Meet Vince Ashall, who attended his first Club Board meeting yesterday as the Trust’s official director, taking over from Murray Knight, whose two-term tenure ended last June.
Vince seen above with granddaughter, also an avid Dale fan, (as it should be!), demonstrating one of the many shirts that Vince possesses. Indeed, his remarkable bid during the Thomson shirt auction secured one of the eleven highly prized shirts, which is proudly adorning his office wall.
Vince, who has served as the Trust’s compliance officer and club director for some time, first expressed interest when Murray officially stepped down. He then put himself forward for consideration through the proper procedural steps. Yesterday was a special moment, as he successfully passed the official test that a football director should (or must) pass, marking an important milestone in his journey.
Vince described his first meeting with his colleagues as “interesting.” But we will let Vince cover that as he has prepared a few words which we publish below.
First Board Meeting
After what seems an eternity (no fault of the Club’s I hasten to add), I attended my first board meeting as the Trust’s Club Board director on Tuesday 16th December 2025.
It may not have been exhilarating, but it was certainly interesting – not sure what that says about me!
The directors and other attendees were very welcoming and put me at my ease. It’s remarkable to learn about all the different aspects involved in the running of a football club. It’s not solely first team matters, although those are discussed, but also the minutiae involved in the running of any business.
The pitch rebuild is proceeding as planned, as detailed in the club’s video. Talking of which, is there an omen (good, of course) in that the Agronomy Director of OBI Sports is called “Dale”…?
UTD
Vince Ashall
We’re excited to see Vince sharing updates and reports with members, subject to any confidentiality and restrictions from the club board. With this new connection and the transparency shown by the club—from the ownership group down—members and fans will find it easier to stay informed and connected. The Trust has strong relationships with all levels of management, the CAB, and this new appointment, which the club enthusiastically endorsed, will only help us in our efforts.
Vince’s approach will bring a fresh perspective to the role. He’ll be very visible before matches, usually around the DALE Bar, and actively welcomes fans to come and chat and share their thoughts. Like Murray, he can be reached directly by email at vince@daletrust.co.uk if members want to get in touch infor@daletrust.co.uk
For now, we look forward to the “Vince Era”. He is not only the Trust Boards club director; he also represents you, members, and all fans where needed.