and ensuring the club continues to move forward while respecting the heritage that makes Burnley FC so special.
Graham Fox
Treasurer
Born and raised in Nelson and, with my brother, brought up to be a Claret by my Dad. My first game was rather special, a 5-1 home win over the eventual champions, Dirty Leeds. As with other Clarets of my vintage, we’ve lived the dream and endured the depths of despair, but we’re still proud of our club’s achievements and its heritage.
I put my name forward for BFCISA committee membership because that pride, whilst still there, has been dented in recent years. I’m keen to understand more about why the club’s owners conduct themselves as they do, and drive the changes they do, because often such actions deliberately, or so it seems, jar with fans’ expectations and aspirations for the club. It appears counterintuitive in how to run a business, let alone a provincial, community-based club.
To be clear, I’m not against change per se. Much of my working career was spent encouraging an open mindset to change, planning change and implementing change. Change is to be embraced when it’s progressively beneficial to customers and other stakeholders alike.
I’ve been part of multinational corporations and small privately owned enterprises, experiencing good times and bad in each. I’ve largely worked in the private sector within manufacturing industries, but I’ve also been employed in a service organisation in the public sector, plus I’ve been a self-employed business consultant specialising in culture change and decision making.
I summarise myself as principled, pragmatic and logical. I intend to use my traits and experiences to help BFCISA represent the supporters of our club, which is particularly important in these days of multi-club ownership.
Susan Graham
Vice Chair
My history with BFC goes back a long way. I became a Claret the day I stepped on to the Longside terraces with my Dad and brother in 1964.
We couldn’t afford to go on often but I saw some terrific matches. Burnley was a selling club back then and it was tough when favourites like Skippy, Dobbo and Taffy were moved on.
When you follow a club like Burnley for such a long time you see all the ups and downs and the very nearly out. But if your heart is with the Club you never give up.
When I grew up and left Burnley for work and Uni, I still kept the faith. When my Dad picked me up from Manchester Piccadilly the first things I looked for on my way home were Pendle and the Turf – then I felt grounded, home.
I still sit on the Longside these days, pretty much in the spot I once stood with my Dad and one then two brothers. Dad’s long gone but us 3 siblings are Clarets till we die.
I joined BFC ISA because of this passion for the Club, whoever owns, manages or plays for Burnley should understand the passion supporters feel for their Club, the colours, the badge, the Turf and the Town.
I spent my professional life, and in my retirement, working to make Burnley a better place to live, work and play. My membership of BFC ISA is a clear demonstration of my commitment to the Club and its place in the town.
Simon Jackson
Chair
Like many, Burnley is a family affair for me. My dad took me to my first game in the 80s – the League Cup versus Man Utd; we lost, Utd were obnoxious, I think I hated it. Undeterred, my dad kept trying. It took him a few more goes to really hook me, but, inevitably, hook me he did. By the time the Mullen season rolled around, I was utterly besotted; Mike Conroy still holds a special place in my memory.
Since then, favourite games and players have come and gone, we’ve had great results and wonderful – and some not-so-wonderful – days and seasons. There’s been a lot fo change in football (not always for the better) but, for me, the bond is still there: I’m as hooked as ever. Hooked on Burnley. The ritual, the area, the fans, the family connection – it’s so much more than the 90 minutes. Moving away to London and having to rely on the increasingly infuriating train service hasn’t changed it; I hope and expect nothing ever will.
Because Burnley matters so much, to so many, it’s worth treasuring. The fans are everything – they deserve a say and a voice. That’s what BFCISA is about and why I’m happy to help in any way I can. I hope that – by bringing some of the skills and experience I’ve developed in my professional life, in politics and business – I can help to get it up and running so it helps play a part in safeguarding a football club that’s so special to me and thousands others.
Chris Johnson
Disabled Supporters Representative
I was a board member of Level Playing Field and I am a current member.
I liaised with David Baldwin Chief on behalf of Level playing field when setting up the new disabled stands. I am a disabled season ticket holder. I was on the Clarets trust board and am still a current member.
I also worked as the ambassador for the Burnley Football Club disabled supporters Association. I am also a member of London Clarets.
I have served as a public governor for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS foundation trust. I was also a professional footballer. I am now an ambassador for Prostate Cancer.
Alister Leaver
Secretary
I’ve been watching Burnley home and away since 1969 so I’ve seen my share of ups and downs over the years. During the dark days of the 80’s and 90’s I couldn’t imagine seeing The Clarets playing at Old Trafford or Anfield ever again but here we are.
It’s vitally important that supporters are always involved in their football club especially one like ours that has a long and proud history and forms a significant part of the culture and community in the area and beyond. In these times where football seems to be dominated by off field financial drivers its imperative that ordinary fans are heard and factored into the clubs strategies.
As fans, we know that our club is not just a business or a form of entertainment it’s pride, passion, emotion and a deep sense of belonging and Burnley FC ISA hopes to represent each and every supporter regardless of whether they are newly found or have seen more seasons than they care to remember.
James McDonough
I am a lifelong Burnley supporter and season ticket holder since the age of two.
From my first match against Cambridge in 1987 to the Sherpa Van Trophy final at Wembley in 1988, I was hooked. I grew up watching our rise through the leagues, particularly falling in love with the club’s unique connection to the town during the Jimmy Mullen era. Today, I am proud to pass that same passion on to my own children, nieces, and nephews.
However, my motivation for joining the committee stems from deep-seated concerns regarding our current direction. Burnley’s modern success was built on being a sustainable, self generated cash-rich institution. To see that transformed into a debt-laden model built on unstable foundations is deeply worrying.
While the current ownership has made some improvements, I believe our core identity has been eroded, with financial risks largely masked by on-field results and some good luck with three excellent managers!
We fought for over 30 years to return to football’s top table. We cannot allow that hard work to be undone for short-sighted financial gain.
My priority is ensuring Burnley remains a long-term, viable community asset for future generations. This includes fostering better mutual relationships with vital local institutions, such as the Cricket Club and neighboring businesses.
Owners and boards will eventually move on, but the fans remain to pick up the pieces. I am committed to ensuring as a committee we are working with fans and protecting the club’s heritage while demanding a transparent, sustainable future off the pitch.
Oliver Norris
Membership Secretary
Like a lot of supporters, I had little choice but Burnley and being a fan means more to me than just 90 minutes on a weekend, it means everything – the atmosphere, the traditions, the community, the history, the pride, and the highs as well as the lows.
Born into it at our lowest point just a few weeks after the Orient game, I’ve been lucky to follow my club up to the top division and into Europe. My earliest, and best, memories are tied to the club. Being lifted over the turnstile by my Dad, two trips to Wembley and the regular giant-killings.
Burnley FC was passed down to me like an heirloom. Leaving home at 18, I took the club with me through work and education across the North West, travel in South America and time spent living in China.
Professionally, I now work in Careers education at a university, with a research interest in the experience and representation of working-class students and throughout my career across different sectors, I have focused on work with underrepresented groups.
I am proud to represent Burnley FC ISA, having initially joined the Steering Group in 2024, and help build a platform for fans to come together, share their love for their club and have their voices represented.
Joe Redmond
Like many of you reading this, I have been a Burnley fan all my life. Born in Burnley and raised on Prescott Street, just a stone’s throw from the Turf, supporting the Clarets was always going to be an inevitable part of my upbringing.
This club holds deep personal significance for me, which is why I joined the ISA – to help ensure the club’s future remains secure and that the voices of its independent supporters always continue to be heard.
John Robertson
Communications Manager
I have been a passionate supporter of Burnley Football Club since the early nineties, and I’m grateful to my dad for choosing to introduce me to the Clarets for the first time, in a top of the table clash against Blackpool at a packed Turf Moor during the fantastic Division Four league-winning season of 1991-92.
A few years later, in 1996, I attended what still remains to this day, my favourite Burnley match: a 4-3 home victory against Stockport County, where Burnley’s fourth goal that day, scored by John Francis, was the only time Burnley led during the game.
Whilst studying at the University of Leeds in the early 2000’s, I attended an informal meet-up for fans of Burnley who reside in West Yorkshire. Little did I know that a few years later, having decided to take up a job opportunity in the city, that I would end up running the organisation and I have continued to try and bring Burnley fans from around the region together, once a month, for over sixteen years now.
As a result, I believe strongly that listening to the ideas of fellow Burnley supporters and where possible, offering solutions or assistance, is something that is of real importance. I was one of four people who worked together to try and establish BFC ISA as a reputable, fully democratic and independent supporters association, and from this a hard working steering group emerged.
Now a fully elected committee member of Burnley FC ISA, I will work as part of the communications team in endeavouring to hear a wide range of supporter views, and collectively as a group, we will work with fans, to ensure that their views and opinions are heard and valued for the years to come.
David Thompson
My love affair with our Club started during those Halycon Days of Stan, Ian Wright and Andy Payton. I’ve had a season ticket since this time, currently sitting in the North Stand Lower.
I’ve enjoyed so many incredible times supporting Burnley; from the promotion at Scunthorpe, Wade’s goal at Wembley, Sean taking us into Europe and the Kompany title winning season where our style and swagger were absolutely mesmerising.
My 2 grown up sons remain passionate despite living in Glasgow and Birmingham respectively. They try to get back for games when work and family commitments allow. I’ve also met some really pleasant, warm and interesting fellow supporters along the way.
I’m now happily retired after spending 33 years in High School education, much of it in a Senior Leadership capacity. My time is now spent travelling, running, eating out and of course watching the Clarets.
I’m flattered to have been elected to this inaugural committee and hope to use my experience and skill set to represent the fan base both passionately and professionally.
Chris Wells
My links with Burnley Football Club go back to the 1950s when my Dad took me to my first game at Turf Moor. I’ve been hooked ever since and have experienced the highs and lows as all Clarets fans have. From the 1959/60 Championship then down through the leagues and back up to the top with the play off final in 2008/9. Something I never thought I would see happening again in my lifetime.
We all have our favourite players. For me midfielders make the game tick. Probably too many to mention but in recent years Dean Marney is in there.
I’ve been involved with supporter groups including North Manchester Clarets over a 20 year period and as a fan representative on the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) at the club for the past 4 years.
With the direction I feel football is going I believe representation of fans is more important than ever. I’m proud to be part of the committee building a new organisation for fans – Burnley FC Independent Supporters Association.