PATRON & AMBASSADORS
Our Patron & Ambassadors bring a wealth of experience and support to our charity. Their passion and enthusiasm for the project ensures they are a vital part of the Futurestars team.
TERRY BUTCHER
PATRON & AMBASSADOR
Terry is an English former professional footballer and manager. During his playing career Terry captained the England national team, winning 77 caps in a ten-year international career that featured three FIFA World Cups. He also enjoyed success in his club career, particularly with Ipswich Town and Rangers. He has subsequently managed clubs in England, Scotland, Australia and Wales. Terry visited Tema for the first time in September 2017 to work with the coaches and children and attend the Festival of Sport and was appointed Patron and Ambassador for the charity.
LAVISH SOBHRAJ
AMBASSADOR
Lavish Sobhraj is a businessman who divides his time between Ghana and Sri Lanka. His family arrived in Ghana during the1960s establishing businesses and working with the community. Lavish was educated in the UK from the age of 8 where he attended boarding school at Clifton College, in Bristol. Then he studied accounting and finance at City University, in London.
Lavish owns businesses in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and trading. He and his family have always been involved with charities in Ghana and recognise the need for education for the most underprivileged children in Ghana. He has been a staunch supporter of the Futurestars charity over the years and has enlisted others to donate their time, money and effort to help provide these children with an education.
IAN BYRNE
AMBASSADOR
Ian is a UK Diplomat who worked in the British High Commission, Accra from 2016-2021. A keen amateur footballer who also coached the High Commission Football Team. Ian committed much of his spare time in Ghana to supporting charitable work and raised considerable financial support for Futurestars, Akwaaba Volunteers and Prostate Cancer. He also supported Sport and Sex Education initiatives for children in Juaben, Ashanti Region in partnership with the Aston Villa Supporters Club – Ghana Lions. Hailing from Merseyside, Ian has a strong belief that ‘together we are stronger’ and has recently been honoured for his support to our charity by being named as our second Ambassador, joining Titus Bramble. Ian will continue supporting Futurestars from his new posting in Albania.
TONY PEARCE
AMBASSADOR
Tony has spent 37 years working in the Oil and Gas production business for several companies, including BP, BG Group, Shell, Tullow and Genel Energy. He has had postings in Azerbaijan, Egypt, Australia, and Ghana. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Whilst working for Tullow from 2019 to 2021, Tony was based in Accra, where he first came across Futurestars and was very impressed with their work to support education through their sporting programmes. Whilst in Ghana, Tony and his wife Joanne had been supporting a small orphanage in James Town and on departing, Tony persuaded Simon and the Futurestars team to keep a watching eye over the orphanage in return for him organising a charity golf event in the UK in 2022. It was a deal! It’s now 2025 and the 4th annual Futurestars Charity Golf event at Harleyford Golf Club in Marlow is rapidly approaching. So far, over £22,000 has been raised, and the target is to push past the £30,000 barrier this year.
Tony is passionate about helping young people reach their full potential, and this is why he is so committed to supporting Futurestars. Two years ago, Tony joined the Futurestars team in Tema alongside two of his pals from Marlow in the UK where they supported our efforts to refurbish three classrooms.