Anne-Marie Hughes (Chair):

 

Anne-Marie Hughes BSc (Hons) Nurse Practitioner 

Retired Major after 23 years of Army Service 

Owner/Practitioner of Skin Deep Aesthetics and Topaz Beauty and Holistics. 

A and E Nurse Practitioner. 

 

I started watching Widnes as a small child with my dad. Upon leaving the army 9 years ago I was able to start coming to games again and my family and I became season ticket holders. 

Through my business, I was then able to support the Club further by sponsoring players and matches.

 

When we went into administration I helped to raise funds and provided medical support and sports massage to the team. 

Like all fans, I just want to see Widnes Vikings with a squad that is as strong and competitive as possible and for this, we need to raise more money. This is why I've volunteered for the committee.

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Chris Smith (Vice Chair):

 

I am born and bred in Widnes. 

 

I grew up with rugby as all kids did in  Widnes, playing it for Lunts Heath lions and visiting Naughton park on a very regular basis. As a youngster, I remember going to Wembley to watch Widnes play and seeing them win the challenge cup. Also getting to take the cup around to family houses as I had a relative who worked at Naughton park.

 

I served in the Royal Navy, in the submarine service, on the nuclear deterrent.

 

I have had various jobs over the years, including working in social services for adult and child protection.

 

I now own my own company called Emris Services. We specialised in pest control, but our company has rapidly expanded into facilities management. In the four years we have owned the company, we have taken it from a run-at-home business to a national coverage company.  We are a local Widnes company, and we are also involved with Widnes Vikings, through sponsoring Matty Fozzard and various advertising. We also sponsor home games on a regular basis.

 

We have also put-up prizes and auctioned off various things to help involve the fans and raise money. 

We also sponsor the LDRL team.

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Diane Ryder (Secretary):

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I am retired after supporting homeless people locally for 24 years, followed by 5 years supporting adults approaching the end of life in Warrington. I spent 15 years as secretary of Let's Go Stroke Club in Halton.

I am a Manc who landed in Runcorn in 1988 with 3 daughters. I was widowed in 2012 and met my current husband in 2014. He is a long-term Widnes supporter and started bringing me to games. In 2015, I started being a season ticket holder. I must admit that I still don't understand all that goes on, but I enjoy the whole spectacle and the camaraderie.

 

I hope that by being on the WVIPS committee, I can help continue to support our team in some way, as I have contributed financially since WVIPS' inception.

 

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Leam Fox (Fundraiser):

 

I've been a Widnes fan all of my life since 1980 when I was born.  I used to be on the fence at Naughton Park. I also followed my dad's clubs because he was a professional player for Widnes, Leigh, Leeds, Wakefield and Rochdale.  After he retired we came back to Widnes where  I won Fan of The Year twice.  

 

I am currently a Vikings LDRL player and have been for 6 years. 

 

I have been on the Trust In Widnes committee before and have done various charity events.

 

Phil Goulding (Social Media & I.T Officer):

 

I am a self-employed web designer & SEO analyst with over 12 years of experience as an online marketer.

I was asked by the Widnes VIPS committee to come in & help complete the website build after the project had already started. As a Widnes Vikings fan, I was more than happy to do so.

I have watched Widnes RL since my early teens & went to Naughton Park regularly to watch home games before getting my first season ticket when I was 15.
 
I have followed Widnes Vikings home and away, including 'Magic Weekends' during our time in Super League, and 'The Summer Bash'. One of my best experiences as a Widnes supporter was when I was lucky enough to be invited onto a chartered flight to Catalan with the team and coaching staff during the 2017 season as part of the sponsorship team.
 

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​Joe Tighe (Membership Secretary):

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RETIRED . First time at 50 after working for the GPO/BT for 34 years, starting as an apprentice engineer and finishing as a Supply Chain Integrity Manager. Second time at 66 after 13 years working for Laura Ashley as a furniture delivery driver (to keep fit), also supervising the outbase and time spent as Area Supervisor for the 9 outbases in the North of England.

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My association with Widnes started about 1960 when, as kids living near Naughton Park, we not only went to matches but also training sessions alongside the ground (now the car park). As soon as I was old enough, I became a programme seller. I went to my first Wembley final in 1964. I’ve followed Widnes as an individual, a husband & wife team, and then as a family unit. Now back to an elderly H&W team attending home and away matches and any functions relating to the Vikings. We are also members of the player sponsor group 'Widnes Vikings Diehards'.

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As I have done some charity fundraising for Zoe’s Place in Liverpool, charity motorbike events in Ireland, as well as helping a young Jack Hunter Spivey on his road to becoming a Paralympic Table Tennis player, the thought of helping Widnes Vikings appealed to me. Hence, the reason I volunteered to join the Widnes VIPS committee.​