Robert Heys

Robert Heys (born 28 June 1977) is an English businessman and former football executive from Accrington. He served as chief executive and then managing director of Accrington Stanley, and was at the club from July 2002 to August 2013. His profile was raised for all the wrong reasons when he was banned by the Football Association for 21 months, and fined £1,000, for infringing the governing body's rules on betting.
Background
Born and raised in Accrington, Heys is a lifelong Accrington Stanley supporter. He went to school at in the town.
Accrington Stanley
Heys left a position as a computer programmer to join the club in July 2002, looking after the administration of what was then a part time amateur club playing in the UniBond Premier Division. The club achieved considerable success in the years that followed, with promotion to the Nationwide Conference in 2002/03, a significant cup run in 2003/04 and most notably a return to the Football League in 2005/06, when Heys became Chief Executive. He joined the club's board as Managing Director in 2011, with a five figure investment.
FA ban
In August 2013 Heys received a 21 months suspension from all football and was fined £1,000 at a Football Association disciplinary hearing for breaching the organisation's rules on betting. He later appealed but was unsuccessful in reducing the punishment.
Life after football
Heys continues to support Accrington Stanley and is a regular at home and away matches as a paying spectator. He is regularly asked to comment on the subject of gambling in sport and in an interview with BBC Late Kick Off in March 2014 gave his backing to the call for a blanket ban on football gambling for anyone involved in the game until the FA can make the rules clearer.

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