Trust: Champions Named At Gala Dinner 2025

The Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust Gala Dinner was held in Horizons and The View hospitality lounges at Vicarage Road on Thursday March 20, and what a night it was!  

This year’s Trust Champions were named as we were joined by a host of partners, supporters and VIPs to celebrate another fantastic year of community delivery by our team. 

Attending stars included personnel from Watford FC’s past, present and future, including current Head Coach Tom Cleverley, Moussa Sissoko, Nigel Gibbs, Alec Chamberlain, Ian Bolton, Adrian Mariappa and Helen Ward.

The event was hosted by Vibe FM and Watford FC regular Lee Partridge, with guests enjoying welcome drinks, canapés, a three-course meal, live music and a dancefloor that was used well into the night.

The live music came from UK-based singer/songwriter Grace George, who has enjoyed more than 50 million streams on Spotify alone. 

Much of the evening is dedicated to our annual awards ceremony, in which members of our community are named as Trust Champions.

Given that we engage well-over 15,000 people every year, this is some feat! Winners are nominated and selected by the Trust’s team of passionate staff.

And the winners are…

·      Mental Health Champion, sponsored by MK Ginder – Darius

·      Community Champion (adult), sponsored by Academia – Prince Antwi

·      Education Champion (U11), sponsored by Atria Watford – Sophia

·      Volunteer Champion, sponsored by VWV – Keno

·      Fundraising Champion, sponsored by Cortland – Lewis Twydle

·      Physical Health Champion, sponsored by MCF Contracts – Martin Freeman

·      Equality Champion, sponsored by University of Hertfordshire – Peter Wilton

·      Overall Trust Champion, sponsored by Skechers – Gill Crowson

·      Community Champion (Youth), sponsored by Noble foods – Hanna

·      Education Champion (11+), sponsored by Metro Printing – Jeremiah and Jonathan

·      Football Champion, sponsored by Shredpoint – Ross

·      Sustainability Champion, sponsored by Noble foods – Michael Martin

In addition, there was also the introduction of a new award for 2025, the Trustees’ Champion. This award is to be chosen by our Board of Trustees and presented to a member of staff, member of the community or participant who has demonstrated the values of the Trust.

In the eyes of the Trustees, they will have gone over and above to ensure the local community benefits from the values and programmes of the Trust, which was the vision of Graham Taylor back in 1992 when Watford FC’s first Football in the Community Officer was appointed.

The Trust’s Chair, Simon Macqueen MBE, was present on the night to award Community Director Rob Smith with the Trustees’ Champion award.

The award winners were applauded on the night by an onlooking audience that included staff, supporters, partners and an array of special guests.

Trust patrons The Taylor Family, and Baroness Dorothy Thornhill MBE, were present, as well as Watford’s MP Matt Turmaine, Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor, Deputy Mayor Councillor Aga Dychton and Watford Borough Council Chairperson, Councillor Dawn Allen-Williamson.

More than £5,500 was raised for the Trust, which will now go back into the community through our continued work. With ticket and table sales, in addition to award sponsorship covering event costs, this total comes from our online auction and on-the-night raffle. Thank you to everyone who bid on and entered these.

Other thanks, of course, go to all of the award sponsors, as well as the Watford FC Supporters Trust for sponsoring the award winners’ table, and Coordinate, who sponsored seats for our staff.