The British American Football Association are pleased to announce the appointment of three volunteers to support contact teams in the National Leagues.
Mixed Adult Contact Associate Manager
BAFA are pleased to welcome Pete Thom in the role of Adult Contact Associate Manager.
Reporting to Joe Walker, Thom will oversee the associate process for BAFA Adult Contact teams and support the U16 , U19 and NWFL teams in their associate process applications.
With nearly 40 years involvement in the sport as a player and official, as well as a stint on the BAFRA Board of Directors as both Director of Operations and Director of Training, his experience will help us support the Adult Contact league’s continued growth and sustainability.
NWFL Delivery and Development
BAFA are also pleased to appoint Zak McSevney and Janis Ledger to roles within the National Women’s Football League (NWFL). McSevney and Leger join as NWFL Delivery Lead and NWFL Development Lead respectively – supporting BAFA’s Women’s Contact competitions and looking at growing participation in this key area for the organisation.
McSevney brings experience as a BAFRA official, while Ledger holds extensive experience of team management and participation in the women’s game as both a player and a coach. Both roles also report to Joe Walker.
Volunteer Bios
- Played for the Enfield Bullets in the BNGL for seven seasons in the late 80’s, and early 90’s.
- Joined BAFRA in 1993 and have worked over 1000 games including 22 Senior Finals/Britbowls & eight BUCS Finals.
- Served on the BAFRA Board of Directors for five years as Director of Operations and a further six years as Director of Training.
- Selected to the EFAF/IFAF panel between 2009 and 2017 – working 30 international games including the 2011 EFAF final and the 2016 Under 19 World Championships in China.
Zak McSevney – NWFL Delivery Lead
- A BAFRA official and a familiar figure across the south coast, McSevney brings extensive project management expertise and leadership experience to the role.
- Commitment to developing sport and community initiatives reflected in volunteer work as a STEM Ambassador and as an EIH Off-Ice Official.
- Passion for football extends beyond professional commitments — with family and friends actively involved in the NWFL community.
- As NWFL Delivery Lead, McSevney will be the primary contact for NWFL teams, responsible for the operational management, delivery, and compliance of the league — the pinnacle of women’s contact football in the UK. His leadership will focus on ensuring smooth league operations, supporting teams, and driving the success of national competition activities.
Janis Ledger – NWFL Development Lead
- Brings a wealth of experience with an impressive background in team management, coaching, and sports therapy across multiple levels of the game.
- Currently Manager for the North East Academy of American Football (NEAAF), Ledger’s passion for the sport and commitment to fostering talent in the North East has been instrumental in re-establishing a football pathway in the region, supporting initiatives such as the launch of U14 flag (Rebels) and the restructure of U16 and U19 contact teams (Giants).
- Involved in the sport for over a decade, starting as a team administrator for Tynedale Fury and later taking on roles as an Academy Coach and Sports Therapist for the Gateshead Senators between 2016 and 2019. Ledger also served as a Sports Therapist for Sunderland University (2017–2022), Northumbria Mustangs (2022 onwards), and Newcastle Raiders (2024 onwards).
- A former player for the Newcastle Shieldmaidens (2022–2024), Ledger transitioned into leadership roles as their Team Manager (2023–2024) and Operations Manager for the Newcastle Vikings (2024).
- In addition to extensive experience in team management, Ledger has contributed to coaching over the years, recently earning her Level 2 coaching qualification to further assist in growing the game.