Watford FC’s Community Sports & Education Trust has awarded men’s skipper Daniel Bachmann and former women’s captain Helen Ward with the Professional Footballers’ Association Community Champion Awards. The awards were presented in recognition of their support to the community during the 2022/23 season.
Austria international Bachmann has been actively supporting the Trust ever since his Watford career began. In the 2022/23 season alone, he met with youngsters at holiday courses, in football tournaments, in a reading session at a local primary school, and paid a visit to SEN school Garston Manor.
The shot-stopper also gave personalised training ground tours to pupils that won a Christmas card competition, and attended the Trust’s Gala Dinner in March 2023.
On top of his appearances through the Trust, Bachmann supported initiatives such as the Junior Hornets Fun Day and Puttshack event, as well as bringing gifts to children at Watford General Hospital as part of the club’s annual Christmas visits.
The award for the Watford FC Women’s team went to Ward, who announced her retirement from an illustrious playing career at the end of the last campaign. In the previous season alone, Wales’ all-time record goalscorer has shown her role model status off the pitch as well as on it, with appearances at primary school football tournaments, a girls’ football festival at the Trust’s Meriden Community Centre, as well as an International Women’s Day event with local secondary school pupils.
This award though was as much about recognising Ward’s immense contribution to our communities throughout her whole Watford playing career, always inspiring many and being at the forefront of promoting messages of equality, including anti-racism and anti-homophobia.
Community Director at the Trust, Rob Smith, said: “At Watford, we often refer to ‘The Original Family Club’, and players giving back to our communities is a huge part of that. We’ve been fortunate over the years and it’s warming to see that it isn’t something lost on our current squads.
“Our thanks to the men’s, women’s and Academy players who have supported us during the 2022/23 season, led admirably by Daniel Bachmann and, as ever, Helen Ward.
“It also seems appropriate to thank our previous two-time PFA Community Champion, former defender Christian Kabasele, who regularly supported us both in appearances and donations. Now though, we look to the future and another season of success on both the pitch and off it, within our communities.”
Maheta Molango, Chief Executive Officer at the PFA, said: “The PFA has once again been immensely proud of the outstanding efforts of players this season and we feel they should be recognised for their support and involvement in the local community.
“The awards will hopefully raise awareness of the importance many of our members attach to their roles off the pitch and highlight their continued commitment to support those most in need along with engaging in areas where they have a personal interest.
“We would like to offer our congratulations to this season’s recipients of the 2022/23 PFA Community Champion Awards.”
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