Team Leaders Within England

Simon Bailey, National Support Lead to Horse Racing
Simon was appointed Chaplain to Horse Racing in August 2014 carrying on the good work started by the Rev Graham Locking. Simon is based in Newmarket but works with a remit to establish pastoral care teams throughout racing industry towns in the UK. Simon is also a Mental Health England First Aid Qualified Trainer.



Mark Blythe, Pastoral Support Hub Lead for Gym and Fitlives
Mark has been involved in sports ministry for many years and helps churches get involved and develop sports activities for their community. Since 2013, Mark has been doing a great working as Fit Lives Co-ordinator of the Gym Chaplaincy team at Xcel Leisure Complex, Walton on Thames, Surrey.



David Chawner, Pastoral Support Lead for Rugby Union and Cricket
Dave started as Club Chaplain for London Wasps in 2001 and soon developed within Sports Chaplaincy UK as Pastoral Director for Rugby Union. In 2011 Dave co-managed the chaplaincy programme at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Since 2012 Dave has been both the Chaplain to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and the Chair of Trustees of SCUK.



Angy King, Pastoral Support Lead for Women’s Football for England & Wales
Angy has been chaplain to Reading F.C. Women since July 2014. One year later began serving the Wales women’s Under 17, Under 19 and 1st teams in a sports chaplaincy role. Angy gained an MA in Sports Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care in 2016 and she is passionate about helping develop chaplaincy within women’s football in England and Wales.



Nigel Manges, Pastoral Support Lead for South West
Nigel was previously Club Chaplain to Sheffield Utd and was a part of Sheffield Sports Chaplaincy. He is currently Regional Minister for Ministry for the South West Baptist Association, helping to support over 90 churches in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and does a great job developing positive sports chaplaincy across the region.



Phil Mason, Conference Co-ordinator Lead
Phil is Chaplain to Bolton Wanderers F.C. and Head of Bolton Wanderers Community Trust, a gifted leader, communicator and always a helpful port of call. Phil has been instrumental over the past few years in the planning and delivery of professional standard annual conferences.



Ian Nicholson, Pastoral Lead for Lower League Football In England
Ian has been based in the Surrey area for many years and has been the Chaplain of Woking F.C. since 2008; he is now also a Club Director. In addition to his work at Woking, Ian helps to oversee the development of positive sports chaplaincy in clubs outside the English Football League.



Glen Rickard, Pastoral Support Lead for Rugby League
Glen is a Wigan lad born and bred and has been chaplain to Wigan Warriors since 2017 and has taken on this new role in 2020. He has been married to Wendy for over 40 years. They have two children and 3 grandchildren, with whom they regularly spend time. Glen is a member of Family Church Billinge and was appointed to the Senior Leadership Team in 2004. He supports with pastoral care work and preaching. Glen’s professional background is Financial Services, from which he is now retired. Relaxation includes cooking, birdwatching, and golf. He also loves to read. Amongst his favourite authors are John Piper, R. T. Kendall, Tim Keller, and C S. Lewis.



Carolyn Skinner, Pastoral Support Lead for Gyms and Fitlives
Carolyn has been an Events Chaplain with Sports Chaplaincy UK since 2007 and has served at Royal Ascot in 2007, Winter Paralympics 2010, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010, Olympics and Paralympics 2012 and the Commonwealth Games 2014. She also runs ‘Love All, Serve All’, an annual outreach with the Wimbledon tennis queues, as well as being a chaplain at her local gym. Carolyn has been Pastoral Support Lead for Gyms since 2016 which is a rapidly growing area for Sports Chaplaincy UK.



Christian Wienkamp, Pastoral Support Lead for Birmingham & Assistant to The National Director for England
Christian was Chaplain to Gateshead F.C. and gained an MA in Sports Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care in 2016. Christian has a real passion to see sports chaplaincy develop across all sports and levels and was previously overseeing and developing the work of sports chaplaincy throughout the North East of England before taking up his new role in Birmingham in 2020.