Meet the team
This vast knowledge and experience allows us to give students a 360-degree view of the football industry. With our extensive networks in the game, we can help facilitate progressions in the game they love.
All of our coaching team are UEFA Licensed coaches and have or are working towards a Masters’ Degree in a football specialism. On top of this, they were all educated by the World Football Academy, led by the World’s leading football education expert Raymond Verheijen.
So, come and meet the team….
Ryan McKnight
Chief Executive

His next appointment was as Chief Executive of Stockport County, where he became the youngest Chief Executive of a professional football club in the country at 30 years of age.
Other consultancy roles in football have led Ryan to work for the team he supports (Wolverhampton Wanderers) as well as Port Vale. He is a guest lecturer on football business degree programmes across the UK and has made many appearances on national radio and television discussing all matters football business.
As well as his role of CEO at NEFA he co-leads on the Football Transfer Forum conference, a gathering of Sporting Directors, Agents and other football professionals, and is currently working on a project with UEFA on football fandom.
He graduated from the University of Central England with a degree in Business, and holds the League Managers’ Association Certificate in Football and Administration.
Spencer Fearn
Academy Manager

At 31 years of age, he became the youngest owner of a football club in Britain when he bought Scottish team East Stirlingshire FC. Following on from this he spent 16 months at Stockport County as Vice Chairman.
His coaching pathway has seen him manage over 200 games in semi–professional football and he worked as a Coach for four seasons at Sheffield Wednesday, where he was the Under 15 and 16 Coach.
Other work in the industry has included being a guest speaker on podcasts, working for football investors on acquisitions and delivering education courses for coaches on behalf of the English Football Association.
Spencer’s qualifications are many; he is an UEFA A Licence holder, Johan Cruyff Master of Coaching, Master in Sports Management, CEO of a Sporting Organisation and has Level 7 qualifications in Strategic Management and Management. He is currently working towards not one, but two Masters’ Degrees in Football Performance and Coaching and the MSc Sports Directorship.
Ben Nicholson
Coach

Ben has also led the analysis department at a semi–professional club developing individual feedback platforms and analysis for the management team.
Ben holds the UEFA A Licence, has a BA in Physical Education and Sports coaching and a Masters’ Degree in Strength and Conditioning. He is currently working towards the UEFA Advanced Youth Award.
Ashley Vickers
Coach

He has a wealth of experience in the women’s game where he spent over 7 years as Huddersfield Town AFC Women’s 1st Team Manager. He currently combines his role a NEFA working for The FA as Programme Lead at the Women’s High Performance GK Centre (Sheffield) and as an FA Women’s Talent Reporter (Scout) for the England Lionesses Pathway.
After a playing career at semi–professional level, he decided to pursue a career in coaching and he is UEFA A Licence coach and is also completing a Masters Degree in Advanced Performance Football Coaching.
Kevin Noteman
Coach

Having played at Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers, Chester City and Mansfield Town Kevin brings with him a knowledge and knowhow that’s invaluable for our young players.
Kevin also currently works at Sheffield Wednesday, has a fantastic record of producing top players.
Nick Bailey
Head of Education
