LIONS’ FOUNDATION RE-BOOTS FOR BRIGHT FUTURE!

12 September 2024

Swinton Lions’ Foundation announces strategic changes to maintain startling progress!

One of the great success stories at Swinton Lions post-covid has been the rapid rise and reach of the Swinton Lions Community Sports Foundation.

The launch of our Swinton Lionesses women’s team was a seminal moment in the history of our club. We have also seen the fantastic progress of our Lions Elite Athlete Player Pathway (LEAPP) programme, and also our Under 18s and Under 16s Lions Talent Pathway (LTP) programmes. These are perhaps the most visible of our ongoing projects, but they represent just the tip of the iceberg amongst so many great community success stories.

Such has been our Foundation’s progress, that we have undertaken a review of its management structure, to ensure its continued success and growth.

Damian Ridpath has now been appointed as the first ever CEO of the Lions’ Foundation, to enable him to concentrate more time on the strategic direction of the Foundation, rather than its grass roots delivery. Damian’s change of emphasis has created a new role within the organisation, that of Foundation Manager. Mark Robinson takes up that role, with a brief to manage and deliver the day-to-day activities of the Foundation.

Damian said, “I am delighted to be announced as the first Lions Foundation CEO. As part of our strategic vision for the club, in conjunction with the direction of Rugby League as a whole, getting the structure of the Foundation right is an important action to ensure its viability for future growth. I am also delighted that Mark Robinson has accepted the role of Foundation Manager, and together we will drive forward the Foundation’s services to the community. I also want to pay tribute to all those who are making such a fantastic contribution, with Steve Thirkell and his coaching and back-room team at the Lionesses, Dougie Owen, Gareth Pratt, Luke Waterworth who are central to our talent pathway, and indeed all of our community coaches and volunteers. I am also thrilled that the Swinton Lions Foundation is now so positively respected across the whole of Rugby League and beyond.”

Upon his appointment as Foundation Manager, Mark Robinson, said, “I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the new Swinton Lions Foundation Manager. I feel as though this is the next step in my personal pathway in Rugby League, but more importantly in the pathway of the Lions Foundation itself. I’m looking forward to working with the Lionesses, our pathway programmes, and to growing the already amazing school projects that we deliver – and much more besides. My aim is to also start and grow our wheelchair rugby team, an LDRL team, as well as introduce Tag Rugby and Walking Rugby for the over 55s. Finally, I would like to thank Damian and all concerned for this opportunity.”

We are also delighted to announce that club director Andy Unwin will act in the role of Chairman of the Foundation. This is a temporary appointment whilst we seek an individual from outside of the current Swinton Lions set-up, which will not only help ensure good governance, but also the continued influx of fresh ideas from outside of the current overall club set-up.

Whilst our Foundation continues to have a positive impact in Manchester, Trafford and Bolton, our relationship with Salford City Council has arguably never been better, and this will enable us to continue to maintain a positive influence across the whole city into the future, including of course within Swinton & Pendlebury itself. With news of a specific City of Salford Rugby League strategy taking place, it’s imperative that Swinton Lions is in a position to play an influential role.