Durata’s Alison McGee has officially joined the Thornaby FC board as the club’s new chief executive officer.
Middlesbrough-born Alison has thanked the outgoing members of the board and is excited by the challenge at Teesdale Park.
The Teesside-based club has moved to create a new senior management team after more than a week of meetings and discussions.
Alison is the Director of Quality at Durata, the locally-based critical power infrastructure specialists who have sponsored Thornaby FC Women for the last two seasons.
Alison said: “Durata is a huge advocate of women in engineering and we can see huge similarities across football. That is why we have been keen to be so heavily involved with women in sport over the years.
“We want to be part of the next stage of Thornaby FC’s journey, driving forward with a club with so much potential for men and women together, girls and boys, one club.”
After carrying out further financial due diligence, Alison will be supported on the board by husband and Durata’s managing director John McGee.
The proposed changes in the boardroom follow a difficult week when it emerged Thornaby FC’s female teams were under threat.
Alison said: “We have been around this fantastic club for the last couple of years and this next chapter is an exciting prospect to be part of.
“Having been a regular at Thornaby FC Women in recent times and formed some strong relationships, I’m excited to start this role with the aim to take the club forward.
“We want to unite everyone to achieve positive results for the men and women – and the local community.
“I’d like to thank the previous board and committee members, and volunteers, who have put in a lot of hard work over the years to lay fantastic foundations and we want to reach the next level of football at Thornaby FC.”
Durata have been the front of shirt sponsor at Thornaby FC Women since the summer of 2022. Alison and John have developed a strong affinity with the club and, together with other companies, saved the club thousands of pounds following an arson attack at Teesdale Park in June 2023.
Thornaby FC’s new board believes the girls’ teams and the women’s team has the foundations to carry on. There is also a desire to keep driving the men’s Northern League team forward and create a new grassroots boys’ section at the club too.
* A new Thornaby FC website is coming soon, follow the club on social media. For further information about Durata check out duratauk.com
