Following the retirement of long standing chair and founding member David Thompson this summer, leisure charity NCL has appointed a new chair, Chris Roberts, to head up its sport and leisure management services across Northumberland and Copeland.

Roberts has been a Trustee of NCL since its inception in 1999 and has previously been responsible for the management of sports facilities and community sports activities for both Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council between 1980 and 2000.

His background also includes management experience at a senior level, having moved from Leisure Services for North Tyneside to being executive director of the council.