SHARON VOTED IN TO LEAD MILLERS’ CHARGE

SHARON Claridge has been appointed North Leigh FC’s first ever chairwoman.

In her third year with the Millers, Claridge takes over the role from Ed Martin who will remain on the board of directors.

And in doing so, the former secretary becomes the first female to hold the role in the Oxfordshire club’s 112year history.

“It has been a very strange period since March, not just for the club but pretty much everyone,” Claridge said of the Southern League Division One South and West club.

“An unbelievable amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to not only ensure we have a club to welcome fans back to but also to really try and take that next step.

“We’ve seen the importance of building a team just as good off the field as it is on and are now in a fantastic position for the first time in a long time.

“I am so delighted to be at the helm and help steer the future of this historic club and to know how much support I have got.”

North Leigh join an elite group of clubs who boast or have boasted a chairwoman. Rosemary Johnson currently holds the lead chair at Woking, Karen Brookes has been in the role at Halesowen Town since 2017, while Claire Sinclair formerly held the position at Blackfield and Langley.

Departing Martin said of his successor: “Since joining as club secretary in 2018, Sharon has been at the heart of everything. She is one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met and would do anything for this club.

“We have some really big plans for North Leigh over the next few years and the key to that is going to be organisation.”