There’s a fresh face behind the scenes at Swindon Town FC, and her name is Alisha Henry.
Born and bred in Gateshead, Alisha arrives at the County Ground with a wealth of EFL experience, most recently having served as Chief Operating Officer at Barrow AFC. Her four years at Barrow saw her rise from Operations Manager to one of the club’s most senior roles — a tenure that covered everything from football contracts to day-to-day logistics.
“I loved my time at Barrow,” Alisha says, “but I felt ready for a new challenge — something I could get my teeth into.”
Initially planning to take a break, she soon found herself doing admin work for Woking FC to stay busy. But when Swindon Town came knocking, she couldn’t ignore the opportunity.
“When I came to visit and saw the stadium, I thought, ‘This is League Two?’ It’s a proper football ground,” she said. “I did a bit of Googling, spoke to people up North, and everyone knows Swindon Town — it’s a club with history and stature. It still has that big club feel.”
Alisha takes on the dual role of Club Secretary and Head of Operations, and she’s quick to point out how naturally those roles fit together.
“Some clubs split them, some don’t, but I prefer to be hands-on and accountable. This way, nothing slips through the cracks,” she explains.
But what does a Club Secretary really do?
“It’s not just admin,” Alisha laughs. “It’s player contracts, league registrations, budgeting, team travel logistics — making sure the football department runs smoothly. It’s a bit of everything.”
With Swindon aiming high this season, Alisha is excited to play her part in what many hope will be a promotion campaign.
“From speaking to people around the club, there’s a real buzz. This season doesn’t feel like it’s about hoping for promotion — it feels like it’s expected,” she says. “The recruitment’s been early and smart, and the squad’s already strong. If I can help get the club back to where it should be, I’ll be proud of that.”
Alisha’s first week is all about getting embedded — learning names, understanding the club culture, and quite literally making her office her own.
“The walls are bare right now,” she jokes. “I need some pictures up, something to reflect the club’s identity. You walk through the stadium and you see images of players and past moments. That’s the culture I want to help build and reflect in the work I do.”
“It’s not about reinventing the wheel, just finding ways that work for me while building on what Bailey and Jamie have done. I want to embed myself into the club – get to know the values, the people, the fans.”
As Swindon Town enters pre-season, fans can be assured that the backroom is in capable, passionate hands. With Alisha Henry helping to lead operations, there’s a renewed sense that this could be a pivotal season for the Robins — both on and off the pitch.
