The Cymru Football Foundation can confirm that Director, Aled Lewis will leave his role in March 2027 after more than five years leading our work to improve grassroots football facilities across Wales.
During Aled’s tenure, the Foundation has overseen more than £55 million of investment in football facilities, helping clubs and communities across Wales improve access to places to play.
Working closely with the Football Association of Wales (FAW), funding partners, local authorities, clubs and community organisations, we have supported the development of facilities that create opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Under Aled’s leadership, the Foundation has also strengthened our focus on the wider community benefits of investment in football facilities, including increasing opportunities for women and girls, improving access for underrepresented communities and supporting participation, health, wellbeing and community life.
Kate Collins, Chair of the Cymru Football Foundation, said:
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Aled for the tremendous contribution he has made to the Cymru Football Foundation over the past five years.
“He has played a central role in establishing and developing the Foundation, bringing considerable knowledge, commitment and energy to improving grassroots football facilities across Wales. We are enormously grateful for everything he has done, and I know he will be greatly missed by colleagues and partners alike.
“What CFF has achieved is also a testament to the dedication of our team and the strength of the partnerships we’ve built. I want to thank the FAW, our funding partners and the many local authorities, clubs, schools and community organisations who work alongside us. Their support and collaboration are fundamental to our ability to make a difference.
“We are fortunate that Aled will remain with us until late March, allowing us to plan carefully for the next chapter. The Board is putting arrangements in place to recruit his successor, and our focus remains firmly on supporting clubs and communities, delivering our commitments and ensuring that investment in football facilities creates lasting benefits for people across Wales.”
Speaking on his departure, Aled said:
“After much reflection, I’ve decided that now is the right time for me to step down and look for a new challenge. It hasn’t been an easy decision, because it has been a real privilege to lead the Cymru Football Foundation and to work with so many committed people who care deeply about grassroots football and the communities it serves.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, particularly the improvements to facilities and the opportunities those investments have created for people across Wales.
“I want to thank the Board, my colleagues, the FAW and all our funding and delivery partners for their trust, support and commitment. I also want to recognise the clubs, volunteers and community groups whose dedication makes such a difference on the ground. None of what we have achieved would have been possible without them.
“I will continue to give the Foundation my full commitment over the coming months, and I look forward to seeing its work go from strength to strength.”
The Foundation’s programmes and investment activity will continue as normal throughout the leadership transition.
The Board of Trustees will share further information about the recruitment of Aled’s successor in due course.
