STALYBRIDGE Celtic have appointed four directors to a new-look board.
Businessmen Ash Mirtorabi, Andrew Seddon and Steve Lockey all live in Stalybridge and little more than a goal kick away from Bower Fold while Peter Taylor is a well-known figure in the town.
Ash, Andrew and Steve, all friends, have watched Celtic from the terraces but wanted to become more involved and believing their skill sets can help move the club forward.
Father-of-two Ash, 47, works for SAS Software Ltd, the world largest privately-owned software company and a leader in data and analytics.
Steve Lockey and Andrew Seddon
Ash, a Manchester United fan from before the glory days when he used to stand in the Stretford End, already has an affinity with the club as he is a former player for Stalybridge Celtic Juniors, but never played to a high level.
He is manager of Hollingworth Juniors Under-13 Blues and been involved with the team for the last six years.
Ash, a governor at Stalyhill Junior School, approached chairman Rob Gorski with a view to helping the club.
He said: “Andrew, Steve and myself have known each other for 10 plus years as our children have been in nursery, infants and junior schools together.
“We are all passionate fans who have watched game together and wanted to get involved and give something back to the community.
“We felt the club could do more in the community and we can help move the club forward.
“Our remit is to help get more sponsorship and help modernise the club through strategic planning, execution and delivery.”
Andrew, 53, the finance director of an American-owned graphics firm, described himself as an “addict” to football.
The father-of-two, who lived a seven-minute walk from Bower Fold, enjoyed success as a player during a long amateur career.
He was a striker whose goals helped Woodley Sports win the North West Counties League, division two title in 1999-2000.
Andrew already had a loose connection with the club as he manages Stalybridge Celtic Under-9 Stripes.
And he took an interest in the Northern Premier League side when he took his nine-year-old son to games.
Andrew said: “It will be a learning experience for the three of us, but I believe we can use our experiences to help the club.
“We will be looking to use our contacts to bring in more income from advertising and sponsorship and help move the club forward.
“In the past we have been the biggest team in Tameside and our aim mid-term is to get back into the National League, though it will be very difficult to achieve.”
Andrew is a season-ticket holder at Manchester City and has followed them since the late 1980s and early 90s when he admitted they were “rubbish” before concentrating on playing.
Steve, 42, a claims manager for a commercial insurance broker, also lives close to the ground.
The father-of-three believes he has the contacts to bring in sponsorship and client services to the club.
Steve, who only retired from playing basketball last year for The Jaguars in the Manchester League, describes it as a new era for the club.
“We have a new manager (Chris Willcock), fresh players and at our recent board meetings there was a determination and eagerness to get started.
“Hopefully the three of us can bring fresh energy, skill sets and contacts to help the club.
“When the three of us watched games, we felt we felt we could help improve the service and experience the fans get rather than us simply standing on the terraces.
“We were looking for a local club to be involved in and make things work smarter.
“Celtic is a club with a solid history, good facilities and ground and it would be great to a part of them climbing back up the football pyramid.”
Peter, 70, who still works in the family electrical business E Taylor & Son, has been following Celtic since the age of eight when he was taken to Bower Fold by his father.
He believes it could be the dawn of an exciting new era for Celtic declaring he would not have not have joined simply to sit on the board.
Peter, whose four generation family business began in 1920, said: “It is fair to say there has been a period of doom and gloom from the supporters – I have been one of them stood on the terraces all my life.
“Change was required, and we have a new manager, new directors and it is a new beginning.
“Our new manager is very enthusiastic as are the new directors and it is an exciting time for the club.
“We can only dream and hope we can work towards moving up the league system.”
Peter, a former first-team player and chairman at Dukinfield Cricket Club, can relate to what can be achieved through hard work.
“I served on their committee for 40 years and we built a new pavilion which drove the club forward and then in 2002 won our league for the first time in 56 years,” he explained.
Peter, who retired from playing cricket aged 60, believes there is a good mix of directors, the older experienced ones along with the new blood.
He believes a successful Celtic will give Stalybridge something to smile about, something the town needs.
Mr Gorski is delighted with the new directors, explaining: “These are senior people in their industries and what I like is not just their professionalism but their enthusiasm.
“Ash, Andrew and Steve approached me with great enthusiasm and they have bags of idea.
“Peter has had a business in Stalybridge and has a great network of contacts and can hopefully bring in sponsorship.
“On a practical level he has previously helped with electrical wiring in the sponsors’ lounge and carried out work on the floodlights.”
Mr Gorski added the board of directors has more than a century of combined service between them.
He explained: “Some of our directors have long been retired so don’t have the same business network. Consequently, it is excellent to have three younger guys who are senior in their fields and well connected.
“We are trying to create a new culture. We have half a new board, new manager, new players and new ideas to move the club forward.”
• Celtic have lost one member of their board as Simon Kenyon has stepped down for work-related reasons according to Mr Gorski.