Every football season features a fairytale storyline and 2022/23 was no different.
In January, local heroes Darvel FC grabbed the limelight and caught the imagination of fans across the world by knocking top-tier Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup.
They did so with the name QTS emblazoned on their shirts – which begged the question: why is one of the UK’s biggest rail infrastructure companies sponsoring such a tiny club?
Our ESA webinar on 25 May will seek to answer this and many other questions relating to the glory of grassroots sponsorship, with a panel comprising two brands who have invested heavily in local community sport.
As well as Alan McLeish and Lisa McKellar from QTS, and Darvel FC Chairman John Gall, the panel will include Lorna Danaher, Sponsorship Manager at energy firm Energia, which supports community sport in Ireland.

Lorna Danaher
Sponsorship Manager, Energia
Lorna has been working in marketing for over 10 years and sponsorship specifically for the past seven. As sponsorship manager for C&C Group, she managed the activation of several cultural and music festivals across the Island of Ireland. She also worked across Magners’ sponsorship of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and managed the campaign ‘Road to Gold’ which championed both Bulmers and Magners in their respective markets.
As Sponsorship Manager for Energia, she is now across the energy brand’s partnership with the IRFU, Leinster Rugby and title sponsorship of the All Ireland League. Lorna also oversees the sponsorship of Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia, which is the largest annual Irish language festival, as well as a wide variety of different localised grassroots sponsorships.


Lisa McKellar
Marketing and Social Value Director, QTS
Lisa has over 15 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry, working in some of Scotland’s top PR agencies for six years before moving to an inhouse position at Trump Turnberry, where she managed marketing and PR for the resort for six years. She oversaw the marketing strategy for the relaunch of the five-star hotel and Championship golf course in 2016.
Since joining QTS in January 2018, Lisa is responsible for all marketing and brand activity for the company. She is actively involved in work with young people through schools activity and QTS’ Youth Athlete programme, and is a keen member of the Women in Rail steering group.
She handles all sponsorship activity for the QTS Group including the partnership with Darvel FC, and all social value activity and charity partnerships throughout the UK. Previous sponsorship responsibility also included Kilmarnock FC and The Youth & Philanthropy Initiative.
Alan McLeish
Managing Director, QTS
Alan started QTS in 1992 with a £300 loan from his mum. He used the funds to buy a transit van and some equipment and started work as a tree surgeon.
Over the years, he has grown QTS into a successful company whose main business focuses on railway infrastructure and maintenance. Headquartered in Lanarkshire, QTS now has offices in Malmsbury, Penrith, Preston and Nottingham and employs over 500 people. In May 2018, company was acquired by Renew Holdings in a deal worth £80m.
As well as building a successful rail infrastructure business, Alan is well known for his philanthropy and his influence in the sports sponsorship arena. Having been principal sponsors for Kilmarnock FC, QTS has also been involved with Derby County FC, the Scottish Sports Awards and the Scottish League Cup. QTS is the main sponsor for Darvel FC, which hails from the town in which Alan started QTS. QTS also runs a Youth Athlete programme, helping young people achieve their sporting ambition.


John Gall
Chairman, Darvel FC
John’s grandparents founded Brownings the Bakers in 1945. John helped out in the bakery from the age of 12 and officially joined the company in 1980.
Since then the business has continued to grow rapidly and has this year reported its most successful year to date, with more than 200 staff supplying numerous supermarket chains all over the country. Under John’s leadership Brownings have started supplying a premium Buffet Pie range for the hospitality suites at many football stadiums including Wembley.
John’s second passion is football and he took over Darvel Football Club in 2016, leading them from the ninth tier to the sixth tier and winning the West of Scotland Football League in 2021/2022. He has also achieved a lifelong dream with a three-year sponsorship deal as shirt sponsors of Premier League outfit Kilmarnock FC.
The webinar recording is available exclusively to ESA members in our website video resources.
Sign-up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about future ESA events and other updates.